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

Reas. 1. From the rebellion of the nature of fallen man: Man in his Apostasy shook off the yoke of obedience, and cannot endure to take it on him again: Ephraim professeth himself as an untamed heifer, that, not being accustomed to, knew not how to stoop under the yoke, Jer. 31. 18. Man is therefore said to be born as the wild Ass-colt, Job 11. 12. which never keeps in the inclosures, but hath the Wilderness for his range: Mans heart is become rebellious, and filled with a principle of enmity against, which makes him hate subjection to the law of God, Rom. 8. 7:

Reas. 1. From the rebellion of the nature of fallen man: Man in his Apostasie shook off the yoke of obedience, and cannot endure to take it on him again: Ephraim professeth himself as an untamed heifer, that, not being accostumed to, knew not how to stoop under the yoke, Jer. 31. 18. Man is therefore said to be born as the wild Ass-colt, Job 11. 12. which never keeps in the inclosures, but hath the Wilderness for his range: Mans heart is become rebellious, and filled with a principle of enmity against, which makes him hate subjection to the law of God, Rom. 8. 7:

Reas. 2. From the mistaken opinion which he hath taken up of liberty. Liberty is, if truly known, a most desirable good, and a great part of a Believers happiness, but the heart of ⟨p. 28⟩sinful man hath foolishly put that glorious title upon the worst of licentiousness, and hereupon he accounts himself to be under intolerable restraint, so long as he may not take his swing in the world: and hence he esteems the law to be no better than a prison, which is indeed a perfect law of liberty.