A66106:942
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.
The Son is angry that his faithful service is not rewarded so much as with a kid: The Jews thought their fastings ill laid out, Isa. 58. begin. If they do not prosper, and all things go as their hearts can wish, legal spirited men think themselves abused.
Reas. Because such as rely upon their own works and doings, though they may have taken up an Evangelical profession, and have gotten the name of Christ in their mouths as a word of course; yet they were never truly broken off from themselves; they never saw the emptiness of their own righteousness, nor understood what unprofitable servants they are, when they have done all: There is a root of pride remaining in all unconverted men, they are not humbled as they ought to be: As long as a man thinks his doings to be of so much worth, he will consequently count himself injured, if they be not rewarded according to his expectation.
USE, 1. Here we see the very root and ⟨p. 373⟩and ground of all our repinings, and murmurings at the providences of God which do befall us; it proceeds from a legal spirit: It is because we set up our counters for gold, and rate our poor sorry doings beyond their desert: and particularly many grumble and complain that they have no fatted calf; i. e. feasting and joy, though they labour hard, and live conscientiously, yet they spend all their time in the dark, have not the provision and entertainment which others have. It is true, a Believer may walk in darkness, and want light; but to envy others theirs, and to find fault with God that they themselves enjoy it not, and though they have waited long for it, yet it comes not, hath too much of a legal spirit in it.
USE, 2. It may teach us, that if we would justify God in all his dealings to our selves and to others, we must learn to despise, and see the emptiness, and nothingness of all our own performances: They that had laboured all day, are angry that loiterers, and idle persons, that came in but at the eleventh hour, had their penny too as well as they; they judged their work worth something: Whereas an humble soul that counts his own righteousness rags, and polluted, that acknowledgeth free grace to preside •n all the dispensations of Divine favours; he will adore that grace which appears to others, ⟨p. 374⟩and patiently wait on God for the like favour, not repining that it comes not yet, but counting and confessing it an high favour if ever it comes.
USE, 2. It may teach us, that if we would justifie God in all his dealings to our selves and to others, we must learn to despise, and see the emptiness, and nothingness of all our own performances: They that had laboured all day, are angry that loyterers, and idle persons, that came in but at the eleventh hour, had their penny too as well as they; they judged their work worth something: Whereas an humble soul that counts his own righteousness rags, and polluted, that acknowledgeth free grace to preside •n all the dispensations of Divine favours; he will adore that grace which appears to others, ⟨p. 374⟩and patiently wait on God for the like favour, not repining that it comes not yet, but counting and confessing it an high favour if ever it comes.
Never be feasted with his special spiritual grace, never have a kid killed for him to feast it with his friends: The hypocrite never tastes one crumb of the Children's bread,
Never be feasted with his special spiritual grace, never have a kid killed for him to feast it with his friends: The hypocrite never tasts one crumb of the Childrens bread,
Reas. 1. From their incapacity; they are not in a state and condition to be feasted: joys and feasts are for the living, and not for the dead; whereas these men are not alive: they are painted sepulchres, but full of dead mens bones, they are really dead, though seemingly alive.
Reas. 2. Because the dispensation of God's special love and favour are not Legal, but Evangelical dispensations. God doth nothing for any of Adam's sinful progeny for the sake of their righteousness, but only of his free grace as long therefore as men boast of their doings they may do all their lives long, and God n• whit regard so as to accept of them: the proud Pharisee is not justified.
USE, 1. To teach us that when man hath done his utmost, still grace is free, and not owing to him: The father had not been unkind, much less injurious to his son, though he served him, and he killed no kid for him: God owes not conversion, nor the benefits that come by it to our endeavours.
USE, 1. To teach us that when man hath done his utmost, still grace is free, and not owing to him: The father had not been unkind, much less injurious to his son, though he served him, and he killed no kid for him: God ows not conversion, nor the benefits that come by it to our endeavours.
USE, 2. Hence wonder not if many Professors in the visible Church are lifeless, and sapless, hold no spiritual communion with Jesus Christ: It is not to be wondered at, if we consider how great difference and distance there is between being a son in the visible family, and a son received into special grace, and favour with his father.
USE, 2. Hence wonder not if many Professors in the visible Church are lifeless, and sapless, hold no spiritual communion with Jesus Christ: It is not to be wondred at, if we consider how great difference and distance there is between being a son in the visible family, and a son received into special grace, and favour with his father.
USE, 3. It may also teach us to beware that we rely not upon our selves and our duties, but to renounce all, and fly to the Grace of God in Christ, that is the only way to come by, and be partakers in special and soul refreshing grace.
How eloquent is the elder son in rehearsing the wickedness of his brother? but not a word of his repentance. They love to remember ⟨p. 376⟩what the Saints were, not what they are; if in their youth they have been vain, profuse, prodigal, this shall never be forgotten; but their reformation, deep sorrow, and sincere repentance shall never be taken notice of; they are like Scarabees that live upon dung hills, and suck nothing but corruption, like flies that live upon sores: And this they do,
How eloquent is the elder son in rehearsing the wickedness of his brother? but not a word of his repentance. They love to remember ⟨p. 376⟩what the Saints were, not what they are; if in their youth they have been vain, profuse, prodigal, this shall never be forgotten; but their reformation, deep sorrow, and sincere repentance shall never be taken notice of; they are like Scaribees that live upon dung hils, and suck nothing but corruption, like flyes that live upon sores: And this they do,
1. In enmity against the grace of God: The eldest son doth it to cast a blemish upon his fathers kindness, as if he therefore favoured such wickedness: When one objected against Beza, some wanton youthful Poems, he said, Hic homo invidet mihi gratiam Dei.
2. To justify themselves, they hope by this means to gain the better reputation, they that have no real goodness of their own, think to shine by comparison: I am not as this Publican.
2. To justifie themselves, they hope by this means to gain the better reputation, they that have no real goodness of their own, think to shine by comparison: I am not as this Publican.
