A92856:566
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.
5. It is a profitable Walking: The impenitent man is a dead 1man, and his life is a deadly life, like the Plague, which is an infecting disease; like the Prophets girdle, rotten, and good for nothing. Either he is a dead letter, barren to any good, or he is a killing letter, doing much evil; either he is a rotten stick, good for nothing, or else he is a fire-brand, causing much wickedness. But• when a person becomes penitent, now his heart is made go•d, and his life becomes profitable. As Paul wrote of Onesimus to Philemon, That in time past he was unprofitable to him, but now, saith he, profitable to thee and me. There is good to be got by him that is made good; blood runs through all the veins of his Conversation; one may get heat at his fire, and light at his candle, and refreshing at his streams, and clothing by his fleece; one may melt by his tears, go by his light, learn to trust by his faith, to fear by his tenderness, to live by his obedience. Oh how he strives to convert others, with S. Austin; to give knowledge to others, with S. Paul; to warn and beseech others, with Lot; to profit the souls of others, and help the bodies of others. In his general calling he is diligent, and in his particular he is active; his counsels are savoury, and his walkings are heavenly, such as may save himself and those about him, if they be so humble and wise as to apprehend and learn.
5. It is a profitable Walking: The impenitent man is a dead 1man, and his life is a deadly life, like the Plague, which is an infecting disease; like the Prophets girdle, rotten, and good for nothing. Either he is a dead letter, barren to any good, or he is a killing letter, doing much evil; either he is a rotten stick, good for nothing, or else he is a fire-brand, causing much wickedness. But• when a person becomes penitent, now his heart is made go•d, and his life becomes profitable. As Paul wrote of Onesimus to Philemon, That in time past he was unprofitable to him, but now, saith he, profitable to thee and me. There is good to be got by him that is made good; blood runs through all the veins of his Conversation; one may get heat at his fire, and light at his candle, and refreshing at his streams, and clothing by his fleece; one may melt by his tears, go by his light, learn to trust by his faith, to fear by his tenderness, to live by his obedience. Oh how he strives to convert others, with S. Austin; to give knowledg to others, with S. Paul; to warn and beseech others, with Lot; to profit thesouls of others, and help the bodies of others. In his general calling he is diligent, and in his particular he is active; his counsels are savoury, and his walkings are heavenly, such as may save himself and those about him, if they be so humble and wise as to apprehend and learn.