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

Quest. 3. The third resolvable is, concerning the Subject of this ¹faith, who hath it? The Text resolves that, by telling us, that the Ring was put on the returning Prodigals finger, so that the penitent person is he who wears the Ring, (i.) who is an espoused ²or married person by Faith unto Christ: You may be married to your Lusts, and to the World, though you be impenitent; yet none but Penitents are married unto Christ by Faith. Not that Repentance goes before Faith in Christ, (for no Grace habitually considered, is in time before another, though in operation it be:) Nor that Repentance is the cause of Faith; for it is a most improper Assertion, to make one Grace to be the cause of another Grace, when as every Grace doth come only from the Spirit of ³Christ as the cause. But because, 1. The penitent person is only the ⁴subject of Faith which doth marry us to Christ; no person is a believer, who is not a penitent person: The Prodigal, while only a Prodigal, he hath neither Garment nor Ring; but when he is a returning ⟨p. 218⟩Prodigal, then he hath both, and not till then. 2. Only penitent persons can evidence their faith and espousal unto ⁵Christ: Another, who is impenitent, can no more evidence his interest or title to Christ, then an Alien that never heard of this Land, can evidence or conclude his title and right to any Goods or Chattels of yours. The title to Christ is proper only to the Penitent; for them he lived, and for them only he died.

Quest. 3. The third resolveable is, concerning the Subject of this ¹faith, who hath it? The Text resolves that, by telling us, that the Ring was put on the returning Prodigals finger, so that the penitent person is he who wears the Ring, (i.) who is an espoused