The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

But I pray let the Reader observe, though the Prodigal were content to be any thing, scour kettles in the kitchen, as Mr Hooker saith, yet still the Prodigal would be in his Fathers house, where was plenty of bread, for his starving condition; this Mr. Hooker acknowledgeth: Now this is no news, we bless God we ⟨p. 140⟩can experience this, how the Soul, in the sense of its vileness, dare not call God Father; to think of being a Son, it dares not, oh this is too high a condition; will but the Lord list me among his Servants, take me into his family, that I can but get within the door, that he will but own me for one of his family-upright Servants, O what rich mercy will this be, I shall adore it for ever: We know the meaning of this, but do we read the Prodigal saying thus? Nevertheless, Father, if thou wilt not take me into thy house, own me for a hired servant, though I scour kettles, but wilt shut the door for ever against me, never pity, never succour me, give me not one bit of bread, but let me lye without doors in bitter frosty nights, there eat my own flesh, starve and dye; yet since I have so offended thee, played the Prodigal, I am content, well apayed, satisfied in bearing thy wrath: This we must read in the Parable, else Mr. Hooker's dreadful doctrine hath no text or foundation to stand upon: and we bless God it hath not; for still it's the Fathers house, and bread the Prodigal desires, Mr. Hooker acknowledges, and the Text is clear enough; but a Contentation, to be left in sin, given up to lusts, shut out of doors [Heaven] and dwell in the everlasting burnings; never to be pitied; no Grace no Love of God; as these have taught us: not a syllable of this in the Parable.

But I pray let the Reader observe, though the Prodigal were content to be any thing, scoure kettles in the kitchin, as Mr Hooker saith, yet still the Prodigal would be in his Fathers house, where was plenty of bread, for his starving condition; this Mr. Hooker acknowledgeth: Now this is no news, we bless God we ⟨p. 140⟩can experience this, how the Soul, in the sense of its vileness, dare not call God Father; to think of being a Son, it dares not, oh this is too high a condition; will but the Lord list me among his Servants, take me into his family, that I can but get within the door, that he will but own me for one of his family-upright Servants, O what rich mercy will this be, I shall adore it for ever: We know the meaning of this, but do we read the Prodigal saying thus? Nevertheless, Father, if thou wilt not take me into thy house, own me for a hired servant, though I scoure kettles, but wilt shut the door for ever against me, never pity, never succour me, give me not one bit of bread, but let me lye without doors in bitter frosty nights, there eat my own flesh, starve and dye; yet since I have so offended thee, played the Prodigal, I am content, well apayed, satisfied in bearing thy wrath: This we must read in the Parable, else Mr. Hooker's dreadful doctrine hath no text or foundation to stand upon: and we bless God it hath not; for still it's the Fathers house, and bread the Prodigal desires, Mr. Hooker acknowledges, and the Text is clear enough; but a Contentation, to be left in sin, given up to lusts, shut out of doors [Heaven] and dwell in the everlasting burnings; never to be pitied; no Grace no Love of God; as these have taught us: not a syllable of this in the Parable.