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

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.