the cause why the uproar increased, until Pilate had given sentence
upon him. "The chief priests and elders," says the text, "persuaded
(the people) the multitude," that they should ask Barabbas, and
destroy Jesus; Matt. xxvii. 20. And yet behold the priests, yea, a
great company of the priests, became obedient to the faith.

Oh the greatness of the grace of Christ, that he should be thus in
love with the souls of Jerusalem sinners! that he should be thus
delighted with the salvation of the Jerusalem sinners! that he should
not only will that his gospel should be offered them, but that it
should be offered unto them first, and before other sinners were
admitted to a hearing of it. "Begin at Jerusalem."

Were this doctrine well believed, where would there be a place for a
doubt, or a fear of the damnation of the soul, if the sinner be
penitent, how bad a life soever he has lived, how many soever in
number are his sins?

But this grace is hid from the eyes of men; the devil hides it from
them; for he knows it is alluring, he knows it has an attracting
virtue in it: for this is it that above all arguments can draw the
soul to God.

I cannot help it, but must let drop another word. The first church,
the Jerusalem church, from whence the gospel was to be sent into all
the world, was a church made up of Jerusalem sinners. These great
sinners were here the most shining monuments of the exceeding grace
of God.

Thus you see I have proved the doctrine; and that not only by showing