A92856:288
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.
Secondly, The means to maintain and keep up this Resolution. 1If you would attain to a solid and permanent Resolution, then,
- 1The means to maintain this resolution. Let it not be presumptuous, but humble.The means to maintain this resolution. Let it not be presump•uous, but humble.
1. Let your Resolution not be presumptuous, but humble: If you raise your Resolutions upon your own strength, you will shortly quit them by your own weakness. No spiritual frame or work is safe or strong, which is reared upon it self alone; it must not be less than a rock higher than our selves, upon which we must build. The wings bear the body of the flying Fowl, but this they cannot do without air to spread and bear up those wings. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Philip. 4. There must be some strength in us to advance a Resolution, but then there must be another Strength, upon w•ich both that Resolution and that Strength must depend: And therefore as a Warrant is of no force, if it goes not out in the Kings name; so a Resolution is too recoiling, which begins not in Christs power: As David encountered Goliath, not with his own Sword, but in Gods Name; so we must resolve against our sins, with Gods strength assisting of us; otherwise, our sins may reply to us, as the Devils to the sons of Sceva, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye? A ship, though well built, must have wind to drive it, and set it forward; and a Christian needs more strength than his own, to forsake a bad, or to follow a good course. It is a wise course, in lending of Money, to join another party in the Bond, who is more able and sure than the borrower: Doest thou resolve against such a sinful way, or for a holy life? t•ke not single Bond; (thy own heart, though to thy thinking well furnished and stock with resolution, is yet but a creature, and may deceive thee, and mke thee to break:) but take double Bond, beseech the Lord to be bound for thee, to give thee his strength, which is indeed sufficient to preserve, and to perpetuate thy resolutions.