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Manasseh the king。 So long as he was a ring…leading sinner； the
great idolater； the chief for devilism； the whole land flowed with
wickedness； for he 〃made them to sin；〃 and do worse than the heathen
that dwelt round about them； or that was cast out from before them：
but when God converted him； the whole land was reformed。 Down went
the groves； the idols； and altars of Baal； and up went true religion
in much of the power and purity of it。 You will say； The king
reformed by power。 I answer； doubtless； and by example too； for
people observe their leaders； as their fathers did； so did they； 2
Chron。 xxxiii。 2。
This； therefore； is another reason why Jesus would have mercy offered
in the first place to the biggest sinners； because that is the best
way； if they receive it； most to weaken the kingdom of Satan； and to
keep it poor and low。
And do you not think now； that if God would but take hold of the
hearts of some of the most notorious in your town； in your family； or
country； that this thing would be verified before your faces？ It
would； it would； to the joy of you that are godly； to the making of
hell to sigh； to the great suppressing of sin； the glory of Christ；
and the joy of the angels of God。 And ministers should； therefore；
that this work might go on； take advantages to persuade with the
biggest sinners to come into Christ； according to my text； and their
commissions； 〃Beginning at Jerusalem。〃
Fifthly； Jesus Christ would have mercy offered； in the first place；
to the biggest sinners； because such； when converted； are usually the
best helps in the church against temptations； and fittest for the
support of the feeble…minded there。 Hence； usually； you have some
such in the first plantation of churches； or quickly upon it。
Churches would do but sorrily； if Christ Jesus did not put such
converts among them： they are the monuments and mirrors of mercy。
The very sight of such a sinner in God's house； yea； the very thought
of him； where the sight of him cannot be had； is ofttimes greatly for
the help of the faith of the feeble。
〃When the churches （said Paul） that were in Judea； heard this
concerning me； that he which persecuted them in time past； now
preached the faith which once he destroyed； they glorified God in
me；〃 Gal。 i。 20…24。
〃Glorified God。〃 How is that？ Why； they praised him； and took
courage to believe the more in the mercy of God； for that he had had
mercy on such a great sinner as he。 They glorified God 〃in me；〃 they
wondered that grace should be so rich； as to take hold of such a
wretch as I was； and for my sake believed in Christ the more。
There are two things that great sinners are acquainted with； when
they come to divulge them to the saints； that are a great relief to
their faith。
1。 The contests that they usually have with the devil at their
parting with him。
2。 Their knowledge of his secrets in his workings。
For the first； The biggest sinners have usually great contests with
the devil at their partings； and this is an help to saints： for
ordinary saints find afterwards what the vile ones find at first； but
when at the opening of hearts； the one finds himself to be as the
other； the one is a comfort to the other。 The lesser sort of sinners
find but little of this； till after they have been some time in
profession； but the vile man meets with his at the beginning。
Wherefore he； when the other is down； is ready to tell that he has
met with the same before； for； I say； he has had it before。 Satan is
loath to part with a great sinner。 What my true servant （quoth he）；
my old servant； wilt thou forsake me now？ having so often sold
thyself to me to work wickedness； wilt thou forsake me now？ Thou
horrible wretch； dost not know； that thou hast sinned thyself beyond
the reach of grace； and dost think to find mercy now？ Art not thou a
murderer； a thief； a harlot； a witch； a sinner of the greatest size；
and dost thou look for mercy now？ Dost thou think that Christ will
foul his fingers with thee？
'Tis enough to make angels blush； saith Satan； to see so vile a one
knock at heaven…gates for mercy； and wilt thou be so abominably bold
to do it？ Thus Satan dealt with me； says the great sinner； when at
first I came to Jesus Christ。 And what did you reply？ saith the
tempted。 Why； I granted the whole charge to be true； says the other。
And what； did you despair； or how？ No； saith he； I said； I am
Magdalen； I am Zaccheus； I am the thief； I am the harlot； I am the
publican； I am the prodigal； and one of Christ's murderers： yea；
