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soonest： wherefore he has most need of mercy。 This man is shut up
in Satan's hand； fastest bound in the cords of his sins： one that
justice is whetting his sword to cut off； and therefore has most
need； not only of mercy； but that it should be extended to him in the
first place。
But a little further to show you the true nature of this reason； to
wit； That Jesus Christ would have mercy offered； in the first place；
to the biggest sinners。
First； Mercy ariseth from the bowels and compassion； from pity； and
from a feeling of the condition of those in misery。 〃In his love；
and in his pity； he saveth us。〃 And again； 〃The Lord is pitiful；
very pitiful； and of great mercy；〃 Isa。 lxiii。 9； James v。 11。
Now； where pity and compassion is； there is yearning of bowels； and
where there is that； there is a readiness to help。 And； I say again；
the more deplorable and dreadful the condition is； the more directly
doth bowels and compassion turn themselves to such； and offer help
and deliverance。 All this flows from our first scripture proof； I
came to call them that have need； to call them first； while the rest
look on and murmur。
〃How shall I give thee up； Ephraim？〃 Ephraim was a revolter from
God； a man that had given himself up to devilism： a company of men；
the ten tribes； that worshipped devils； while Judah kept with his
God。 〃But how shall I give thee up； Ephraim？ How shall I deliver
thee； Israel？ How shall I make thee as Admah？ How shall I set thee
as Zeboim？ （and yet thou art worse than they： nor has Samaria
committed half thy sins）； Ezek。 xvi。 46…51。 My heart is turned
within me； and my repentings are kindled together；〃 Hos。 xi。 8。
But where do you find that ever the Lord did thus yearn in his bowels
for and after any self…righteous man？ No； no； they are the publicans
and harlots； idolaters and Jerusalem sinners； for whom his bowels
thus yearn and tumble about within him： for； alas！ poor worms； they
have most need of mercy。
Had not the good Samaritan more compassion for that man that fell
among thieves （though that fall was occasioned by his going from the
place where they worshipped God； to Jericho； the cursed city） than we
read he had for any other besides？ His wine was for him； his oil was
for him； his beast for him； his penny； his care； and his swaddling
bands for him； for alas！ wretch； he had most need； Luke x。 30…35。
Zaccheus the publican； the chief of the publicans； one that had made
himself the richer by wronging of others； the Lord at that time
singled him out from all the rest of his brother publicans； and that
in the face of many Pharisees； and proclaimed in the audience of them
all； that that day salvation was come to his house； Luke xix。 1…8。
The woman also that had been bound down by Satan for eighteen years
together； his compassions putting him upon it； he loosed her； though
those that stood by snarled at him for so doing； Luke xiii。 11…13；
And why the woman of Sarepta； and why Naaman the Syrian； rather than
widows and lepers in Israel； but because their conditions were more
deplorable； （for that） they were most forlorn； and farthest from
help； Luke iv。 25； 27。
But I say； why all these； thus named？ why have we not a catalogue of
some holy men that were so in their own eyes； and in the judgment of
the world？ Alas if at any time any of them are mentioned； how
seemingly coldly doth the record of scripture present them to us？
Nicodemus； a night professor； and Simon the pharisee； with his fifty
pence； and their great ignorance of the methods of grace； we have now
and then touched upon。
Mercy seems to be out of his proper channel； when it deals with self…
righteous men； but then it runs with a full stream when it extends
itself to the biggest sinners。 As God's mercy is not regulated by
man's goodness； nor obtained by man's worthiness； so not much set out
by saving of any such。 But more of this anon。
And here let me ask my reader a question： suppose that as thou art
walking by some pond side； thou shouldst espy in it four or five
children all in danger of drowning； and one in more danger than all
the rest； judge which has most need to be helped out first？ I know
thou wilt say； he that is nearest drowning。 Why； this is the case；
the bigger sinner； the nearer drowning； therefore the bigger sinner
the more need of mercy； yea； of help by mercy in the first place。
And to this our text agrees； when it saith； 〃Beginning at Jerusalem。〃
Let the Jerusalem sinner； says Christ； have the first offer； the
first invitation； the first tender of my grace and mercy； for he is
