A92856:509
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.
When I am pardoned, more reasons of Confession are upon mercy, namely, mercy granted, and mercy sealed. O then! have I not more cause to confess my sinful vileness, having tasted of most unspeakable goodness in the pardon of it?
Doth the penitent person humbly confess his sins after the 1pardon of them? Why, let us (if any of us think that we are pardoned) do so too: Tis a truth, that of all things we are most willing to forget our sins; we have much ado to keep our thoughts on them in a penitential way (its death almost to some men to think on their sins thus) and in case if by a little duty we have got the least hope of pardon, we ordinarily put those sins off from any future solemn Confessions. This I conceive ⟨p. 198⟩ariseth from two causes; the one is the sensible influence which sin (often to be thought on) imprints on the conscience. After considerations of sin, we have usually most bitterness and trouble, which we willingly would not feel. Another is an ignorance of the power and use of pardoning mercy; which as it brings Rest, Peace, so most hearty grief and confession: I will say to 2men presuming on pardon, and yet failing in an after confession of their sins, 1. It is suspicious whether ever they had any pardon at all, or real assurance thereof; forasmuch as they fail in this after effect of confession, which is always the more increased by the greater evidence of divine mercy. 2. It is suspicious whether they ever truly repented or no; for as much as true repentance doth incline us to go over and perfect all the acts and branches of Repentance, whereof confession, in a right manner performed, is not the least.
Doth the penitent person humbly confess his sins after the 1pardon of them? Why, let us (if any of us think that we are pardoned) do so too: Tis a truth, that of all things we are most willing to forget our sins; we have much adoe to keep our thoughts on them in a penitential way (its death almost to some men to think on their sins thus) and in case if by a little duty we have got the least hope of pardon, we ordinarily put those sins off from any future solemn Confessions. This I conceive