Come & welcome to Jesus Christ, or, A plain and profitable discourse upon the…

And Kisses were of old time often used to remove Doubts and Fears. Thus Laban, and Esau, Kiss Jacob. Thus Joseph, Kissed his Brethren, and thus also David, Kissed Absalom, Gen. 31. 55. chap. 33. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. chap. 48. 9, 10. 2 Sam. 14. 33.

And Kisses were of old time often used to remove Doubts and Fears. Thus Laban, and Esau, Kiss Jacob. Thus Joseph, Kissed his Brethren, and thus also David, Kissed Absolom, Gen. 31. 55. chap. 33. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. chap. 48. 9, 10. 2 Sam. 14. 33.

'Tis true, as I said, at first setting out, he spake heartily, as sometimes Sinners also do in their beginning to come to Jesus Christ: But might not he, yea, in all probability he had, (between the first step he took, and the last, by which he accomplished that journey) many a thought, both this way, and that; as whether his Father would receive him, or no? As thus; I said, I would go to my Father: but how, if when I come at him, he should ask me, Where I have all this while bin; What must I say then? Also, if he asks me, What is become of the portion of Goods that he gave me; What shall I say then? If he asks me, Who have bin my Companions; What shall I say then? If he also shall ask me, What ⟨p. 198⟩hath bin my Preferment in all the time of mine absence from him; What shall I say then? Yea, and if he ask me, Why I came home no sooner; What shall I say then? Thus, I say, might he reason with himself; And being Conscious to himself, that he could give but a bad Answer to any of these Interrogatories; no marvel, if he stood in need first of all, of a Kiss from his Fathers Lips. For, had he answered the first, in Truth he must say, I have bin a haunter of Taverns, and Alehouses; and as for my Portion, I spent it in Riotous Living; my Companions, were Whores, and Drabs: As for my preferment, the highest was, that I became a Hoggard: and as for my not coming home till now, Could I have made shift to have staid abroad any longer, I had not lain at thy Feet for Mercy now.