A66106:811
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.
2. God's love manifested in Conversion, discovers Sin under divers aggravations, which before were not seen. 1. That it was against that God who had loved him with an everlasting love, Jer. 31. 3. 2. Against Jesus Christ who had shed his blood for his redemption from hell. 3. Against the Holy Ghost that had so often striven with him, had waited so long, and left not till he had turned him, and now sin appears sinful, which before appeared only sorrowful.
USE, 1. For information;
1. We have here a note of distinction between a legal and a saving Repentance. The Scripture makes mention of both; it tells us of Ahab's repentance as well as of David's: It puts one name upon things vastly different; and if we would know how to distinguish them, here is it to be discerned: The one is effected by a spirit of Bondage, the other by the spirit of Adoption; the one is produced by te••ours, the other by love: the one confesseth […] Sin, vomits up his morsels, takes upon him a profession of holiness, driven to it by the dismal reflections of his own Conscience, and apprehensions ⟨p. 326⟩of the wrath to come: the other is taken into embraces of amity, confirmed with a kiss of favour; and by this his heart is melted into Godly sorrow, in his fathers arms he bemoans himself. The truly broken heart, is an heart broken with love.
1. We have here a note of distinction between a legal and a saving Repentance. The Scripture makes mention of both; it tells us of Ahab's repentance as well as of David's: It puts one name upon things vastly different; and if we would know how to distinguish them, here is it to be discerned: The one is effected by a spirit of Bondage, the other by the spirit of Adoption; the one is produced by te••ours, the other by love: the one confesseth 〈…〉 Sin, vomits up his morsels, takes upon him a profession of holiness, driven to it by the dismal reflexions of his own Conscience, and apprehensions ⟨p. 326⟩of the wrath to come: the other is taken into embraces of amity, confirmed with a kiss of favour; and by this his heart is melted into Godly sorrow, in his fathers arms he bemoans himself. The truly broken heart, is an heart broken with love.
2. Here we see when is the genuine season of godly sorrow; and the reason why a soul that is newly converted is so full of bitterness, complaints and self accusations. If a soul do not repent and bitterly mourn for Sin now, when shall he? before he could not, in heaven there will be no room for it. God the father, the great Husband man of his Vineyard, deals in great skill with the soul: For having broken up the fallow ground of the heart, and sown the seed of grace in it, he now sends seasonable showers upon it, to water the ridges thereof, that it may be made to bring forth a plentiful Harvest, Psalm. 126. 5. When should showers more seasonably fall on the ground than when the seed is cast in? Hence,
2. Here we see when is the genuine season of godly sorrow; and the reason why a soul that is newly converted is so full of bitterness, complaints and self accusations. If a soul do not repent and bitterly mourn for Sin now, when shall he? before he could not, in heaven there will be no room for it. God the father, the great Husband man of his Vineyard, deals in great skil with the soul: For having broken up the fallow ground of the heart, and sown the seed of grace in it, he now sends seasonable showres upon it, to water the ridges thereof, that it may be made to bring forth a plentiful Harvest, Psalm. 126. 5. When should showers more seasonably fall on the ground than when the seed is cast in? Hence,
1. They mistake themselves greatly who think that after Conversion the soul should do nothing but rejoice; as if there were now no room ••r sorrow for Sin, and self abasement, because their Sin is pardoned: Whereas, what doth more break an ingenious heart, than the pardoning of so great offence, and receiving ⟨p. 327⟩him to favour after such grievous provocations? God therefore when he hath made large promises of what he will do for his People, tells us what shall be the fruit of this love of his, Ezek 36. 31. Then shall you remember your evil ways, and loath your selves.
1. They mistake themselves greatly who think that after Conversion the soul should do nothing but rejoyce; as if there were now no room ••r sorrow for Sin, and self abasement, because their Sin is pardoned: Whereas, what doth more break an ingenious heart, than the pardoning of so great offence, and receiving ⟨p. 327⟩him to favour after such grievous provocations? God therefore when he hath made large promises of what he will do for his People, tells us what shall be the fruit of this love of his, Ezek 36. 31. Then shall you remember your evil wayes, and loath your selves.
