A66106:815
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.
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?
3. Especially if these applications are after some fall or relapse into such Sins as have wounded thy peace, and hidden his face for a season from thee. Doth he after this notwithstanding come again? Wonder, and be ashamed of thy self, when thou feelest his kisses and embraces again, empty thy soul in confessions, and self-judging acknowledgements into his bosom; so shalt thou be led on to more and more experiences of his wonderful loving kindness.
3. Especially if these applications are after some fall or relapse into such Sins as have wounded thy peace, and hidden his face for a season from thee. Doth he after this notwithstanding come again? Wonder, and be ashamed of thy self, when thou feelest his kisses and embraces again, empty thy soul in confessions, and self-judging acknowledgments into his bosom; so shalt thou be led on to more and more experiences of his wonderful loveing kindness.
Vers. 22. But the Father said to his Servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a Ring on his hand, and Shoes on his feet. Vers. 23. And bring hither the fatted Calf, and kill it; and let us eat and be merry. Vers. 24. For this my Son was dead, and i• alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The next thing to be considered is the Provision which the Father made for, and the entertainment which he gave to his returned Son, described in these Verses. I shall briefly insist on these things. Here we may observe an Allegorical description of the great benefits which God bestows upon a sinner on believing, or the wonderful change of his condition on Conversion. Whiles the Son is ⟨p. 332⟩complaining of his unworthiness, and accusing his own prodigality, his father, not so much by words, but by real acts gives him to find what favour he is received into. In the words observe, 1. The things that were done for him, vers. 22, 23. in which are, 1. The instruments used in doing them; his servants. 2. What they were to do; bring forth, &c. What these things allude to will be considered of in their place. 3. To what end; let us eat, and be merry. 2. The reason given to it, vers. 24. for this my son, &c. 3. The fruit consequent upon it. vers. 24. and they began to be merry. Christ under the welcome given by a tender father to his returning son, would shadow to us the welcome that a penitent finds with God, expressed with the greatest signs and tokens of a perfect reconciliation, and deepest affection, not only of love, but of joy too at his return: hence the servants are set to work; the best robe is brought forth to cover his nakedness, the fatted Calf killed, not only to feed, but feast him; a Ring is put on his hand, Shoes on his feet, and the whole house is filled with songs and mirth, and the very fields made to ring with acclamations of joy. In general observe this.
THe next thing to be considered is the Provision which the Father made for, and the entertainment which he gave to his returned Son, described in these Verses. I shall briefly insist on these things. Here we may observe an Allegorical description of the great benefits which God bestows upon a sinner on believing, or the wonderful change of his condition on Conversion. Whiles the Son is ⟨p. 332⟩complaining of his unworthiness, and accusing his own prodigality, his father, not so much by words, but by real acts gives him to find what favour he is received into. In the words observe, 1. The things that were done for him, vers. 22, 23. in which are, 1. The instruments used in doing them; his servants. 2. What they were to do; bring forth, &c. What these things allude to will be considered of in their place. 3. To what end; let us eat, and be merry. 2. The reason given to it, vers. 24. for this my son, &c. 3. The fruit consequent upon it. vers. 24. and they began to be merry. Christ under the welcome given by a tender father to his returning son, would shadow to us the welcome that a penitent finds with God, expressed with the greatest signs and tokens of a perfect reconciliation, and deepet affection, not only of love, but of joy too at his return: hence the servants are set to work; the best robe is brought forth tocover his nakedness, the fatted Calf killed, not only to feed, but feast him; a Ring is put on his hand, Shoes on his feet, and the whole house is filled with songs and mirth, and the very fields made to ring with acclamations of joy. In general observe this.
