A92856:591
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.
Quest. 2. How God finds a lost sinner? Sol. There are 1seven Acts of God, which are conversant about the finding of a lost sinner. 1. He is moved with compassion towards him; the 2Lord pities such a sinner: Alas, saith God, this poor, ignorant, foolish man, is gone from me, the fountain of his life; lo, how his lusts deceive him, how Satan rules him, how he wanders up and down in vanity; he is quite out of the way of his happiness; ⟨p. 239⟩he is running towards hell, but perceives it not; he is undoing and destroying his immortal soul, but observes it not; he knows not whether he goes; he is undone for ever, if I stay him not, if I turn him not. 2. He intends good to this particular lost sinner. I will surely have mercy on him. I have seen his ways, 3and will heal him. I know the thoughts that I think towards him, thoughts of good, and not of evil. I will glorify all my mercy and goodness in this very sinner; I will not suffer him to run on thus, I will look after him, I will bring him home to my self, and save him. 3. He sends out after him; one servant, and another 4servant; one Minister, and another Minister: Go, saith God, to such a Parish, and to such a Family, and preach, and make enquiry, Is there not such a miserable sinner here? is there not such a lost man there? one that is gone from his Fathers house? one that hath spent all in riotous living? Is there never a man here, who hath departed from God, lived without God, run all his life in sinful, loose, base courses of disobedience, and would now be glad of mercy? This is the general seeking of a lost sinner. 4. He makes a privy search after him; for (perhaps) 5the general Hue and Cry will not find the sinner, and therefore the Lord makes a privy search: As to find out Achan, there was Tribe searched by Tribe, and Family by Family, and Person by Person; and thus doth the Lord in finding of a lost sinner; He comes more distinctly, and his Word or Afflictions draw after this sinner more personally; they light at his door, (upon his person) and knock, and enquire, Art not thou the man? doth not the lost sinner abide here? Art not thou he who hast lived ignorantly, or profanely, and gone astray from thy God? 5. He