2. Let it be for caution to such as are newly converted; though now they are and ought to be in bitterness for Sin, and to mourn for it before God, yet have a care of giving Satan advantage thereby to weaken your faith, and undermine the consolation arising from your interest in this grace. Godly sorrow, humility, repentance, are so to be exercised, as to be helpful to the strengthening, and not become impediments to the exercise of and activity of faith: Hence make that the great incentive to Godly sorrow, viz. the consideration that is against that God that loved you; let Divine love be set against Sin, and that will help both Faith and Repentance.
3. Let others beware of irregular applications to such as are mourning for Sin, and full of sorrow by reason of it: Do not take pains to dry up those tears; be not troubled at them, but rejoice: It is a very pleasant sight, an heart-comforting fight, to see any truly mourning for Sin. to give wise relief against despair, is prudence, but rather help and encourage godly sorrow. Though fair weather be pleasant, ⟨p. 328⟩yet showers may be more suitable, and make the earth more fertile: Paul repents not to have been instrumental to so good a work, 2 Cor. 7. 9, 10.
3. Let others beware of irregular applications to such as are mourning for Sin, and full of sorrow by reason of it: Do not take pains to dry up those tears; be not troubled at them, but rejoyce: It is a very pleasant sight, an heart-comforting fight, to see any truly mourning for Sin. to give wise relief against despair, is prudence, but rather help and encourage godly sorrow. Though fair weather be pleasant, ⟨p. 328⟩yet showers may be more suitable, and make the earth more fertile: Paul repents not to have been instrumental to so good a work, 2 Cor. 7. 9, 10.
3. Here we see a reason why those that have tasted most of the love of God, and manifestations of his grace to their souls, are most low and vile in their eyes: The reason is, because the more a soul hath had experience of the wonderful undeserved love of God, it feels the more sensible convictions of its own unworthiness and vileness. God's large expressions to David, made him reflect upon himself, and lay himself very low, 2 Sam. 7. 18, 19. If you are indeed truly converted, and have received the grace of God, you shall find this effect upon your own hearts; it will put the meanest and most abasing thoughts of your selves into you; it will draw out humble confessions, self-accusations, and acknowledgements of your own unworthiness: This must needs put you in mind of your low estate, sinful and miserable condition, and the unspeakably free grace of God thereon appearing.
3. Here we see a reason why those that have tasted most of the love of God, and manifestations of his grace to their souls, are most low and vile in their eyes: The reason is, because the more a soul hath had experience of the wonderful undeserved love of God, it feels the more sensible convictions of its own unworthiness and vileness. God's large expressions to David, made him reflect upon himself, and lay himself very low, 2 Sam. 7. 18, 19. If you are indeed truly converted, and have received the grace of God, you shall find this effect upon your own hearts; it will put the meanest and most abasing thoughts of your selves into you; it will draw out humble confessions, selfaccusations, and acknowledgments of your own unworthiness: This must needs put you in mind of your low estate, sinful and miserable condition, and the unspeakably free grace of God thereon appearing.
USE, 2. For Exhortation: This may serve to excite all true Believers to live in the constant exercise of Humility and Repentance: You here see it is the proper work of a Convert: Faith and Repentance are graces for exercise, and should take up our whole lives. ⟨p. 329⟩And to help to this duty, often ponder.
1. Who it was that converted thee; not thy self but God, he came to thee and saved thee.
2. What an one thou wert before conversion, a poor Prodigal, that had wasted all away, and flagitiously provoked, and dishonoured the Name of God.
3. What it cost to make way for thy Conversion, the cursed death of the Son of God.
4. How obstinately thou didst oppose thine own Conversion: Thou wert horribly averse to it, and didst long withstand the strivings of the holy spirit.
5. What love God hath expressed to thee in thy Conversion: Words fall short, and similitudes are too strait to demonstrate or give colour to it. Set the love of God before thee as a glass in which to see and hate thy Sin, and love thy God: Let this make thee worthless in thine own eyes and account. What expressions doth this love draw out from Paul? 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14. Act therefore these thoughts upon thy heart, and get thy soul warmed with this sense: And more especially,
1. Art thou a young Convert, newly of a Prodigal made, and entertained as a Son? This great change now requires an humble heart, now thou art in the arms of mercy, pour out thy confessions, and bemoan thy self.
2. Hast thou at any time more than ordinary discoveries of God's love to thee? Now be improving this as an argument to abase thee: Ask thy heart, who hath done this? and then, who am I that he should do thus for me?
