A66106:331
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.
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?
2. They are most unprofitable as long as they live, they do no good all their life time, they clothe us not as the Sheep, nor labour for us as the Ox, &c. but are a mere charge without service: and as little good do ungodly men whiles they live in the world, Rom. 3. 12. They are altogether become unprofitable. They bring God no honour, but dishonour him all their days, only, as swine when they are dead are for our service, so when wicked men dye God will get Glory upon them in the eternal triumphs of Divine revenge.
2. They are most unprofitable as long as they live, they do no good all their life time, they cloath us not as the Sheep, nor labour for us as the Ox, &c. but are a meer charge without service: and as little good do ungodly men whiles they live in the world, Rom. 3. 12. They are altogether become unprofitable. They bring God no honour, but dishonour him all their dayes, only, as swine when they are dead are for our service, so when wicked men dye God will get Glory upon them in the eternal triumphs of Divine revenge.
3. They are a very mischievous creature, they are always doing damage, except carefully looked after; rooting up the ground, and breaking into the Corn, &c. Such are the ways of them that know not God, they are ever provoking him, dishonouring his Name, and doing mischief to his People, Psal. 58. 3, 4.
3. They are a very mischievous creature, they are alwayes doing damage, except carefully lookt after; rooting up the ground, and breaking into the Corn, &c. Such are the wayes of them that know not God, they are ever provoking him, dishonouring his Name, and doing mischief to his People, Psal. 58. 3, 4.
4. They are a nasty, brutish, filthy, loathsome ⟨p. 134⟩creature, always wallowing in the mire defiling themselves, and polluting of all that comes near them, if you should wash them clean they will presently fall to wallowing in the next slough they meet withal: And such is the whole life of wicked men, a mere pollution, they are always defiling themselves with unclean lusts, wallowing in the mire of sin, and never content but when they are entertaining themselves with filthiness: hence called corrupt and abominable, Psal. 14. 1, 3.
4. They are a nasty, brutish, filthy, lothsome ⟨p. 134⟩creature, alwayes wallowing in the mire defiling themselves, and polluting of all that comes near them, if you should wash them clean they will presently fall to wallowing in the next slough they meet withal: And such is the whole life of wicked men, a meer pollution, they are alwayes defiling themselves with unclean lusts, wallowing in the mire of sin, and never content but when they are entertaining themselves with filthiness: hence called corrupt and abominable, Psal. 14. 1, 3.
USE. Let this humble every unregenerate man: Are you out of Christ? you here see, that though you think your selves of worth and excellency, persons of merit and account, yet it is a vile account which Jesus Christ sets upon you; how long and base you are in his eyes: and let it teach all those who desire to pass a right judgement on persons and things, not overmuch to admire, or set too high an esteem upon those that are out of Christ: It cannot be less than the basest Idolatry, to worship and adore a nasty filthy swine.
Men labour hard, take a great deal of pains, ⟨p. 135⟩weary themselves in pursuit, and think why may not they obtain it as well as others? their opportunities are as fair, their understandings as pregnant, their endeavours as prudent and diligent, and still there is an unseen obstacle, a remora that is put to their endeavours, that they prosper not: That this is of God, the Prophet tells us, Hab. 2. 13. and he oftentimes makes it to be thus in order to their conversion and best good. And the reason why God takes this course is,
1. From the natural tendency which there is in outward prosperity to hinder a sinners conversion: for it is an occasion of making him proud, self-conceited, deaf to counsel, Jer. 22. 21. I spake to thee in thy prosperity, and thou wouldest not hear. When men are settled upon the world and their hearts are at ease, they. like not to be disturbed.
1. From the natural tendency which there is in outward prosperity to hinder a sinners conversion: for it is an occasion of making him proud, self-conceited, deaf to counsel, Jer. 22. 21. I spake to thee in thy prosperity, and thou wouldest not hear. When men are setled upon the world and their hearts are at ease, they. like not to be disturbed.
2. Because the natural man will never go to God as long as he hath any hopes else-where: if he can but have his belly full of husks, he cares for seeking no farther; he must therefore be taken off from every thing here, before he comes to rest upon Christ, who is the only foundation of true rest.
USE. 1. To teach us not to interpret God's providence in the worst sense: Do not be too ready to conclude that he hates you when he strips you of all, but observe the issue; be ⟨p. 136⟩not angry if he hides all created good from you, that he may make way throughly to reveal all his own increated excellencies to your souls; for know it, this is the best love of God you are capable of.
