A92856:404
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.
if sin be yet to be left, as yet it is not left; and then where art thou as yet, but in an impenitent condition? 2. Is not Repentance a great work? Why, then is it not thy present work? Thy Soul is embarked 1in that Vessel; eternity depends upon a moment: That which must be done, why is it not quickly done? and if it be not presently done, we may be eternally undone; why do we defer the doing of that? the best work should have the best time and place. 3. Is not thy life a shortest breath? a thinnest vapour? a flying Post? a gleaning shadow? every moment we 2are dying; eat and dye, sleep and dye: Should not our last work be our present work, when our last work may be our next work? 4. It cannot be less then presumption, to put off the practical 3part of Repentance: Either you must presume upon future life (which yet is a Cord that thou canst not lengthen;) or you must presume on future strength (which is a marrow still wasted by a lingering disease;) or you must presume on Divine Grace, which may be an hand justly withdrawn, because it was a mercy unjustly referred and delayed. 5. You will but harden your hearts the more, and skill the way of hypocrisy the more; for 4thus to untwist your Cords, wherewith you have so often bound your selves, makes you to venture, and venture yet a little further; yet once more, till a little and a little inflames your Souls to much evil, and the custom of sinning wears out both the sense of sin, and resolutions against it. 6. Lastly, You do but aggravate your sins the more, by naked and empty resolutions against 5them; you do not hinder the course of it, and you do intensively raise the guilt of it; for sinning against resolution in a sinning against express light, and against a condemning light: A person who hath resolved to leave such a course, it is supposed that he not only knows it to be evil, but likewise condemns it as evil: Now it is a great aggravation of sin to continue in it, with light revealing, and accusing, and cutting.
if sin be yet to be left, as yet it is not left; and then where art thou as yet, but in an impetitent condition? 2. Is not Repentance a great work? Why, then is it not thy present work? Thy Soul is embarked