The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from…

Now I proceed to the Application of this Point, which shall be for Conviction. 1. Of the vanity and deluding presumption ¹in the heart of sinners, who imagine, that worse they cannot be, and as much misery is befallen them as can be, and therefore they will on to their sins again. Let us not deceive our selves; that God with whom we are to deal, is of infinite power and wrath, and the conscience of a guilty sinner is capable of infinitely many miserable impressions. The Bee may leave her sting in the flesh, and so be disabled, &c. Therefore let no man say as Agag, Surely the bitterness of death is past; you know Samuel presently hewed him in pieces before the Lord in Gi•gal. Alas! thou knowest not the wrath which is yet behind. God doth never fully manifest his wrath upon any sinner in this life; nor doth he punish him so in any kind, but that a greater judgement, a worse thing, as Christ spake to him in the Gospel, may yet befall him. Consider, that as greater judgments are yet behind all the punishments which we have felt; so it is Gods method to begin low, but to end his work of Judgement heavily: he doth by some lighter afflictions skirmish with a person, or a Nation, and if they yield not, then he will bring the great Army of his Plagues and Judgements. And again, know, that multiplication of sins is a just cause for the addition of Judgements. Renewed sinnings are always the more heinous, and strong in deserts; but renewed sinnings after punishment for sin, are yet of a deeper dye, because They relish much of Presumption; though God hath already testified his displeasure, yet the sinner ⟨p. 39⟩will adventure on his wrath, and provoke him again. They receive universal condemnation, the sinner now sins against all the ways of recovery; the Word of God which called upon him to be wise, and to receive instruction, and to return unto him that smote; The punishment or rod, which did tender him the sins which brought this upon his back;

Now I proceed to the Application of this Point, which shall be for Conviction. 1. Of the vanity and deluding presumption ¹in the heart of sinners, who imagine, that worse they cannot be, and as much misery is befallen them as can be, and therefore they will on to their sins again. Let us not deceive our selves; that God with whom we are to deal, is of infinite power and wrath, and the conscience of a guilty sinner is capable of infinitely many miserable impressions. The Bee may leave her sting in the flesh, and so be disabled, &c. Therefore let no man say as Agag, Surely the bitterness of death is past; you know Samuel presently hewed him in pieces before the Lord in Gigal. Alas! thou knowest not the wrath which is yet behind. God doth never fully manifest his wrath upon any sinner in this life; nor doth he punish him so in any kind, but that a greater judgement, a worse thing, as Christ spake to him in the Gospel, may yet befal him. Consider, that as greater judgments are yet behind all the punishments which we have felt; so it is Gods method to begin low, but to end his work of Judgement heavily: he doth by some lighter afflictions skirmish with a person, or a Nation, and if they yield not, then he will bring the great Army of his Plagues and Judgements. And again, know, that multiplication of sins is a just cause for the addition of Judgements. Renewed sinnings are alwayes the more hainous, and strong in deserts; but renewed sinnings after punishment for sin, are yet of a deeper dye, because They relish much of Presumption; though God hath already testified his displeasure, yet the sinner