Good News for the Vilest of Men, Title page – To the reader
GOOD NEWS FOR THE Vilest of Men, Or, A HELP for DESPAIRING SOULS.
BEING A Discourse upon Luke 24.47. the latter part of the Verse.
SHEWING That JESƲS CHRIST would have MERCY in the First Place offered to the Biggest SINNERS.
By JOHN BƲNYAN of Bedford.
LONDON: Printed, and are to be Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopsgate, 1688.
TO THE READER.
Courteous Reader,
ONe reason which moved me to Write and Print his Little Book, was, because, though there …re many Excellent Heart-affecting Dis…ourses in the World that tends to Convert the Sinner; yet I had a desire to try this simple Method of mine: Wherefore I mak… bold thus to Invite an… Encourage the Wor… to come to Christ fo… Life.
I have been Vile m… self, but have obtaine… Mercy, and I would have my Companions in Sin partake of Mercy too, and therefore I have writ this Little Book.
The Nation doth swarm with Vile One… now, as ever it did since it was a Nation. My Little Book in some places can scarce go from House to House, but 'twill find a suitable Subject to spend it self upon. Now since Christ Jesus is willing to save the Vilest, why should they not by Name be somewhat acquainted with it, and bid come to him under that Name?
A great Sinner, when Converted, seems a booty to Jesus Christ; he gets by saving such an one; why then should both Jesus lose his Glory, and the Sinner lose his Soul at once, and that for want of an Invitation?
I have found through God's grace, good success in Preaching upon this Subject, and perhaps so I may, by my writing upon it too. I have; as you see, let down this Net for a draught, the Lord catch some great Fishes by it, for the magnifying of his Truth. There are some most Vile in all Mens eyes, and some are so in their own eyes too; but some have their Paintings to shroud their vileness under, yet they are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do: And for all these, God hath sent a Saviour Jesus: and to all these the Door is opened.
Wherefore prethee, Profane Man, give this little Book the reading. Come; Pardon, and a part in Heaven and Glory, cannot be hurtful to thee. Let not thy Lusts and Folly drive thee beyond the door of Mercy, since it is not lockt nor bolted up against thee. Manasseh was a bad Man, and Magdalen a bad Woman: To say nothing of the Thief upon the Cross, or of the murderers of Christ; yet they obtained mercy; Christ willingly received them.
And dost thou think that those once so bad, now they are in Heaven, repent them there, because they left their sins for Christ when they were in the world? I cannot believe but that thou thinkest they have verily got the best on't. Why Sinner, do thou likewise: Christ at Heaven Gates, says to thee, come hither; and the Devil at the gates of Hell does call thee to come to him. Sinner, what sayest thou? Whether wilt thou go? Don't go into the Fire, there thou wilt be burned! Don't let Jesus lose his longing, since 'tis for thy Salvation; but come to him and live.
One word more and so I have done. Sinner, here thou dost hear of Love, prethee don't provoke it, by turning it into wantonness. He that dies for slighting Love, sinks deepest into Hell, and will there be tormented by the remembrance of that evil, more than by the deepest cogitation of all his other sins. Take heed therefore, do not make Love thy Tormenter, Sinner.
Farewell.