A92856:682
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.
Alive again! but how came this about? what was the occasion of this Prodigals Conversion? look back unto v. 15, 16. he was brought so low as to feed Swine, and would have been glad of the Husks, but no man gave unto him, and he is ready to perish with hunger; and now returning thoughts came into his mind; now he resolves to come back again unto his Fathers house: Whence observe,
That great afflictions are sometimes an occasion of the Conversion of 1a great sinner. There are two sorts of afflictions, 1. Inward, which set upon the conscience; these are sometimes an occasion of Conversion: A troubled conscience doth many times end in a renewed conscience; troubles of heart are oftentimes closed with change of heart. The great storms occasion the Traveller to come in for shelter: The biting Serpents occasioned the Israelites to look to the brazen Serpent; the avenger of blood made the guilty person to fly to the City of refuge; and a condemning conscience oftentimes makes a poor troubled Soul to come in unto Jesus Christ for ease and rest. 2. Outward, which light upon the body and estate of a sinner; these also sometimes serve to fetch in a sinner; as he once said, periissem nisi periissem, I had perished unless I had perished. Josephs brethren had never found Joseph, and craved food of him, unless a famine had befallen them. If God had not deprived some men of their worldly goods, they had never come in to seek heavenly Treasures: We may say of them that if they had been fed, they had been famished; and if they had not been famished, they had never been fed with the bread of life.
That great afflictions are sometimes an occasion of the Conversion of 1a great sinner. There are two sorts of afflictions, 1. Inward, which set upon the conscience; these are sometimes an occasion of Conversion: A troubled conscience doth many times end in a renewed conscience; troubles of heart are oftentimes closed with change of heart. The great storms occasion the Traveller to come in for shelter: The biting Serpents occasioned the Israelites to look to the brasen Serpent; the avenger of blood made the guilty person to flye to the City of refuge; and a condemning conscience oftentimes makes a poor troubled Soul to come in unto Jesus Christ for ease and rest. 2. Outward, which light upon the body and estate of a sinner; these also sometimes serve to fetch in a sinner; as he once said, periissem nisi periissem, I had perished unless I had perished. Josephs brethren had never found Joseph, and craved food of him, unless a famine had befallen them. If God had not deprived some men of their wordly goods, they had never come in to seek heavenly Treasures: We may say of them that if they had been fed, they had been famished; and if they had not been famished, they had never been fed with the bread of life.