A92856:364
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.
4 Prayer may be considered in a threefold respect; Either, As a 1Duty to be acted; As a Duty acting; As a Duty acted. The sense of our unworthiness should not be any prejudice to prayer in any of those respects. 1. Not to take us off from performing the duty of prayer: We may offer up our sacrifice, though we cannot offer 2up our worthiness; we may bring our gift, though we cannot bring our merit; though we cannot buy heaven, yet we may beg it. Poverty doth not hinder, but a man may be a fit beggar; and sin doth not hinder, but a person may be a fit petitioner to God. David was sensible of his sins, Psal. 40. 12. Innumerable evils have compassed me about, mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am ⟨p. 131⟩not able to look up; they are more then the hairs of my head, therefore my heart saileth me: Yet he makes his Supplication presently in the next verse, v. 13. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord make haste to help me. So did Ezra, c. 9. 6. and Daniel, c. 9. 2. Nor take off Confidence in the time of Performance: An Unworthy person may lawfully be an earnest Suitor. He 3may put up requests, and also believe that God will grant them: See it in the Church; Isa. 64. 6. We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags, &c. Ver. 8. But now, O Lord, thou art our Father. Ver. 9. Be not wrath very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. So Psal. 25. 11. For thy Names sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. He was sensible of the greatness of his sin, yet puts up a believing Petition for pardon. 3. Nor yet take off our expectation of the success