A92856:473
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.
2. As it must be a quickened affection which must find quick mercy, so it must be a pure affection. I will that men pray every 1where, lifting up pure hands, 1 Tim. 2. 8. Art thou sure that no iniquity cleaves unto thee, and is an impedit to thy suit for mercy? Thou art troubled with the grossness of some one of thy sins, but doest not thou connive at the shreds of the same sin? the limbs of it afflict thee, but do not the leaves and the twigs hang on still? If we do not purely and entirely put off our sins, why should we complain, that God doth not let down his mercy? If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, Psal. 66. 18. If you favour your known sin, in any part, or the least degree of it, where now hath God promised to show thee favour or mercy? Or suppose thou shakest off one crying sin, and yet retain some other sin; put off one servant, and take another; be troubled for one transgression, and yet live in another; is this repentance? Thou doest not change thy course, but thy sin, and how then canst thou expect mercy? But if thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards God, and •utst iniquity far from thee, then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, said Zophar, Job 11. 13, 14. If thou thus return to the Almighty, and putst away iniquity, Job 22. 23. thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, v. 27. As your prayers must be fervent, so they must be the fervent prayers of a righteous man, which do prevail much: Not that he who prays must have no sin, but that he must love and connive at none.
2. As it must be a quickned affection which must find quick mercy, so it must be a pure affection. I will that men pray every 1where, lifting up pure hands, 1 Tim. 2. 8. Art thou sure that no iniquity cleaves unto thee, and is an impedit to thy suit for mercy? Thou art troubled with the grossness of some one of thy sins, but doest not thou connive at the shreds of the same sin? the limbs of it afflict thee, but do not the leaves and the twigs hang on still? If we do not purely and entirely put off our sins, why should we complain, that God doth not let down his mercy? If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me,