A66106:661
Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse
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.
4. Let these mercies break thy heart, and quicken thee to obedience: If we did but know our selves, the least mercy would do this: That is a proud heart, that is not softened by mercies, and quickened to duty too: The humble souls language is, What shall I render to the Lord? Psal. 116. 12. How should I live? What manner of one should I be who enjoy such favours, who might have been a back-log in hell, or ground between the millstones of Divine revenge? See therefore that you are unspeakably in debt to God for every favour, be it never so little, yet if the soul be humble as it ought to ⟨p. 271⟩be, it will point us to God, and put us upon obedience.
4. Let these mercies break thy heart, and quicken thee to obedience: If we did but know our selves, the least mercy would do this: That is a proud heart, that is not softened by mercies, and quickened to duty too: The humble souls language is, What shall I render to the Lord? Psal. 116. 12. How should I live? What manner of one should I be who enjoy such favours, who might have been a back-log in hell, or ground between the milstones of Divine revenge? See therefore that you are unspeakably in debt to God for every favour, be it never so little, yet if the soul be humble as it ought to ⟨p. 271⟩be, it will point us to God, and put us upon obedience.
5. Be content with the portion of mercy that you enjoy: It it pride that acknowledgeth not God in what we have, because we want our wills in something that God denies us: An humble soul is content with any thing: though he be poor, despised, afflicted, yet that he lives, hath any health, strength, &c. sets him down quiet: Learn to be humble, and that will teach you to close with all God's dispensations.