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

It is true we have in these words only his deliberate purpose expressed; but we must remember that the will is the first subject of Religion, and when that is truly turned to God, there is a saving work wrought, and the whole man will follow, and so it did in this, vers. 20 he hath now renounced his far Country and made choice of God. The work here described is Repentance, but not a separate from, but ⟨p. 204⟩joined with & flowing from saving faith: for it was the spirit of Grace working faith in him, and acting of it who made him to draw this conclusion from the premises; that enabled him to adventure his soul upon God, and withal taught him how to do it in a penitent manner.

It is true we have in these words only his deliberate purpose expressed; but we must remember that the will is the first subject of Religion, and when that is truly turned to God, there is a saving work wrought, and the whole man will follow, and so it did in this, vers. 20 he hath now renounced his far Country and made choice of God. The work here described is Repentance, but not a separate from, but ⟨p. 204⟩joyned with & flowing from saving faith: for it was the spirit of Grace working faith in him, and acting of it who made him to draw this conclusion from the premises; that enabled him to adventure his soul upon God, and withal taught him how to do it in a penitent manner.

Hence those that place true Repentance in order before Faith, mistake: Though Faith usually first discovers it self to us in act of Repentance, and the comforts of it are sensibly felt after Repentance; yea, the greatest and noblest actings of faith are those that are exerted in Repentance; leading the soul in deepest sense of sin and unworthiness, to adventure it self upon the mercy and power of a justly offended God, in returning to him.