A92856:564
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.
3. It is an even and upright course of life; as the shoes keep 1the feet up on either side. Such feet doth God bestow upon penitent people, as the living creatures had, their feet were straight feet, Ezek. 1. 7. not like the Images feet in Daniel 2. 33. which were part of Iron, and part of Clay. A conversation that is like the Prophets cake, which was not turned, Hos. 7. 8. Dough-baked bread on the one side, and dough on the other; so Pious in one part, and Impious in another; publicly Religious, and secretly Profane; in one society Angelical, in another Diabolical; in one place a Doctrine, and in an other an Use of Confutation: like a Fish, to give a frisk into the Air, and then to plunge into the Ocean of Lusts. Such a Leopard-like life, spotted course is ignoble; when the Christian runs, like that Beast with two feet of different length, with a general unevenness in his ways; but strait feet are those which the Penitent walks withal: as he hath not an heart and an heart, so he hath not a foot and a foot: Tis granted, he may be sometimes lam• and trip; frailties and infirmities befall the best, but an even, equal tenor is yet to be found in the main bulk of his paths. He hath no Artificial shoes, wider and lesser, made on purpose, but in the bent of his heart and endeavours, desires to have a good conscience in all things, void of offence to God and man. The Philosopher doth distinguish twixt a Complexion which ariseth from Passion, and that which buds out from an Habitual temper; when a person occasionally blusheth, though he be of a pale Complexion, yet colour ariseth in his face; but the Sanguine temper is still of a ruddy face: Passionate actions are rare and unequal, but natural are frequent and even. The penitent, in the whole course of his conversation, is homo quadratus, square, and uniform, and beautiful, and comely in the expression of holiness.
3. It is an even and upright course of life; as the shoes keep 1the feet up on either side. Such feet doth God bestow upon penitent people, as the living creatures had, their feet were straight feet,