Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Timothy 1:15

15 This is a faithful saying , and worthy of all acceptation , that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners , of whom I am chief .

The following saying, which is the great Proposition of the Gospel is a saying that is in it self true, and wherein God hath declared his truth.

And worthy to be with all thankfulness, received, believed and accepted.

That Jesus Christ being sent of the Father, in the fulness of time, was incarnate, lived, and dyed in the World; not only to set sinners an Example of a be[illegible: 2 letters]er life, nor onely to make God placable towards men, that if they would they might be saved; but to purchase a certain Salvation for sinners, satisfying Divine Justice, and Meriting all grace necessary to bring them to Salvation, to carry the lost Sheep home upon his Shoulders. Yea, though they had been great wanderers, [non-Latin text not transcribed].

And I was as great a one as any other, yea, the chiefest. Paul though converted, had his former sin of Persecution before his Eyes. Persecutors are some of the chief of sinners. Some will have the relative of which to refer to the saving mentioned. Of which sinners brought to Salvation I am the great President, having been so great a sinner as I have been and yet received to Mercy.

Marginal references: Mat. 9.13. Mark 2.17. Luk. 19.10. 1 Joh. 3.5.