But thus much for the sixth reason, why Christ Jesus would have mercy
offered in the first place to the biggest sinners, to wit, because
such sinners, when converted, are apt to love him most. The
Jerusalem sinners were they that outstripped, when they were
converted, in some things, all the churches of the Gentiles. "They
were of one heart, and of one soul, neither said any of them, that
aught of the things that they possessed was their own." "Neither was
there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of
lands or houses sold them, and brought the price of the things that
were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet," &c; Acts iv.
32-35. Now, shew me such another pattern if you can. But why did
these do thus? Oh! they were Jerusalem sinners. These were the men
that but a little before had killed the Prince of Life; and those to
whom he did, that notwithstanding, send the first offer of grace and
mercy. And the sense of this took them up betwixt the earth and the
heaven, and carried them on in such ways and methods as could never
be trodden by any since. They talk of the church of Rome, and set
her in her primitive state, as a pattern and mother of churches; when
the truth is, they were the Jerusalem sinners, when converts, that
out-did all the churches that ever were.

Seventhly, Christ Jesus would have mercy offered, in the first place,
to the biggest sinners; because grace when it is received by such,
finds matter to kindle upon more freely than it finds in other
sinners. Great sinners are like the dry wood, or like great candles,
which burn best and shine with biggest light. I lay not this down,
as I did those reasons before, to shew, that when great sinners are
converted, they will be encouragement to others, though that is true;
but to shew that Christ has a delight to see grace, the grace we
receive, to shine. We love to see things that bear a good gloss;