A66106:986
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.
This the father thinks enough to silence all the grumblings of his discontented son, vers. 32. What cause there is of joy at such time, hath been expressed under a former Doctrine, that there is none before, may in a word be cleared, from the consideration of what every sinner is before conversion. I confess men may differ in many things of an inferior nature, one may be better morally disposed than another, one may have more restraining grace, a more affable nature, carry it more obediently to his Parents, be more reformed, &c. than another: But in this the state of all unregenerate men before conversion is alike, viz. that they are,
This the father thinks enough to silence all the grumblings of his discontented son, vers. 32. What cause there is of joy at such time, hath been expressed under a former Doctrine, that there is none before, may in a word be cleared, from the consideration of what every sinner is before conversion. I confess men may differ in many things of an inferiour nature, one may be better morally disposed than another, one may have more restraining grace, a more affable nature, carry it more obediently to his Parents, be more reformed, &c. than another: But in this the state of all unregenerate men before conversion is alike, viz. that they are,
1. Dead creatures, under the power of spiritual death, rotting in the grave of sin; we do not use to rejoice over our dead Children and relations, but to weep and mourn. They can do nothing for God, nor for their own souls Salvation; they cannot glorify him, &c.
1. Dead creatures, under the power of spiritual death, rotting in the grave of sin; we do not use to rejoyce over our dead Children and relations, but to weep and mourn. They can do nothing for God, nor for their own souls Salvation; they cannot glorifie him, &c.
2. They are Children of wrath, Eph, 2. 3. They are blasted by the curse, held under condemnation, liable every moment to fall into hells flames; yea, going to execution: and what mother could ever rejoice over her son that was going to suffer for his deserts, or not wring her hands?
2. They are Children of wrath, Eph, 2. 3. They are blasted by the curse, held under condemnation, lyable every moment to fall into hells flames; yea, going to execution: and what mother could ever rejoyce over her son that was going to suffer for his deserts, or not wring her hands?
USE, 1. This may give check to the mad mirth of ungodly sinners: Hearken you merry Greeks, that sport your selves in the world as the fishes do in the sea, that cannot spare time from your jollity to have one serious thought: Stay a little, let me ask, what cause? why so jovial and facetious? are you converted? ah no! I know you will plead, it is lawful to be cheerful, & that civilly in the enjoyment of the outward comforts of this life: True, but when? when they are sanctified by the grace of God, and made yours in the New-Covenant: Get this title, and then you may rejoice in all Gods goodness; till then take this bitter pill; all the curses written in the book of God are upon you, and all the things that you rejoice in are tainted with them; you are going to the pit, and ⟨p. 391⟩all these are but fating you to the slaughter; treasures of mercy are thus turned into treasures of wrath.
USE, 1. This may give check to the mad mirth of ungodly sinners: Hearken you merry Greeks, that sport your selves in the world as the fishes do in the sea, that cannot spare time from your jollity to have one serious thought: Stay a little, let me ask, what cause? why so jovial and facetious? are you converted? ah no! I know you will plead, it is lawful to be cheerful, & that civilly in the enjoyment of the outward comforts of this life: True, but when? when they are sanctified by the grace of God, and made yours in the New-Covenant: Get this title, and then you may rejoyce in all Gods goodness; till then take this bitter pill; all the curses written in the book of God are upon you, and all the things that you rejoyce in are tainted with them; you are going to the pit, and ⟨p. 391⟩all these are but fatting you to the slaughter; treasures of mercy are thus turned into treasures of wrath.
