A92856:175
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.
1. It is a most precious thing which the Lord offers unto us, 1when at first he calls upon us to leave our sins, and to return unto him. A thing may be reputed precious, partly, in respect of the necessity of it, when it doth so nearly concern us, that we are undone without it. Now what shall become of us, unless we come off from our sins? What is it that we so shuffle for, and will not let it go? What! is it a good in it self, or a cause of good to us? and what is it that we so hold off from? is it not Grace and Salvation? I shall perish with hunger, saith the Prodigal. So mayest thou truly say, Unless I do accept of this offer of Grace, if I do thus hold on in my sinful ways, if I shuffle never so long, yet if I continue thus, I shall at length perish for ever, Exod. 10. 7. Knowest thou not that Egypt is destroyed? so, &c. to go on thus is the way of death, to return and submit is the only way of life: I cannot be saved unless I repent: It is not a vain thing for which the Lord strives with me, it is to give grace and life to my poor soul. In respect of the excellency of it: Excellent things are truly precious. Now every grace is excellent, it hath a native beauty in it, and makes us a choice and estimable people. Do throughly weigh a penitent and converted condition, how in it we are partakers of the Divine nature; what a communion we have thereby with God; what a fellowship with Jesus Christ; how we pass from death to life, are made the sons of God, and ⟨p. 56⟩become the heirs of glory, and will we then thus devise and fly from our best good; Why! when the Lord offers grace to a sinner, what doth he therein but offer himself to be his God, offer Christ to be his Saviour, offer the pardon of all his sins, offer all the comforts of his Spirit, the blessings of his promises, and the hopes of eternal life; and if this be not an excellent thing, what is? can a better or greater matter be tendered to you.
1. It is a most precious thing which the Lord offers unto us, 1when at first he calls upon us to leave our sins, and to return unto him. A thing may be reputed precious, partly, in respect of the necessity of it, when it doth so nearly concern us, that we are undone without it. Now what shall become of us, unless we come off from our sins? What is it that we so shuffle for, and will not let it go? What! is it a good in it self, or a cause of good to us? and what is it that we so hold off from? is it not Grace and Salvation? I shall perish with hunger, saith the Prodigal. So mayest thou truly say, Unless I do accept of this offer of Grace, if I do thus hold on in my sinfull ways, if I shuffle never so long, yet if I continue thus, I shall at length perish for ever,