A66106:841
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.
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,
1. The best robe is put upon him. [Gr. the first robe.] There is no other like it, and that is the robe of Christ's Righteousness, whereby his rages are removed, and the shame of his nakedness covered: The poor Prodigal had worn himself out, was all in tatters; he is not only clothed, but royally apparelled, Psal. 45. 13, 14. The word [[Greek or Hebrew]] signifies a long garment that comes to the ankles covering the whole body: This hides all his spiritual deformity, covers all his imperfections.
1. The best robe is put upon him. [Gr. the first robe.] There is no other like it, and that is the robe of Christ's Righteousness, whereby his rages are removed, and the shame of his nakedness covered: The poor Prodigal had worn himself out, was all in tatters; he is not only clothed, but royally apparelled, Psal. 45. 13, 14. The word [〈non-Latin alphabet〉] signifies a long garment that comes to the ankles covering the whole body: This hides all his spiritual deformity, covers all his imperfections.
2. A ring is put on his hand: Some understand it of Adoption: A ring with his fathers seal, acknowledging him to be of his family: others, to the same purpose, take it to be a token of his enfranchisement. Among the Romans, ⟨p. 337⟩none but free Citizens were to wear rings: others, for his ennoblement, among the Oriental nations, none but the Nobility had this privilege: others for the seal of the spirit: The Wedding Ring was given as a ratification of Marriage; so now the union between Christ and the soul is sealed and confirmed.
2. A ring is put on his hand: Some understand it of Adoption: A ring with his fathers seal, acknowledging him to be of his family: others, to the same purpose, take it to be a token of his enfranchisment. Among the Romans, ⟨p. 337⟩none but free Citizens were to wear rings: others, for his ennoblement, among the Oriental nations, none but the Nobility had this priviledge: others for the seal of the spirit: The Wedding Ring was given as a ratification of Marriage; so now the union between Christ and the soul is sealed and confirmed.
3. Shoes are put upon his feet: The feet are the affections, shoes are both for Ornament, and for saving the feet from harm: These shoes are the preparation of the Gospel of peace, Eph. 6. 15. The soul is adorned with sanctifying grace, and the affections preserved from being gravelled, and galled with the pebbles of carnal desires.
4. The fatted Calf is killed [Gr. the fatted Calf, sacrifice it] This intends Christ, and may bear some respect to the Sacrament of the Supper: the soul is now spiritually fit for it, and to be invited to it. In sum, the best preparation is made, the soul is feasted: i. e. Divine love is shed abroad, Rom. 5. 5. God gives him all his favours in titles and communicates of them to him, according to that measure which is best for him; and so much (at least) of Divine light is irradiated upon him, as enables him to rely upon Christ alone for life, and hope in his Grace. This must needs be a joyful day; for,
4. The fatted Calf is killed [Gr. the fatted Calf, sacrifice it] This intends Christ, and may bear some respect to the Sacrament of the Supper: the soul is now spiritually fit for it, and to be invited to it. In summe, the best preparation is made, the soul is feasted: i. e. Divine love is shed abroad, Rom. 5. 5. God gives him all his favours in titles and communicates of them to him, according to that measure which is best for him; and so much (at least) of Divine light is irradiated upon him, as enables him to rely upon Christ alone for life, and hope in his Grace. This must needs be a joyful day; for,
1. It is the day of Jubilee, which was always ⟨p. 338⟩joyful: Now the servant of sin goes out free; he that had before bound himself to a stranger, to Satan and his lusts, is set at liberty.
1. It is the day of Jubile, which was alwayes ⟨p. 338⟩joyful: Now the servant of sin goes out free; he that had before bound himself to a stranger, to Satan and his lusts, is set at liberty.
2. It is his Wedding day: which is always celebrated with symptoms of joy; more especially, when a Beggar is married to a Prince; when a condemned prisoner of Justice is honourably espoused, to the eternal Son of God.
2. It is his Wedding day: which is alwayes celebrated with symptomes of joy; more especially, when a Beggar is married to a Prince; when a condemned prisoner of Justice is honourably espoused, to the eternal Son of God.
3. It is his Birth day; the day wherein he was new born: his Resurrection day in which he riseth out of his grave, vers. 24. He was dead and is now alive. And that is a blessed day, Rev. 20. 6. Blessed is he that hath part in the first Resurrection.
4. It is the day of his Adoption; the day wherein the King of Glory entitles him his son, gives him a new Name, and seals up to him an irreversible deed of conveyance, wherein he confirms him in title to an inheritance worth many Worlds.
USE, 1: For Information.
1. Here we see how sincerely God speaketh, when he saith, As I live I delight not in the death of a sinner, but had rather he should repent and live. The satisfaction which he expresseth himself to take in a sinners conversion, is an abundant confirmation of it. If after God hath said and sworn it in his Word, there ⟨p. 339⟩should any make a doubt of it, let him go to the converted sinner, and he shall tell him such a story of God's abundant love, and that precious entertainment that he gave him, as shall make it evidently appear. If God did not take great delight in our Conversion, can we think that he would make such a royal feast to entertain us, & confer so many & such unspeakable benefits and blessings upon us? Do men use to kill and slay, to make noble feasts for the entertainment of those whom they have no delight to see?
2. Here we see a reason why the affections of the soul do often appear more ardent and overflowing towards God, about, or quickly after Conversion, than afterwards, and discover themselves, both,
