A92856:291
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. Be active against sin, and that is the way to keep up your 1Resolutions against it: My meaning is this, you must endeavour to mortify an evil heart, if you would hold up your resolutions against an evil course: The heart is all in all for Life or Death, for a good, or for a bad way; kill the root, and the branches will soon wither; diminish the Spring, and the Streams will fail; weaken the Spirits, and the Limbs will be useless. It is a foolish thing to say, I will not have the fit of the Ague again, unless you receive something to alter the evil humour which causeth it: I will never sin thus again! thus how often do we resolve, and yet break out again! why? because we would restrain effects, without surprising their causes. Be more earnest with God, for a sober heart, and for a chaste heart, and for an humble heart, and a heavenly heart, and a meek and quiet heart: Thou shouldest not only resolve, but prevail against evil acts, if thou didst vehemently strive with God, to season the Springs, to alter the nature, to better and strengthen the heart, that fountain whence these arise and flow; for all things are strongest in their causes, and the strength of the cause is the strength of the effect. An occasion may be vigorous to produce a resolve, but alteration is required to make it firm and effectual; it is health which breeds strength.
3. Be active against sin, and that is the way to keep up your 1Resolutions against it: My meaning is this, you must endeavour to mortifie an evil heart, if you would hold up your resolutions against an evil course: The heart is all in all for Life or Death, for a good, or for a bad way; kill the root, and the branches will soon wither; diminish the Spring, and the Streams will fail; weaken the Spirits, and the Limbs will be useless. It is a foolish thing to say, I will not have the fit of the Ague again, unless you receive something to alter the evil humour which causeth it: I will never sin thus again! thus how often do we resolve, and yet break out again! why? because we would restrain effects, without surprizing their causes. Be more earnest with God, for a sober heart, and for a chast heart, and for an humble heart, and a heavenly heart, and a meek and quiet heart: Thou shouldest not onely resolve, but prevail against evil acts, if thou didst vehemently strive with God, to season the Springs, to alter the nature, to better and strengthen the heart, that fountain whence these arise and flow; for all things are strongest in their causes, and the strength of the cause is the strength of the effect. An occasion may be vigorous to produce a resolve, but alteration is required to make it firm and effectual; it is health which breeds strength.