The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from…

Object. Why, I have prayed, and yet I can get no mercy, not ¹see any hopes or appearance of mercy; therefore, surely God will not be so ready to show me mercy. Sol. This is a sore Objection, and usually troubled Consciences are enthralled with it, ²and many times receive great discouragement because of the silence of mercy to their tears and prayers: But let us see how we may instruct and support persons in this case. 1. God is ready ³to hear prayer. Psal. 65. 2. O thou that hearest prayer. Before they call, I will answer; and while they are speaking, I will hear, Isa. 65. 2. Of all mens prayers, he is most ready to hear the prayer of afflicted ⁴persons. Psal. 18. 27. Thou wilt save the afflicted. Psal. 22. 24. He hath not despised nor abhorred the afflictions of the afflicted, ⟨p. 179⟩neither hath he hid his face from them; but when he cried unto him, he heard him: Of all the Prayers which he is ready to hear, there are none which he doth more feelingly and compassionately tender, than the Prayers of afflicted people, especially such as are inwardly afflicted in their souls and consciences for their sins. No people are more apt to fear that the Lord doth not hear their Prayers, and yet no Prayers doth God sooner hear than theirs; for as much as the Lord doth exceedingly delight in the sacrifices of a broken spirit, and he is full of pitifulness and bowels towards them; I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, Jer. 31. 18. When Ephraim smote upon the thigh, and was confounded and ashamed, why! you know the Lord could not contain his affections; Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. David, you find him much afflicted and distressed in his soul,