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observation：
That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in the first place to the
biggest sinners。
That these Jerusalem sinners were the biggest sinners that ever were
in the world； I think none will deny； that believes that Christ was
the best man that ever was in the world； and also was their Lord God。
And that they were to have the first offer of his grace； the text is
as clear as the sun； for it saith； 〃Begin at Jerusalem。〃 〃Preach；〃
saith he； 〃repentance and remission of sins〃 to the Jerusalem
sinners： to the Jerusalem sinners in the first place。
One would a…thought； since the Jerusalem sinners were the worst and
greatest sinners； Christ's greatest enemies； and those that not only
despised his person； doctrine； and miracles； but that a little before
had had their hands up to the elbows in his heart…blood； that he
should rather have said； Go into all the world； and preach repentance
and remission of sins among all nations； and after that offer the
same to Jerusalem； yea； it had been infinite grace； if he had said
so。 But what grace is this； or what name shall we give it； when he
commands that this repentance and remission of sins； which is
designed to be preached in all nations； should first be offered to
Jerusalem； in the first place to the worst of sinners！
Nor was this the first time that the grace which was in the heart of
Christ thus shewed itself to the world。 For while he was yet alive；
even while he was yet in Jerusalem； and perceived even among these
Jerusalem sinners； which was the most vile amongst them； he still in
his preaching did signify that he had a desire that the worst of
these worst should in the first place come unto him。 The which he
showeth； where he saith to the better sort of them； 〃The publicans
and harlots enter into the kingdom of God before you；〃 Matt。 xxi。 31。
Also when he compared Jerusalem with the sinners of the nations； then
he commands that the Jerusalem sinners should have the gospel at
present confined to them。 〃Go not；〃 saith he； 〃into the way of the
Gentiles； and into any of the cities of the Samaritans enter ye not；
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel；〃 Matt。 x。 5；
6； chap。 xxiii。 37； but go rather to them； for they were in the most
fearful plight。
These therefore must have the cream of the gospel； namely； the first
offer thereof in his lifetime： yea； when he departed out of the
world； he left this as part of his last will with his preachers； that
they also should offer it first to Jerusalem。 He had a mind； a
careful mind； as it seems； to privilege the worst of sinners with the
first offer of mercy； and to take from among them a people to be the
first fruits unto God and to the Lamb。
The 15th of Luke also is famous for this； where the Lord Jesus takes
more care； as appears there by three parables； for the lost sheep；
lost groat； and the prodigal son； than for the other sheep； the other
pence； or for the son that said he had never transgressed； yea； he
shows that there is joy in heaven； among the angels of God； at the
repentance of one sinner； more than over ninety and nine just
persons； which need no repentance； Luke xv。
After this manner therefore the mind of Christ was set on the
salvation of the biggest sinners in his lifetime。 But join to this；
this clause； which he carefully put into the apostles' commission to
preach； when he departed hence to the Father； and then you shall see
that his heart was vehemently set upon it； for these were part of his
last words with them； Preach my gospel to all nations； but see that
you begin at Jerusalem。
Nor did the apostles overlook this clause when their Lord was gone
into heaven： they went first to them of Jerusalem； and preached
Christ's gospel to them： they abode also there for a season and
time； and preached it to no body else； for they had regard to the
commandment of their Lord。
And it is to be observed； namely； that the first sermon which they
preached after the ascension of Christ； it was preached to the very
worst of these Jerusalem sinners； even to these that were the
murderers of Jesus Christ； Acts ii。 23； for these are part of the
sermon： 〃Ye took him； and by wicked hands have crucified and slain
him。〃 Yea； the next sermon； and the next； and also the next to that；
was preached to the self…same murderers； to the end they might be
saved； Acts iii。 14…16； chap。 iv。 10； 11； chap。 v。 30； chap。 vii。 52。
But we will return to the first sermon that was preached to these
Jerusalem sinners； by which will be manifest more than great grace；
