A66106:322
Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse wherein Christs parable of the lost son found is opened and applied as it was delivered in sundry sermons / by Samuel Willard ...
printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Philips, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The young man, if he could have had his fill of husks, would have thought himself happy. It is an hard matter to persuade a blind sinner that his misery is any where else to be repaired, his great longings are to be filled with husks, to have his desires answered in the things below. This is evident,
The young man, if he could have had his fill of husks, would have thought himself happy. It is an hard matter to perswade a blind sinner that his misery is any where else to be repaired, his great longings are to be filled with husks, to have his desires answered in the things below. This is evident,
1. From the restless endeavours which natural men use for the obtaining of the things of this life: That which a mans utmost desires and endeavours are laid out about, that is that which he builds his hopes upon, and such is the world to the men of the world: All mens projects, aims and endeavours run this way, their ⟨p. 128⟩heads are always rolling, their hands and feet always moving to this; for this it is they rise up early, sit up late, wear themselves out in restless labour, that they may grasp in as much as they can of these things; yea, the Psalmist undertakes to tell us what are their inward thoughts, Psal. 94. 11. Their inwards thought is that their houses shall continue for ever.
1. From the restless endeavours which natural men use for the obtaining of the things of this life: That which a mans utmost desires and endeavours are laid out about, that is that which he builds his hopes upon, and such is the world to the men of the world: All mens projects, aims and endeavours run this way, their ⟨p. 128⟩heads are alwayes roling, their hands and feet alwayes moving to this; for this it is they rise up early, sit up late, wear themselves out in restless labour, that they may grasp in as much as they can of these things; yea, the Psalmist undertakes to tell us what are their inward thoughts, Psal. 94. 11. Their inwards thought is that their houses shall continue for ever.
2. From the confidence which worldly men place in their enjoyment of the things of the world: If once they prosper, they presently grow high, and proud, and self-conceited, though formerly they carried themselves low and humble: yea, now they begin to be become regardless of convictions, and too good for reproofs; yea, they are strongly confident, and presumptuously take up their rest here: They are upon this account called their strong City, Pro. 18. 11.
3. From the miserable complaint which they make when they lose these things: they are presently undone, their gods are taken from them, their hopes vanish, and they begin to despair; they now think all joy is departed, and they must never expect to see good day more; their bladders are pricked, and now they sink: And did not men lean their weight upon those things, they would not so anxiously perplex their souls at the loss of them.
3. From the miserable complaint which they make when they lose these things: they are presently undone, their gods are taken from them, their hopes vanish, and they begin to despair; they now think all joy is departed, and they must never expect to see good day more; their bladders are prickt, and now they sink: And did not men lean their weight upon those things, they would not so anxioussy perplex their souls at the loss of them.
Reason. 1. From the sensuality which possesseth ⟨p. 129⟩the heart of every natural man: Man i become a slave to his sense, whence it comes to pass that he is persuaded to judge these thing to be most suitable for him: sin having thrown all out of order; sense is now gotten above reason; hence, as swine run after husks, because they suit their nature, and are proper for their kind, so natural men find and taste a sensitive sweetness in the things of the world, and that makes them to say, Happy is the People that is in such a case. Psal. 144, ult.
Reason. 1. From the sensuality which possesseth ⟨p. 129⟩the heart of every natural man: Man i become a slave to his sense, whence it comes to pass that he is perswaded to judge these thing to be most sutable for him: sin having thrown all out of order; sense is now gotten above reason; hence, as swine run after husks, because they sute their nature, and are proper for their kind, so natural men find and taste a sensitive sweetness in the things of the world, and that makes them to say, Happy is the People that is in such a case. Psal. 144, ult.
Reas. 2. From the natural ignorance which there is in unregenerate men of better things: Man by sin hath lost the knowledge and apprehension of spiritual and heavenly things, he understands not what they mean, 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not (i. e. into his understanding) the things of the spirit of God. The highest reach of his understanding is to find and apprehend some seeming outward repast in the comforts and conveniences of this world, and hence he aspires no higher. As a beast is not acquainted with the excellency of a rational life, and hence he accounts his own the best, looks after no better: Now every man is become brutish, as the Scripture informs us.
Reas. 2. From the natural ignorance which there is in unregenerate men of better things: Man by sin hath lost the knowledge and apprehension of spiritual and heavenly things, he understands not what they mean, 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not (i. e. into his understanding) the things of the spirit of God. The highest reach of his understanding is to find and apprehend some seeming outward repast in the comforts and conveniencies of this world, and hence he aspires no higher. As a beast is not acquainted with the excellency of a rational life, and hence he accounts his own the best, looks after no better: Now every man is become brutish, as the Scripture informs us.
Reas. 3. From the delusion of Satan and the World, who promise to vain man more from the enjoyment of these things, than ever they ⟨p. 130⟩can perform for him; and the credulous soul is ready to believe them, and the rather, because these things are seen, whereas spiritual things are not seen: Satan presents the world in a fine and fair dress, and the heart of man is easily deluded; he thinks it to be all out as good as it looks for, and so his affections are stolen away, Isa. 44. 20.
Reas. 3. From the delusion of Satan and the World, who promise to vain man more from the enjoyment of these things, than ever they ⟨p. 130⟩can perform for him; and the credulous soul is ready to believe them, and the rather, because these things are seen, whereas spiritual things are not seen: Satan presents the world in a fine and fair dress, and the heart of man is easily deluded; he thinks it to be all out as good as it looks for, and so his affections are stollen away, Isa. 44. 20.
