N03023:148
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.
I am persuaded, did Men believe that there is that Grace & Willingness in the Heart of Christ to save Sinners, as the Word imports there is, they would come tumbling into his Arms: But Satan has blinded their Minds, they cannot see this thing, Howbeit the Lord Jesus has, as I said, that others take Heart and come to him, given out a Commandment that Mercy should in the first place be offered to the biggest Sinners. Begin saith he, at Jerusalem. And thus I end the third Reason.
I am perswaded, did Men believe that there is that Grace & Willingness in the Heart of Christ to save Sinners, as the Word imports there is, they would come tumbling into his Arms: But Satan has blinded their Minds, they cannot see this thing, Howbeit the Lord Jesus has, as I said, that others take Heart and come to him, given out a Commandment that Mercy should in the first place be offered to the biggest Sinners. Begin saith he, at Jerusalem. And thus I end the third Reason.
Fourthly, Jesus Christ would have Mercy offered in the first place to the biggest Sinners, Because that is the way if they receive it, most to weaken the Kingdom of Satan, and to keep it lowest in every Age of the World: The biggest Sinners they are Satan's Colonels, and Captains, the Leaders of his People, and they that most stoutly make head against the Son of God. Wherefore let these first be conquered, and his Kingdom will be weak. When Ishbosheth had lost his Abner, his Kingdom was made weak, nor did he sit but tottering then upon his Throne; So when Satan loseth his strong Men, them that are mighty ⟨p. 42⟩to work Iniquity, and dexterous to manage others in the same, then is his Kingdom weak. (2 Sam. 3.) Therefore I say, Christ doth offer Mercy, in the first place to such, the more to weaken his Kingdom. Christ Jesus was glad to see Satan fall like Lightning from Heaven, that is, suddenly or headlong; and it was surely, by casting of him out of strong Possessions, and by recovering of some notorious Sinners out of his Clutches, (