N03023:133
The Jerusalem-sinner saved: or, Good news for the vilest of men, being a help…
The Jerusalem-sinner saved: or, Good news for the vilest of men, being a help for despairing souls: showing that Jesus Christ would have mercy in the first place offered to the biggest sinners. : In which is added, an answer to those grand objections that lie in the ways of them that would believe: for the comfort of those that fear they have sinned against the Holy Ghost / by John Bunyan of Bedford.The Jerusalem-sinner saved: or, Good news for the vilest of men, being a help for despairing souls: shewing that Jesus Christ would have mercy in the first place offered to the biggest sinners. : In which is added, an answer to those grand objections that lie in the ways of them that would believe: for the comfort of those that fear they have sinned against the Holy Ghost / by John Bunyan of Bedford.
Boston: printed for J. Edwards and H. Foster, 1733
Title page typeset from the transcription.
GOOD NEWS For the Vilest of Men: OR A Help for Despairing SOULS.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But what was Paul and the Ephesian-sinners? (of Paul we will speak anon.) These Ephesian sinners, They were Men dead in Sins, Men that walked according to the Dictates and Motions of the Devil, Worshippers of Diana, that effeminate Goddess; Men far off from God, Aliens and Stranger to all good Things, such as were far off from that as I said, and consequently in a most deplorable Condition; as the Jerusalem sinners, &c Condition; as the Jerusalem sinners were of the highest Sort among the Jews, so these Ephesian sinners were of the highest sort among the Ephesians, Gentiles (Eph. 2.1, 2, 3. Acts 19.35.2.11.31.)
Wherefore as by the Jerusalem sinners, in saving them▪ first, he had a design to provoke others to come to him for Mercy; so the same Design is here set on foot again, in his calling and converting the Ephesian-sinners, that in the Ages to come he might show the exceeding Riches of his Grace! Says he, in his Kindness towards us through' Christ Jesus. There is yet one hint behind. 'Tis said that God saved ⟨p. 36⟩these for his Love: That is, as I think for the setting forth the Commendations of his Love; for the advance of his Love in the Hearts and Minds of them that should come after. As who should say, God has had Mercy and been Gracious to you, that he might show to others for their Encouragement, that they have ground to come to him to be saved. When God saves one great Sinner, 'tis to encourage another great sinner to come to him for Mercy.
Wherefore as by the Jerusalem sinners, in saving them▪ first, he had a design to provoke others to come to him for Mercy; so the same Design is here set on foot again, in his calling and converting the Ephesian-sinners, that in the Ages to come he might shew the exceeding Riches of his Grace! Says he, in his Kindness towards us thro' Christ Jesus. There is yet one hint behind. 'Tis said that God saved