A92856:544
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 gives unto the penitent person a precious Faith, by 1which he is Espoused or Married unto Christ. There are three things, which being explained, will give up unto us the full sense of this Assertion: 1. What it is to be married unto Christ. 2. That Faith doth Espouse and Marry a person unto Christ; and what faith that is, and in what respect. 3. That the penitent person hath this faith.
- 1Doct. 2. G•d gives the penitent person Faith by which he is married to Christ.
Quest. 1. For the first of these; What it is to be Espoused or 1Married unto Christ? (which is here signified by putting on the Ring.) Sol. They who write of Marriage do conjecture that these six things concur unto it, 1. Mutuus Consensus, a mutual Consenting. 2. Mutuus Contractus, a mutual Contracting; 3. Mutua Obligatio, a mutual Obliging; 4. Mutua Conjunctio, a mutual Union and Conjunction; 5. Mutua Potestas, a mutual faculty or Right; 6. Mutua Societas, a mutual use or Society. Translate this from a Civil to a Spiritual consideration, and then to be married to Christ implies, 1. A Consent to take or accept of Christ: Though knowledge of persons be necessary and •it, yet it is not sufficient to marriage 2without con•ent; for marriage ought to be a voluntary transaction of persons, and in it we do, in a sort, give away our selves; but then this is not without our selves; yea, and therein we do elect & make choice for our selves, and therefore consent is a necessary concurrence ⟨p. 214⟩to marriage. Now this consent is nothing else but a free and plain act of the will, accepting of Jesus Christ, before all other, to be its Head and Lord. Christ offers himself in the Gospel unto a person, I am the only Saviour of sinners, and Lord of all, designed to be Priest, Prophet and King; art thou willing to accept of me? canst thou like of me before all others? dost thou so? dost thou make choice of me for thy Saviour and Lord? 2. A Contracting of the Soul with Christ: Contractus is nothing