A92856:601
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.
But will some say, How may one know, that God hath found (in 1converting mercy) his lost soul? This leads me to the second thing, which comprehends the Trials or Characters of a lost soul truly found: And there are Nine infallible Evidences of a lost person graciously found.2
- 1How may one know that God hath found his lost soul.
- 2Trials of it.
1. When a lost sinner is found by God, he doth then •ind himself to 1be utterly lost. Unclean, unclean, said the Leper. Undone, undone, God be merciful to me a sinner, said the Publican. In me there dwells no good, I am the greatest of sinners, said Paul. God finds us by making us to find our selves. There is a vast difference twixt 1. A vulgar confession, I am a sinner, all men are sinners; 2. An experimental conviction, I am the lost sinner, these sins, these my ⟨p. 245⟩sins have undone me; I am undone and lost for such a sin, and for such a sin; I perish, I perish, if I get not out of this condition; my God is lost, and my soul will be lost; I am gone from God, I am out of the way of life; if I stay here, I die: I perish for hunger, said the found Prodigal. Thou lookest on thy self and state, but how? as sinful! well; but doest thou look on that thy sinful estate, as a perishing, as thy perishing condition? as a condition, not a day, not an hour, not a moment more to be stayed in? Doest thou look on it as on the Leak in the Ship, as a sinking Leak, as a splitting Rock, as a soul-destroying, murdering, ruining condition? The Lord never finds any man, but he finds him and brings him back, so as he shall acknowledge who hath found him, (even a God,) and what hath found him, (even his mercy;) and this will never be acknowledged, until God makes us first to see how utterly lost we were; that the found sinner may say, 'Twas mercy that pitied me, 'twas mercy that looked after me, 'twas mercy that lighted on me, 'twas mercy which dealt with me, wooed me, overcame me, brought me back, saved me; mere mercy; for I was utterly lost, I had perished, if mercy had not recovered me, &c.