Thereisnothingmoreincidenttomenthatareawakeintheirsouls，thantohavewrongthoughtsofGod；thoughtsthatarenarrow，andthatpinchandpenuphismercytoscantyandbeggarlyconclusions，andrigidlegalconditions；supposingthatitisrude，andanintrenchinguponhismajesty，tocomeourselves，ortoinviteothers，untilwehavescrapedandwashed，andrubbedoffasmuchofourdirtfromusaswethinkisconvenient，tomakeussomewhatorderlyandhandsomeinhissight。Suchneverknewwhatthesewordsmeant，\"BeginatJerusalem：\"yea，suchintheirheartshavecomparedtheFatherandhisSontoniggardlyrichmen，whosemoneycomesfromthemlikedropsofblood。True，sayssuch，Godhasmercy，butheisloathtopartwithit；youmustpleasehimwell，ifyougetanyfromhim；
heisnotsofreeasmanysuppose，norishesowillingtosaveassomepretendedgospellersimagine。ButIasksuch，iftheFatherandSonbenotunspeakablyfreetoshewmercy，whywasthisclauseputintoourcommissiontopreachthegospel？Yea，whydidhesay，\"BeginatJerusalem：\"forwhenmen，throughtheweaknessoftheirwits，haveattemptedtoshewotherreasonswhytheyshouldhavethefirstprofferofmercy；yetIcanprove（bymanyundeniablereasons）
thattheyofJerusalem（towhomtheapostlesmadethefirstoffer，accordingastheywerecommanded）werethebiggestsinnersthateverdidbreatheuponthefaceofGod’searth，（settheunpardonablesinaside），uponwhichmydoctrinestandslikearock，thatJesustheSonofGodwouldhavemercyinthefirstplaceofferedtothebiggestsinners：andifthisdothnotshewtheheartoftheFatherandtheSontobeinfinitelyfreeinbestowingforgivenessofsins，Iconfessmyselfmistaken。
Neitheristhere，setthisaside，anotherargumentlikeit，toshewusthewillingnessofChristtosavesinners；for，aswassaidbefore，alltherestofthesignsofChrist’smercifulnessmighthavebeenlimitedtosinnersthataresoandsoqualified；butwhenhesays，\"BeginatJerusalem，\"thelineisstretchedouttotheutmost：
nomancanimaginebeyondit；anditisfollyheretopinchandpare，tonarrow，andseektobringitwithinscantybounds；forheplainlysaith，\"BeginatJerusalem，\"thebiggestsinneristhebiggestsinner；thebiggestistheJerusalemsinner。