A92856:338
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.
That penitent persons are humble and lowly persons. [I am no 1more worthy.] Look on every word almost in the Text, and you shall see in it the blush of humility; I am not worthy.] The language of Pride is, I am not as other men; the voice of Humility is, I am not worthy; what I have is of mere mercy, what I crave is not of my merit; God may give what he pleaseth, and I may receive what he giveth, but I am unworthy of both; I dare not expostulate nor challenge, I have sinned, and what mercy can I then deserve. No more worthy.] Was he ever worthy? No. Why then no more worthy? q. d. O Lord, I deserve nothing, no, nothing at all; so vile a wretch have I been, that it's singular mercy if thou look at all upon me. To be thy Son.] A Son, thy Son, O it is a high Relation, an high Digni•y! for a Vassal of Wrath to be made a Vessel of Glory! for a ⟨p. 119⟩Slave to Sin, to be translated to a Son of God! Who am I? it is that which I want, it is that though which is too great for me to ask; I am not worthy to be thy Son, nay, not worthy to be called thy son,] the very title and name is too good for me: that so debauched and luxurious a sinner as I, should have that honour from thee, to be mentioned or spoken of, to be in any sort reputed among those of so singular Relation unto thee; I who have sinned so much against thee, that I should in any kind be owned as a Son by thee, this is an eminency; I am not worthy to be called thy Son. Thus you see his humbleness in confession; Not worthy, utterly unworthy to be a Son, nay, to be called thy Son: See some steps of it in his Petition; Make me as one of thy hired servants.] A low request, but it is the modest breath of a lowly spirit. If I may be thy servant, I shall be glad of that; not thy only servant, but one of thy servants; not the chiefest of thy servants, but any one of thy servants, thy hired servant: And perhaps even that is too good for me, to be a servant, to be an hired servant, to be one of them; I shall count my self happy, if I may be as one of the meanest servants, if I may be but a servant to the meanest of thy servants that serve thee. And Father, I beg for this too, make me as one of thy hired servants; I am not worthy of the least place, nor of the meanest Relation; I challenge it not, only be thou pleased to bestow it upon me.
That penitent persons are humble and lowly persons. [I am no