if it be duly considered。
For after that Peter； and the rest of the apostles； had； in their
exhortation； persuaded these wretches to believe that they had killed
the Prince of life； and after they had duly fallen under the guilt of
their murder； saying； 〃Men and brethren； what shall we do？〃 he
replies； by an universal tender to them all in general； considering
them as Christ's killers； that if they were sorry for what they had
done； and would be baptized for the remission of their sins in his
name； they should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost； Acts ii。 37；
38。
This he said to them all； though he knew that they were such sinners。
Yea； he said it without the least stick or stop； or pause of spirit；
as to whether he had best to say so or no。 Nay； so far off was Peter
from making an objection against one of them； that by a particular
clause in his exhortation； he endeavours； that not one of them may
escape the salvation offered。 〃Repent；〃 saith he； 〃and be baptized
every one of you。〃 I shut out never a one of you； for I am commanded
by my Lord to deal with you； as it were； one by one； by the word of
his salvation。 But why speaks he so particularly？ Oh！ there were
reasons for it。 The people with whom the apostles were now to deal；
as they were murderers of our Lord； and to be charged in the general
with his blood； so they had their various and particular acts of
villany in the guilt thereof； now lying upon their consciences。 And
the guilt of these their various and particular acts of wickedness；
could not perhaps be reached to a removal thereof； but by this
particular application。 Repent every one of you； be baptized every
one of you； in his name； for the remission of sins； and you shall；
every one of you； receive the gift of the Holy Ghost。
Object。 But I was one of them that plotted to take away his life。
May I be saved by him？
Peter。 Every one of you。
Object。 But I was one of them that bare false witness against him。
Is there grace for me？
Peter。 For every one of you。
Object。 But I was one of them that cried out； Crucify him； crucify
him； and desired that Barabbas the murderer might live； rather than
him。 What will become of me； think you？
Peter。 I am to preach repentance and remission of sins to every one
of you； says Peter。
Object。 But I was one of them that did spit in his face when he
stood before his accusers。 I also was one that mocked him； when in
anguish he hanged bleeding on the tree。 Is there room for me？
Peter。 For every one of you； says Peter。
Object。 But I was one of them that in his extremity said； give him
gall and vinegar to drink。 Why may not I expect the same when
anguish and guilt is upon me？
Peter。 Repent of these your wickednesses； and here is remission of
sins for every one of you。
Object。 But I railed on him； I reviled him； I hated him； I rejoiced
to see him mocked at by others。 Can there be hopes for me？
Peter。 There is for every one of you。 〃Repent and be baptised every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ； for the remission of sins；
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost。〃 Oh！ what a blessed
〃Every one of you；〃 is here！ How willing was Peter； and the Lord
Jesus； by his ministry； to catch these murderers with the word of the
gospel； that they might be made monuments of the grace of God！ How
unwilling； I say； was he； that any of these should escape the hand of
mercy！ Yea； what an amazing wonder it is to think； that above all
the world； and above every body in it； these should have the first
offer of mercy！ 〃Beginning at Jerusalem。〃
But was there not something of moment in this clause of the
commission？ Did not Peter； think you； see a great deal in it； that
he should thus begin with these men； and thus offer； so particularly；
this grace to each particular man of them？
But； as I told you； this is not all； these Jerusalem sinners must
have this offer again and again； every one of them must be offered it
over and over。 Christ would not take their first rejection for a
denial； nor their second repulse for a denial； but he will have grace
offered once； and twice； and thrice； to these Jerusalem sinners。 Is
not this amazing grace？ Christ will not be put off。 These are the
sinners that are sinners indeed。 They are sinners of the biggest
sort； consequently such as Christ can； if they convert and be saved；
best serve his ends and designs upon。 Of which more anon。
But what a pitch of grace is this！ Christ is minded to amaze the
world； and to shew； that he acteth not like the children of men。
This is that which he said of old。 〃I