A92856:515
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.
That God takes no notice of our sins upon our true Repentance, 1but wholly expresseth himself in love and kindness. There are two Branches of this Assertion; 1. One, that God takes no notice of former sins upon our true Repentance. There is a threefold notice of sin in respect of God; 1. Notitia Intuitiva; which is his all observing eye of Omniscience, from which nothing can be hid; but every Creature, and operation of the Creature, whether open or secret, is visible and manifest unto God: that distinction of known and unknown, secret and open, hath no place in God, to whose eye all things are naked. In this respect the former sins of a penitent fall within Gods notice; for the goodness of Divine Mercy doth not blind-fold the eye of Divine Omniscience. 2. Notitia Charitativa; which is a notice of sins, as a kind Creditor takes notice of Debts owing unto him, and set down in his book, his eye is on them, and his Pen also to cross and dash them out. And in this respect also God takes notice of former sins, namely, so as out of rich love, ⟨p. 200⟩and gracious favour to cross and forgive them: unless we will fondly imagine that God forgives sins by hap-chance, at an adventure, never seeing and considering what he doth. 3. Notitia Vindictiva; which is a Judiciary notice, as a Judge takes notice 2of the evil facts of a Malefactor to Condemn him, or to trouble and vex him. In this respect, upon true Repentance, God takes no notice of former sins, (.i.) either to condemn the penitent person for them, or, to upbraid him and dishearten him by casting them into his dish, or hitting of him in the teeth, as we speak Proverbially. Hence those phrases in the Scripture upon supposition of Repentance, Jer. 31. 34. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Not that Repentance makes God forgetful (for he is no: capable of such a defect as Oblivion) but that when men cease to sin, God will cease to argue and speak with them after a Judicial manner for their sins. So Ezek. 18. 21. If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed; ver. 22. All his transgressions which he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him; he means, in any harsh, judicial, and cutting way. More such phrases there are, as, that he will cover our sins, cast them into the depths of the sea, and cast them behind his back;