USE, 2. Let this direct those that are the People of God, what chiefly to rejoice in: It is our saviours advice, Luk. 10. 20. In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven. Count that your only joy, that the love of God hath appeared in translating of you from death to life: and in regard of your Children, do not take too much carnal delight in them; one is comely and beautiful, another active and sprightly, a third witty and pleasant; they are good natured: all these are good in their place, and mercies of God; but oh remember the want of saving grace dasheth the joy of all those, and takes away their pleasancy: If they are not converted, as they were born under the curse, so they are still held by it: Oh then travail with pangs of holy care and sorrow for them, till Christ be formed in them; then will you have cause to rejoice indeed: till then think solemnly, what if they may still be damned, and separated from God for ever? what then will all these things avail? Long for their conversion, and when once you see it, now rejoice as a mother over her first born son: here is ground for that joy which shall never end, but increase till it grow up to Everlasting Hallelujah.
USE, 2. Let this direct those that are the People of God, what chiefly to rejoyce in: It is our saviours advice, Luk. 10. 20. In this rejoyce not, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoyce, because your names are written in Heaven. Count that your only joy, that the love of God hath appeared in translating of you from death to life: and in regard of your Children, do not take too much carnal delight in them; one is comly and beautiful, another active and sp•ightly, a third witty and pleasant; they are good natured: all these are good in their place, and mercies of God; but oh remember the want of saving grace dasheth the joy of all those, and takes away their pleasancy: If they are not converted, as they were born under the curse, so they are still held by it: Oh then travail with pangs of holy care and sorrow for them, till Christ be formed in them; then will you have cause to rejoyce indeed: till then think solemnly, what if they may still be damned, and separated from God for ever? what then will all these things avail? Long for their conversion, and when once you see it, now rejoyce as a mother over her first born son: here is ground for that joy which shall never end, but encrease till it grow up to Everlasting Hallalujah.
FINIS.
Page 19. line 5. for affirms read confirms. p. 28. l. 8. for for r. from. p. 59. l. 16. for work r. working. p. 63. l. 27 for experiences, r. expenses: p. 89. l. 29. for brible r. bribe. p. 94. l. 4. for remove r. remorse: p. 96. l. 18 for charge r. change. p. 132. l. 2. for ye r. yet: p. 132 l. 2. for are r. for: p: 142. l. 17: for charms r: charmers: p▪ 157: l: 6. for so r. for: p: 186: l: 3: r: plenty: p: 215: l: 3: r: be: p: 220: l: 19: r: as ae cause: p: 222: l: 21: r: this: p: 223: l: 25: r: by: p: 236: l: 26 r: desert: p: 244: l: 25: r: contumely: p: 256: l: 7: r: his: p: 257 l: 24: r: not p: 286: l: 18: r: him: p: 294: l: 18: r: which: p, 302: l: 21: r his: p: 303: l. 12: r: terrors: l: 20: r: regulated: p: 308: l: 3: r: this: p: 309: l: 20: r: deal: p: 358: l: 3: r: sincere: p: 376: l: 29: r: prevent.
PAge 19. line 5. for affirms read confirms. p. 28. l. 8. for for r. from. p. 59. l. 16. for work r. working. p. 63. l. 27 for experiences, r. expences: p. 89. l. 29. for brible r. bribe. p. 94. l. 4. for remove r. remorce: p. 96. l. 18 for charge r. change. p. 132. l. 2. for ye r. yet: p. 132 l. 2. for are r. for: p: 142. l. 17: for charmes r: charmers: p▪ 157: l: 6. for so r. for: p: 186: l: 3: r: plenty: p: 215: l: 3: r: be: p: 220: l: 19: r: as ae cause: p: 222: l: 21: r: this: p: 223: l: 25: r: by: p: 236: l: 26 r: desert: p: 244: l: 25: r: contumely: p: 256: l: 7: r: his: p: 257 l: 24: r: not p: 286: l: 18: r: him: p: 294: l: 18: r: which: p, 302: l: 21: r his: p: 303: l. 12: r: terrours: l: 20: r: regulated: p: 308: l: 3: r: this: p: 309: l: 20: r: deal: p: 358: l: 3: r: sincere: p: 376: l: 29: r: prevent.
The Reader is desired besides errors in letters and pointings, to correct these more observable.
