A92856:304
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 an hearty acknowledgement, no• nuda confessio; feigned 1or merely verbal confession: It is affectionate, the lips do u•ter 2the mind of the heart in it, cum sensu peccati & miseriae, as a sick man opens his disease, here I feel it, &c. The publican smote upon his breast, and confessed. True confession is the language of the very soul, being very sensible of sin. 2. It is voluntary, not coacta confessio; the Thief may confess upon the rack: though 3there were no wrath in God, no rack in conscience, no flames in hell, yet the true penitent will confess: When there is no other cause of confession of sin but that which is penal, it is not then truly penitential. Pharaoh confessed under the plagues, and Judas under the stings of conscience, it was an extorted confession, but penitential confession is voluntary, it is an act that ariseth from an inward displicence with, and detestation of sin, though there be no apprehension of hell, no sense of wrath, yet the penitent confesseth even to a Father, I have sinned. Many of the Saints did I shut up in prison, and when they were put to death I gave my voice against them. I punished them oft in every Synagogue, Acts 26. 10, 11. 3. It is distinct, and not confused: the penitent hath special bills of indictment: he knows his sins, and 4wherein he hath exceeded and failed: such sins as he hath most delighted in, such as he hath most walked in, such as he hath most dishonoured God by, such as cleave most unto his nature, such as conscience may be most clogged with, these he doth more especially confess unto God, and indict and condemn himself for small sins as well as great; Sauls lap, as well as Uriahs murder, ancient sins as well as present, secret sins as well as open. But must our confession of sins be particular? Sol. Either explicitly so, or virtually so; the heart hath a particular intention or affection; the more particular, the better, to humble our hearts, to obtain mercies, to make us fervent. As David, though he did give a touch at all his sins in the beginning of the 51 Psalm, yet at length