A92856:105
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.
3. Thirdly, The Heart of a Sinner may be above his miseries: There is not such a power in miseries alone, as to over-rule the 1heart, or to mend it. As it was with Gallio, when the Jews did beat Softhenes, and kept a stir, the Text saith, He cared not for any of those things: (i.) they made no prevailing impression on him, so as to divert his purpose: In like manner may it be with the miseries which personally befall a man, his heart (notwithstanding) may not regard them, neither may he lay things to heart, they may be thrown off, in respect of any beneficial impression, as water from a rock; as is evident in Pharaoh, and in the Jews, see Isa. 42. 25. He hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle, and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. Here was anger, and fury of anger, and poured out, and so as to set him on fire, and to burn him, yet he laid it not to heart. If you should take dross and corrupt stuff, and put it into the fire, you shall never refine it, it is to no purpose, the founder in such a case would melt but in vain, Jer. 6. 29. so in this case: For the proper operation of all miseries is only moral, and rather representative then effective (i.) they can of themselves do nothing; perhaps they may point a man to his sins, but his heart may effectually resist that evidence of sin by the rod of God, as well as by the word of God. Look as it is with the Light of the Sun, though great and gentle, yet it never opened a blind mans eyes; nor yet the Lightning, which runs swiftly in the time of Thunder: For that natural privation exceeds the strength of such Agents. So it is with a sinner, his heart may so cleave to sin, that neither the Light of the Sun, I mean the blessed Word of God, nor yet the Lightnings and Thunders of afflictions may divorce ⟨p. 26⟩him; so great may the power of sinful love be, that not the kindest mercies, nor the sharpest miseries (alone) shall ever be able to melt him, or turn him. The love of sin may increase even an incorrigible and desperate perverseness in the Will; such perverseness, that the afflicted sin•er (possibly) may be so far from leaving his sins, that therefore he will cleave to his sins the more, and in a proud despite will forsake God; as that profane person, This evil is of the Lord, why should he wait for him any longer?