USE, 1. Hence wonder not to see the men of the world carried out so instantly, and with such eagerness in pursuit of the things of this life: their poor, hungry, starving souls want supply, and they hope to fill their bellies with these things; they are their happiness: could we but see the inside of the greedy worldling, and know what conceptions he entertains himself withal, how he promiseth himself all peace, comfort, content and felicity in the creature, (our saviour characterizeth him to the life, in, Luk. 12. 17, 18, 19.) We would no more wonder at his violence, his eager and immoderate pursuit after them, every man loveth life, is •oth to perish, and is therefore (in distress) ready to say, who shall show me good, and now through his own mistake, increased by the devils delusion, and the worlds flatteries, he conceives that he hath found it: Oh! thinks he, could I but have my belly full of these husks, I should be well of it: he envies the very swine their draff, and could he but be ⟨p. 131⟩quartered with them, he would desire no more.
USE, 1. Hence wonder not to see the men of the world carried out so instantly, and with such eagerness in pursuit of the things of this life: their poor, hungry, starving souls want supply, and they hope to fill their bellies with these things; they are their happiness: could we but see the inside of the greedy worldling, and know what conceptions he entertains himself withall, how he promiseth himself all peace, comfot, content and felicity in the creature, (our saviour characterizeth him to the life, in, Luk. 12. 17, 18, 19.) We would no more wonder at his violence, his eager and immoderate pursuit after them, every man loveth life, is •oth to perish, and is therefore (in distress) ready to say, who shall shew me good, and now through his own mistake, encreased by the devils delusion, and the worlds flatteries, he conceives that he hath found it: Oh! thinks he, could I but have my belly full of these husks, I should be well of it: he envyes the very swine their draffe, and could he but be ⟨p. 131⟩quartered with them, he would desire no more.
USE, 2. Here we are informed that an eager, resolute, and insatiable pursuit after the things of this world, is an argument of an unregenerate man; or an evidence of one that is not as yet truly converted unto God. It is clear and undeniable, that a mans chief good is his highest pursuit; and hence if he makes those things his utmost reach, it is a proof that he never knew better, and that is the very reason why he is so violent after them: Wonder not then that covetousness is so often in Scripture branded with the odious name of Idolatry; it being a resolved and not to be questioned Truth, that the World is the covetous mans God.
USE, 3. Let this consideration be an incentive and strong persuasive to the people of God, to stir them up to the more eagerness in pursuit after heaven and heavenly things, and to look for your souls satisfaction in them: When you see the men of the world so eager and busy in seeking to load themselves with thick clay, how should it fill you with an holy emulation, and excite you with utmost endeavour to labour to outstrip them in this more profitable pursuit? And it may encourage you to be as diligent as; yea more solicitous than they, to consider.
USE, 3. Let this consideration be an incentive and strong perswasive to the people of God, to stir them up to the more eagerness in pursuit after heaven and heavenly things, and to look for your souls satisfaction in them: When you see the men of the world so eager and busie in seeking to load themselves with thick clay, how should it fill you with an holy emulation, and excite you with utmost endeavour to labour to outstrip them in this more profitable pursuit? And it may encourage you to be as diligent as; yea more sollicitous than they, to consider.
1. That they labour for the things that perish, but you are an enduring substance: When they have gotten it (if ever they do get the World) it soon vanisheth away again; but what you have in your eye and aim, is a treasure that endures, and never will wax old or go to decay: With this argument the Apostle stirs up his Corinthians, 1 Cor. 9. 25. They do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, but we are incorruptible.
1. That they labour for the things that perish, but you are an enduring substance: When they have gotten it (if ever they do get the World) it soon vanisheth away again; but what you have in your eye and aim, is a treasure that endures, and never will wax old or go to decay: With this argument the Apostle stirrs up his Corinthians, 1 Cor. 9. 25. They do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, but we are incorruptible.
2. They seek that which shall never fill their bellies, never give them satisfaction: Their eye is never satisfied with seeing, &c. But God hath promised you to satisfy your most enlarged desires, Psal. 81. 9. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. He hath told you that he will give you durable riches and righteousness, you shall be abundantly satisfied and filled: This is the way to enjoy abundance, to inherit substance; your labour shall never be lost, nor shall you ever see cause to repent of your care and pains, when you shall find, not your hands full of husks which satisfy not, but your souls replenished with grace and glory.
2. They seek that which shall never fill their bellies, never give them satisfaction: Their eye is never satisfied with seeing, &c. But God hath promised you to satisfie your most enlarged desires, Psal. 81. 9. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. He hath told you that he will give you durable riches and righteousness, you shall be abundantly satisfied and filled: This is the way to enjoy abundance, to inherit substance; your labour shall never be lost, nor shall you ever see cause to repent of your care and pains, when you shall find, not your hands full of husks which satisfie not, but your souls replenished with grace and glory.
It is certain that our Saviour by this term aims at these, and indeed they are very much alike, for,
1. Swine love to live upon husks and draff: The coursest and meanest things best content them: Thus, give a natural man the things of this world, and let who likes it take heaven, hence it's said, their names are written in the earth, Jer. 17. 13. they aspire no higher; how like a hog did he express himself, that protested he would not change his part in Paris for a part in Paradise?
