Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse

Name: Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse
Author: Samuel Willard

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 ...

Samuel Willard 1640–1707printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Philips, 1684

[6], 391, [1] p. · 92k words · Wing W2285 · ESTC R40698

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Mercy Magnified ON A PENITENT Prodigal. › Sermon 10 › DOCT. II. God, in order to the conversion of a sinner, first works…: DOCT. II. God, in order to the conversion of a sinner, first works upon the understanding.

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.

[ Earlier:370–385 of 995

:370p. 149

The first step to true conversion is Divine Illumination. The Prodigal, before he thinks of returning to his Father, first comes to himself: The ground of this is in three things.

:371p. 149¶1

1. Man is a reasonable Creature, and a cause by counsel of his own actions: The understanding in man is the light in him, by which he regulates all his ways, and as he seeth so he practiseth. The reason why sinful men place their hopes in perishing things, is because they call evil good: This therefore is a main part of man's misery, that his understanding is perverted, Psal. 53. 2, 4.

1. Man is a reasonable Creature, and a cause by counsel of his own actions: The understanding in man is the light in him, by which he regulates all his wayes, and as he seeth so he practiseth. The reason why sinful men place their hopes in perishing things, is because they call evil good: This therefore is a main part of man's misery, that his understanding is perverted, Psal. 53. 2, 4.

:372p. 149¶2

2. Faith, which is wrought in conversion, is grounded upon knowledge, Psal. 9. 10. God dealeth with his creatures according to the manner of their being and acting: Faith is a choosing, and so a closing with God; but every choice ariseth from a rational and convincing discovery of the suitableness of the object chosen, and preference which it is conceived to deserve above others: now this discovery is made to the understanding, which is the eye of the mind whereby it seeth and judgeth of things. Hence,

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Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse

SERMON XI.

DOCT. Consideration is the first step towards conversion.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

SERMON XI.

DOCT. Consideration is the first step towards conversion.