A92856:102
The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from…
The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from God. Returning prodigal, or The penitents conversion to God. Prodigals acceptation, or Favourable entertainment with God. Delivered in divers sermons on Luke 15. from vers. 11. to vers. 24. By that faithful servant of Jesus Christ Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Perfected by himself, and perused by those whom he entrusted with the publishing of his works.The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from God. Returning prodigal, or The penitents conversion to God. Prodigals acceptation, or Favourable entertainment with God. Delivered in divers sermons on Luke 15. from vers. 11. to vers. 24. By that faithfull servant of Jesus Christ Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Perfected by himself, and perused by those whom he intrusted with the publishing of his works.
London: printed by D. Maxwel for Sa. Gellibrand, 1660
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.
If you now demand the Reasons why straits or miseries do not 1always bring men off from sins? I answer,
- 1Reasons of it.
1. Because, that only true Grace is it which brings men off from sins. Afflictions may be considered two ways, either immediately 1and solitarily, so they are not forcible to bring any man o•f from his sinful course; no punishment whatsoever is an immediate Agent, and sufficient to turn a sinner. Mediately and concomitantly as they are sanctified, (i.) either as they light upon an heart sanctified, or as sanctifying Grace, with them, or by them is wrought in the soul, and so they may bring off the heart from sin; not the naked afflictions, but grace in the heart afflicted, turns the heart; for nothing turns the heart from sin, bu• that which is contrary unto sin: now though miseries are contrary to the sinner, yet not to the sin; they are contrary to the sinners ease and way, but not to the affection and delight of sin, which may, and oft times doth live and remain even under extreme miseries. Now then, many men are in miseries by reason of sin, yet they turn not from sin, because they want true grace, by the strength of which alone men come off from sin, for that it is which changeth the sinful heart. You know that Physic ordinarily works as the body is, into which it is received; there must be some strength of nature to help it, else it will not work; the Philosophers rule being true, Quicquid recipitur, recipitur ad modum recipientis. The heat which melts the wax, hardens the clay; and the juice which goes into the Rose makes it sweet, but that which goes into the Nettle makes it stink; so it is with miseries, they work as he is on whom they fall; if true grace be not in the heart, what good use can an evil heart make of them?