The Parable of the Prodigals return unto his Fathers house,1 is propounded as a pattern of a sinners being brought home unto Christ Jesus. In him we may see the conscience of sin: Th•ne•ar sea mighty famine in that Land, ver. 14. The sense of this perishing condition under sin: And I perish with hunger, ver. 17. The experience of his lost estate; He fain would have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: And no man gave unto him, ver. 16. This my Son was lest, ver. 32. His sight of his need of Christ, and seeking after him: And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants in my Fathers house, have bread enough, and to spare? I will arise, and go to my Father? &c. ver. 17, 18. Hereunto may be added many instances recorded in the Scripture: Matthew the Publican, before he was effectually called, was sick of sin, as may be well gathered from Mat. 9. ver. 9.12, 13. Zacheus confesseth his sin, Luke 19.8. felt himself lost, ver. 10. Had an high esteem of Jesus Christ, ver. 3.46. Those three thousand, Acts 2. ver. 37. were pricked in their heart, ask what they shall do? The like may be observed in the Jailer, Acts 16.29, 30. Paul before his conversion, was sensible of his sin and death, Rom. 7.9. justifieth the Law, ver. 12. saw the loss of his own righteousness, and his need of the righteousness of Christ, Phil. 37.8. To this purpose we may read of others else where. 'Tis certain, That many of those who have been converted, have had experience of a preparatory work, fore-going the conversion: but it cannot be proved out of the Scripture, That any who have attained unto years of discretion, have been converted without some experience thereof.
The Parable of the Prodigals return unto his Fathers house,1 is propounded as a pattern of a sinners being brought home unto Christ Jesus. In him we may see the conscience of sin: Th•ne•ar sea mighty famine in that Land, ver. 14. The sence of this perishing condition under sin: And I perish with hunger, ver. 17. The experience of his lost estate; He fain would have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat: And no man gave unto him, ver. 16. This my Son was lest, ver. 32. His sight of his need of Christ, and seeking after him: And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants in my Fathers house, have bread enough, and to spare? I will arise, and go to my Father? &c. ver. 17, 18. Hereunto may be added many instances recorded in the Scripture: Matthew the Publican, before he was effectually called, was sick of sin, as may be well gathered from Mat. 9. ver. 9.12, 13. Zacheus confesseth his sin, Luke 19.8. felt himself lost, ver. 10. Had an high esteem of Jesus Christ, ver. 3.46. Those three thousand, Acts 2. ver. 37. were pricked in their heart, ask what they shall do? The like may be observed in the Jaylour, Acts 16.29, 30. Paul before his conversion, was sensible of his sin and death, Rom. 7.9. justifieth the Law, ver. 12. saw the loss of his own righteousness, and his need of the righteousness of Christ, Phil. 37.8. To this purpose we may read of others else where. 'Tis certain, That many of those who have been converted, have had experience of a preparatory work, fore-going the conversion: but it cannot be proved out of the Scripture, That any who have attained unto years of discretion, have been converted without some experience thereof.
- 1Senior filius Typum gerit Pharisaeorū, & Scribarū, quemadmodum junior Types est publicanorū, & peccatorum in genere omnium, qui ad Christum consugiunt. Aret. in loc.Senior filius Typum gerit Pharisaeorū, & Scribarū, quemadmodum junior Types est publicanorū, & peccatorum in genere omnium, qui ad Christum consugiunt. Aret. in loc.
