A92856:695
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.
It must come from the Father, if any do come unto the Son. See Jo. 6. 37. 45. Unto you it is given to believe. ([Greek or Hebrew]) Faith is the gift of God, and the act of Faith is the gift of God too; a renewed will is from God, and when it is renewed, even now to will is from God: God works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phil. 2. 13. there must be his good will to make us will good, and his [Greek or Hebrew] for our [Greek or Hebrew], his work to make us to work. 2. If you consider the strength of sin in mans nature: we look upon two things in 1sin; the guilt of it; Oh, this was so great, so mighty that it could never be expiated but by an almighty satisfaction, even the blood of the Son of God; the filth and corruption of it, why! thus considered, it is of that strength in the Soul, that no Power but what is Divine can overcome it, an almighty Power is necessary to this, it must be a stronger then the strong that must dispossess this strong ⟨p. 297⟩man; they are no weak weapons, but mighty weapons; and mighty through God, which must pull down these strong holds; the heart of man is full of evil, saith Solomon; it is desperately wicked, saith Jeremiah: I beseech you pause a while upon two Considerations. 1. There is an exceeding strength in Sin, even in the Regenerate, and converted Person: Paul cries out, I am sold, I am led captive. David is weeping for no less sins then of Adultery, and Murder: Peter weeps bitterly for no less sin then denying of Christ, then for swearing and cursing. In the very best the flesh lusteth against the Spirit; So that they cannot do the Good they would, and cannot overcome the evil that they hate. Now mark, if there be so much strength in sinful nature dying, how great is the strength in sinful nature living? If there be so much power in a broken arm, how great is the power in a perfect, strong unbroken arm? If all the Christians Grace he hath be sometimes too weak for his sinful inclination, assuredly then all external counsels, advises, reproofs are too weak to alter the whole sinful nature; for the quality of Grace is much more strong, then the exhortation unto Grace.
It must come from the Father, if any do come unto the Son. See Jo. 6. 37. 45. Ʋnto you it is given to believe. (〈non-Latin alphabet〉) Faith is the gift of God, and the act of Faith is the gift of God too; a renewed will is from God, and when it is renewed, even now to will is from God: God works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure,