A92856:247
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. That solemn Consideration is necessary to initial Repentance. 1The Heart is not effectually excited to the actual leaving of sin, until it doth first seriously examine and try it self, find out and ponder the vileness of its sinning and transgression; slight thoughts work no more then slight confessions, That we are all sinners, and there's an end; but the heart must look on sin in the kinds, circumstances, hellish vileness of its thoughts, if ever it will repent indeed. 2. That ordinary consideration is necessary to gradual Repentance. If ever you would perfect your 2Repentance, you must ever think of your sins, those that are past, those that are present. By ordinary consideration, I do not mean, a slight and perfunctory view of them; but a daily view, though not in length of time, yet having the same disposition of heart to condemn and abhor them, and quickening us more fervently to seek God for strength, and to decline the occasions of sin, and to grow more watchful and tender, &c. If you do not ordinarily consider of the vileness of sin, you will be ordinarily ensnared by the deceitfulness of sin; if you would enjoy constant victory and deliverance, ⟨p. 85⟩you must admit of frequent consideration. As for the solemn Consideration, that I conjecture is not necessary at all times, but upon special occasions: Either 1. Before we 3enter into some weighty business: 2. When we lie under some weighty afflictions: 3. When we are to die, and make straight our weighty accounts: 4. When we are more solemnly to meet the Lord and renew our Covenants with him; as in the day of Humiliation, or when we are to come unto the Sacrament. Now are we more solemnly and seriously to consider of our sins, partly, 1. Because now the Lord 4considers them who come into his special presence, how you come. 2. Because you are seriously to renew your Repentance, which you cannot seriously do, without serious consideration. 3. Because you are to renew your Covenants with God, to keep a more serious watch, &c. Therefore now let us search our hearts, try, and consider of our ways, renew our Repentance, turn with all our strength unto the Lord, put away iniquity far from us, humble our selves low before the Lord, confess our sins, judge our selves;