What man or angel could have thought that the Jerusalem sinners had
been yet on this side of an impossibility of enjoying life and mercy?
Hadst thou seen their actions, and what horrible things they did to
the Son of God; yea, how stoutly they backed what they did with
resolves and endeavours to persevere, when they had killed his
person, against his name and doctrine; and that there was not found
among them all that while, as we read of, the least remorse or regret
for these their doings; couldst thou have imagined that mercy would
ever have took hold of them, at least so soon! Nay, that they
should, of all the world, be counted those only meet to have it
offered to them in the very first place! For so my text commands,
saying, "Preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem."

I tell you the thing is a wonder, and must for ever stand for a
wonder among the sons of men. It stands also for an everlasting
invitation and allurement to the biggest sinners to come to Christ
for mercy.

Now since, in the opinion of all men, the revolter is such a one; if
he has, as I said before, any life in him, let him take encouragement
to come again, that he may live by Christ.

Eleventhly, Would Jesus Christ have mercy offered in the first place
to the biggest sinners? Then let God's ministers tell them so.
There is an incidence in us, I know not how it doth come about, when
we are converted, to contemn them that are left behind. Poor fools
as we are, we forget that we ourselves were so; Tit. iii. 2, 3.

But would it not become us better, since we have tasted that the Lord