A66106:830
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.
When God comes to receive a penitent Prodigal into favour again, it is a time of singing and mirth. It is a day of joy.
1. To God himself the father testified his joy for his Son's recovery, by his entertainment; so doth God by his of a sinner: though God properly have no affections, which are passions, and tokens of imperfection, yet he assumes such things to himself for our instruction: and not only so, but providentially in the application of himself to the soul, he doth such things, as are witnesses of such affections in men: Where men love much, they will do much: Feasts are tokens of joy, great feasts of great joy.
Reas. 1. From his relation; he is a son, though he hath been a Prodigal; he was chosen from Eternity; and this relation blots out all. Alexander told Antipater, accusing his mother of vile actions, one tear of a mother will obliterate all anger: God useth this argument for Paul, when Ananias speak hard of him, Act. 9. 15. He is a chosen vessel.
Reas. 2. From the great change wrought: His son was dead and is alive, was lost and is ⟨p. 334⟩found. With what joy did those women whose sons Elisha and Christ raised, entertain them: How glad is a tender Parent to find a Child that hath been lost? here is matter of much joy: Thus it is with a sinner: he is raised from a grave of sin, and found in the wilderness of his wandering.
Reas. 2. From the great change wrought: His son was dead and is alive, was lost and is ⟨p. 334⟩found. With what joy did those women whose sons Elisha and Christ raised, entertain them: How glad is a tender Parent to find a Child that hath been lost? here is matter of much joy: Thus it is with a sinner: he is raised from a grave of sin, and found in the wilderness of his wandring.
Reas. 3. Because now God's great design of glorifying his grace in this sinners recovery is brought about, the foundation of that work is laid in his heart; now all men are glad when their main designs are accomplished.
2. To the blessed Angels: These may in part be looked upon as the servants here employed, who attended cheerfully in this service; for they are ministering spirits for the heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1. 14. And that Angels are glad at a sinners Conversion is asserted, context, vers. 10.
2. To the blessed Angels: These may in part be looked upon as the servants here employed, who attended cheerfully in this fervice; for they are ministring spirits for the heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1. 14. And that Angels are glad at a sinners Conversion is asserted, context, vers. 10.
Reas. 1. From their relation to Believers, they are their brethren, fellow Servants, fellow Citizens, and such for whose salvation they do minister.
Reas. 2. From the great delight they take in the glory of God, for which as they were made, so they lay out their utmost labour and endeavour.
3. If the spirits of just men made perfect could have any acquaintance with the affairs of this lower World, they would certainly ⟨p. 335⟩shout and sing for joy; such is their love to their brethren now it is perfected, but,
4. It is certainly a joy to the Saints on earth, to them that love God, to such as are true Believers: and thus our goodness in one respect extends to them, Psal. 16. 2. It cannot but affect their hearts with great joy when they see or hear of any that are brought home to God, the family of Saints are much refreshed with it.
Reas. 1. Because God is glorified by it, and Satan defeated: God hath one more subject, and Satan loseth a vassal by it: It adds to the enlargement of the Kingdom of Christ, and his Name is so much the less dishonoured in the world.
Reas. 2. Because they have now one more fellow citizen of the new Jerusalem: the Church militant is augmented, and the Church triumphant shall be increased by it: Believers are called Citizens, Eph. 2. 19.
Reas. 2. Because they have now one more fellow citizen of the new Jerusalem: the Church militant is augmented, and the Church triumphant shall be encreased by it: Believers are called Citizens, Eph. 2. 19.
Reas. 3. Because it is that they have prayed for, and in their places endeavoured: All Christians pray for it when they say, Thy Kingdom come: and some have prayed for it in particular: Their Godly Ministers have laboured earnestly about it, with God, and with them: And these are the Servants that ministerially apply these things to them, ⟨p. 336⟩even all consolation, and it is a joy to them to do it. Their Godly Parents and Neighbours have long waited for this day, and therefore it brings to them the glad tidings of great joy.
Reas. 3. Because it is that they have prayed for, and in their places endeavoured: All Christians pray for it when they say, Thy Kingdom come: and some have prayed for it in particular: Their Godly Ministers have laboured earnestly about it, with God, and with them: And these are the Servants that ministerially apply these things to them, ⟨p. 336⟩even all consolation, and it is a joy to them to do it. Their Godly Parents and Neighbours have long waited for this day, and therefore it brings to them the glad tydings of great joy.
5. And that I chiefly aim at, It is a day of great joy to the Convert himself. I do not say that he is always immediately under the clear apprehension of it, though often great measures of comfort are for the present given him; but now the foundation of all his joy is laid: God now applies his great love to him; for,
5. And that I chiefly aim at, It is a day of great joy to the Convert himself. I do not say that he is alwayes immediatly under the clear apprehension of it, though often great measures of comfort are for the present given him; but now the foundation of all his joy is laid: God now applys his great love to him; for,
