reason should be helped in the first place. Thus it was with the
people concerned in the text, they were the worst of sinners,
Jerusalem sinners, sinners of the biggest size; and therefore such as
had the greatest need; wherefore they must have mercy offered to
them, before it be offered any where else in the world. "Begin at
Jerusalem," offer mercy first to a Jerusalem sinner. This man has
most need, he is farthest from God, nearest to hell, and so one that
has most need. This man's sins are in number the most, in cry the
loudest, in weight the heaviest, and consequently will sink him
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