A92856:104
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.
2. Secondly, Because straits and miseries are sometimes merely judicial, only the strokes of revenging Justice. You know, that 1there is a great deal of difference 'twixt a whip which causeth smart, and a plaster which causeth healing: All miseries which befall us are not healing plasters, sometimes they are judicial lashes, they are not the wounds of a friend, but of an enemy. God is said in Job, to distribute sorrows in wrath, and then they are not remedial effects, but exitial; they come not then with their teaching and recovering assistance, but are the beginnings of a greater judgment yet to come. You know that God plagued Pharaoh in a judicial way, the miseries which befell him were as sharp, and great, and many, and came as thick as most that ever befell any man of whom we ever read; nevertheless they were so far from ⟨p. 25⟩reclaiming of him from his sins, that still he hardened his heart, and exalted himself; If you should demand why it should be thus with him, that no, not quick, nor great, nor many plagues did him any good? I answer, One cause, amongst many, is this, Because they came only in a judicial way; they did not come out of the hand of a merciful Father, but of a provoked and revenging Judge: If there be not grace in the heart to join with, and to improve the affliction, and if there be not mercy to send out and bless the affliction, it will then never do us good, it will not turn us from our Sins.
2. Secondly, Because straits and miseries are sometimes meerly judicial, onely the strokes of revenging Justice. You know, that 1there is a great deal of difference 'twixt a whip which causeth smart, and a plaister which causeth healing: All miseries which befall us are not healing plaisters, sometimes they are judicial lashes, they are not the wounds of a friend, but of an enemy. God is said in Job, to distribute sorrows in wrath, and then they are not remedial effects, but exitial; they come not then with their teaching and recovering assistance, but are the beginnings of a greater judgment yet to come. You know that God plagued Pharaoh in a judicial way, the miseries which befel him were as sharp, and great, and many, and came as thick as most that ever befel any man of whom we ever read; nevertheless they were so far from