A92856:723
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.
2. When a man leaves many sins, but yet he doth not loath any sin. Many a man sometimes abstains from meat, yet loves it; but a good heart abstains from sin, as from a serpent, which he hates. He turns his face from them, but he turns not his heart from them; he doth not act the sin, nor doth hate the sin; he doth not let […] out of door, nor yet crucify it within ⟨p. 314⟩door; he seems not to be a friend, and yet is not an enemy to sin; this mans heart is not changed. 3. When a man acts from an awing Conscience and not from a renewing Spirit; flies from sin, only, when conscience flies upon him for sinning, and doth good only when conscience is unquiet; when not Grace (which works uniformly,) but terror (which works accidentally) is his Principle; though a while there be some diversity and diversion too in this man, yet there is no change of heart in him; even Pharaoh under a Judgment yielded, who yet upon a respite hardened his heart again; and Iron, whiles hot, becomes malleable, nevertheless, it is not changed in its Intrinsical disposition. 4. When a man is Formal in duties, but not Spiritual in duties; he holds a customary course, but not a conscientious course; this mans heart is not changed: Judas was as busy about Christ as the other Disciples, yet he was not changed; Some unconverted man may be as frequent in religious duties as converted persons are, yet their hearts unchanged. There are four things which prove a formal Christian to have an unchanged 1Heart; for though he doth good duties, yet he doth them, 1. From carnal Principles, of Custom, Education, Example, not from Faith, Love and Spiritual Principles. 2. For Carnal Ends, with a respect to his Estimation with men, not with God; or he doth some good, to blind and cover more evil. 3. As a Carnal or Natural work, not as a Communion with God or Christ; if he doth them it is sufficient, but whether he meets with God in them, or God with him in them; whether he pleaseth God, and God accepts of him and them, or what heavenly revenues come into his soul upon them, he regards not. 4. Without any Delight; A good m•n hates the sin which he doth, an evil man hates the good which he doth; he delights not in the Law of God after the Inward man; he is glad when the work is done, but not to do the work: It is his Task, it is not his Pleasure; It is a Heaviness, but not an Heaven to him;