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

1. For the first of these I distinguish thus; Man is considerable ¹under a threefold estate. 1. Of Institution, or Creation: Wherein he was alive, and had a power to live or dye. 2. Of Destitution, or Degeneration: In this estate every man living is dead. 3. Of Restitution, o• Regeneration: And here he is born again, and is made alive again. Again, man in his degenerate or fallen estate, may be considered in relation to actions, and objects, either, 1. Natural: To these he is alive; the soul in man is no dead, but living thing, and is able to understand, will, desire, discourse, and reason; and this man can eat, drink, sleep, &c. 2. Political: Here also life is found in him; even a wicked man (destitute of all Grace) is alive to trade, to bargain, to buy, to sell, to plant, to build. 3. Theological, or Spiritual: Now here the impenitent, or unconverted man is plane mortuus; stark dead. An understanding (I confess) he still hath, but none that is able to know God aright, or Christ, or any saving truth (without Divine aid or Grace.) 2 Cor. 3. 5. We are not sufficient of our selves, to think any thing as of our selves, If we (Apostle and regenerate) be not sufficient, who is! if not to think, then to what! to think, is the lowest act of po•er, 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. John 1. 5. The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. A •ill also I grant unto the natural and unconverted man, for he could not be a man, if he had not a will, but this will (without Grace) cannot do any spiritual good, nor choose it, nor love it, nor desire it: Non potest home aliquid velle nisi ⟨p. 256⟩adjuvetur ab eo, qui malum non potest velle: So S. Austin against Pelagius, Tom. 3. De spiritu & Litera cap. 3. Without me (saith Christ) ye can do nothing,