the biggest sinner； and so has most need thereof。
Secondly； Christ Jesus would have mercy offered in the first place to
the biggest sinners； because when they； any of them； receive it； it
redounds most to the fame of his name。
Christ Jesus； as you may perceive； has put himself under the term of
a physician； a doctor for curing of diseases： and you know that
applause and fame； are things that physicians much desire。 That is
it that helps them to patients； and that also that will help their
patients to commit themselves to their skill for cure； with the more
confidence and repose of spirit。 And the best way for a doctor or
physician to get himself a name； is； in the first place； to take in
hand； and cure some such as all others have given off for lost and
dead。 Physicians get neither name nor fame by pricking of wheals； or
pricking out thistles； or by laying of plaisters to the scratch of a
pin； every old woman can do this。 But if they would have a name and
a fame； if they will have it quickly they must； as I said； do some
great and desperate cures。 Let them fetch one to life that was dead；
let them recover one to his wits that was mad； let them make one that
was born blind to see； or let them give ripe wits to a fool； these
are notable cures； and he that can do thus； and if he doth thus
first； he shall have the name and fame he desires； he may lie a…bed
till noon。
Why； Christ Jesus forgiveth sins for a name； and so begets of himself
a good report in the hearts of the children of men。 And therefore in
reason he must be willing； as also he did command； that his mercy
should be offered first to the biggest sinners。
〃I will forgive their sins； iniquities； and transgressions；〃 says he；
〃and it shall turn to me for a name of joy； and a praise and an
honour； before all the nations of the earth；〃 Jer。 xxxiii。 8； 9。
And hence it is； that at his first appearing he took upon him to do
such mighty works： he got a fame thereby； he got a name thereby；
Matt。 iv。 23； 24。
When Christ had cast the legion of devils out of the man of whom you
read； Mark v。； he bid him go home to his friends； and tell it： 〃Go
home；〃 saith he； 〃to thy friends； and tell them how great things God
has done for thee； and has had compassion on thee；〃 Mark v。 19。
Christ Jesus seeks a name； and desireth a fame in the world； and
therefore； or the better to obtain that； he commands that mercy
should first be proffered to the biggest sinners； because； by the
saving of one of them he makes all men marvel。 As 'tis said of the
man last mentioned； whom Christ cured towards the beginning of his
ministry： 〃And he departed；〃 says the text； 〃and began to publish in
Decapolis； how great things Jesus had done for him； and all men did
marvel；〃 ver。 20。
When John told Christ； that they saw one casting out devils in his
name； and they forbade him； because he followed not with them； what
is the answer of Christ？ 〃Forbid him not： for there is no man which
shall do a miracle in my name； that can lightly speak evil of me。〃
No； they will rather cause his praise to be heard； and his name to be
magnified； and so put glory on the head of Christ。
But we will follow a little our metaphor： Christ； as I said； has put
himself under the term of a physician； consequently he desireth that
his fame； as to the salvation of sinners； may spread abroad； and that
the world may see what he can do。 And to this end； he has not only
commanded； that the biggest sinners should have the first offer of
his mercy； but has； as physicians do； put out his bills； and
published his doings； that things may be read and talked of。 Yea； he
has moreover； in these his blessed bills； the holy scriptures I mean；
inserted the very names of persons； the places of their abode； and
the great cures that； by the means of his salvations； he has wrought
upon them to this very end。 Here is； Item； such a one； by my grace
and redeeming blood； was made a monument of everlasting life； and
such a one； by my perfect obedience； became an heir of glory。 And
then he produceth their names。
Item； I saved Lot from the guilt and damnation that he had procured
to himself by his incest。
Item； I saved David from the vengeance that belonged to him for
committing of adultery and murder。
Here is also Solomon； Manasseh； Peter； Magdalen； and many others；
made mention of in this book。 Yea； here are their names； their sins；
and their salvations recorded together； that you may read and know
what a Saviour he is； and do him honour in the world。 For why are
these things thus recorded； but to sho