worse than any of these； and yet God was so far off from rejecting of
me （as I found afterwards）； that there was music and dancing in his
house for me； and for joy that I was come home unto him。 O blessed
be God for grace （says the other）； for then I hope there is favour
for me。 Yea； as I told you； such a one is a continual spectacle in
the church； for every one to behold God's grace and wonder by。
Secondly； And as for the secrets of Satan； such as are suggestions to
question the being of God； the truth of his word； and to be annoyed
with devilish blasphemies； none more acquainted with these than the
biggest sinners at their conversion； wherefore thus also they are
prepared to be helps in the church to relieve and comfort the other。
I might also here tell you of the contests and battles that such are
engaged in； wherein they find the besettings of Satan； above any
other of the saints。 At which times Satan assaults the soul with
darkness； fears； frightful thoughts of apparitions； now they sweat；
pant； cry out； and struggle for life。
The angels now come down to behold the sight； and rejoice to see a
bit of dust and ashes to overcome principalities and powers； and
might； and dominions。 But； as I said when these come a little to be
settled； they are prepared for helping others； and are great comforts
unto them。 Their great sins give great encouragement to the devil to
assault them； and by these temptations Christ takes advantage to make
them the more helpful to the churches。
The biggest sinner； when he is converted； and comes into the church；
says to them all； by his very coming in； Behold me； all you that are
men and women of a low and timorous spirit； you whose hearts are
narrow； for that you never had the advantage to know； because your
sins are few； the largeness of the grace of God。 Behold； I say； in
me； the exceeding riches of his grace！ I am a pattern set forth
before your faces； on whom you may look and take heart。 This； I say；
the great sinner can say； to the exceeding comfort of all the rest。
Wherefore； as I have hinted before； when God intends to stock a place
with saints； and to make that place excellently to flourish with the
riches of his grace； he usually begins with the conversion of some of
the most notorious thereabouts； and lays them as an example to allure
others； and to build up when they are converted。
It was Paul that must go to the Gentiles； because Paul was the most
outrageous of all the apostles； in the time of his unregeneracy。
Yea； Peter must be he； that after his horrible fall； was thought
fittest； when recovered again； to comfort and strengthen his
brethren。 See Luke xxii。 31； 32。
Some must be pillars in God's house； and if they be pillars of cedar；
they must stand while they are stout and sturdy sticks in the forest；
before they are cut down； and planted or placed there。
No man； when he buildeth his house； makes the principal parts thereof
of weak or feeble timber； for how could such bear up the rest？ but of
great and able wood。 Christ Jesus also goeth this way to work； he
makes of the biggest sinners bearers and supporters to the rest。
This then； may serve for another reason； why Jesus Christ gives out
in commandment； that mercy should； in the first place； be offered to
the biggest sinners： because such； when converted； are usually the
best helps in the church against temptations； and fittest for the
support of the feeble…minded there。
Sixthly； Another reason why Jesus Christ would have mercy offered in
the first place to the biggest sinners； is； because they； when
converted； are apt to love him most。
This agrees both with Scripture and reason。 Scripture says so： 〃To
whom much is forgiven； the same loveth much。 To whom little is
forgiven； the same loveth little；〃 Luke vii。 47。 Reason says so：
for as it would be the unreasonablest thing in the world to render
hatred for love； and contempt for forgiveness； so it would be as
ridiculous to think； that the reception of a little kindness should
lay the same obligations upon the heart to love； as the reception of
a great deal。 I would not disparage the love of Christ； I know the
least drachm of it； when it reaches to forgiveness； is great above
all the world； but comparatively； there are greater extensions of the
love of Christ to one than to another。 He that has most sin； if
forgiven； is partaker of the greatest love； of the greatest
forgiveness。
I know also； that there are some； that from this very doctrine say；
〃Let us do evil that good may come；〃 and that turn the grace of our
God into lasciviousness。 But I speak not of the