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

USE, 1. Here we see how far those are from true Repentance, who instead of aggravating, do mince and extenuate their Sins, and endeavour to make them look as small as they can, that they may be little affected with, or humbled for them. Many pretend they have come to God, and believed in him, but how did they come? Why, as the Pharisee, with their proud boastings, not as the Publican, with a Lord have mercy on me a sinner. They have looked for ⟨p. 228⟩Grace and Mercy, not on the account of Christ alone, but their encouragement hath been, they have been better than others, have good a nature, have not been tainted with such Sins, nor so dishonoured God, &c. This is not the way of Gospel-Repentance; such as these are far from true conversion; there is yet a great work to do for and upon them if ever they come to be made sharers of saving mercies.

USE, 2. This may serve to answer that usual objection or discouragement which many awakened sinners are exercised withal, and deterred by, from coming to Christ; viz. the greatness of their sins, their heinousness, their amazing aggravations, they have not finned at the ordinary rate, but exceeded, and none have sinned like them; they have gotten to speak terribly against themselves: and hence they are ready to draw a desperate conclusion, there is no hope for me: This you see directly contradicts the Gospel method; whereas you ought thus to argue, therefore there is the greatest need for me above all: Let those that think their wounds small, that hope to cure them themselves, or to out-grow them, let such tarry away; but for me, I must perish if I go not to the Physician; yea, this may animate you to this, to consider, this is the way of Christ; he makes sin very bitter, Jer. 2. 19. Where he intends to afford his grace and salvation; and ⟨p. 229⟩till you find it to be so, you are not fit for mercy: there is no plea for mercy more acceptable to or prevalent with Christ, than that which is framed from the sensible acknowledgement, of its Sin in its greatest aggravations: The worse we count of our selves, the better he likes us, and the fitter we are for his grace to work upon; let this then drive thee the more resolutely to him.