A92856:741
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.
5. It is the most comfortable and joyful condition; for now there is a change of all, without and within you. The converted souls are glad, Acts 2. 47. the converted Jailer rejoiced, Acts 16. 34. the Eunuch rejoiced, Acts 8. 6, 8. The first work of the Spirit is grace, the next is joy; Heaven now stands open for you to see all, &c. Threatenings are turned into promises, curses into blessings, enemies unto friends, aliens into sons, accusing into an excusing conscience, voice of terror into a voice of peace, hell into heaven.1
5. It is the most comfortable and joyful condition; for now there is a change of all, without and within you. The converted souls are glad, Acts 2. 47. the converted Jailor rejoyced, Acts 16. 34. the Eunuch rejoyced, Acts 8. 6, 8. The first work of the Spirit is grace, the next is joy; Heaven now stands open for you to see all, &c. Threatnings are turned into promises, curses into blessings, enemies unto friends, aliens into sons, accusing into an excusing conscience, voice of terror into a voice of peace, hell into heaven.1
- 1It is the only unprejudicial change on earth.
6. It is the only unprejudicial change on earth: In all other changes there is either diminution or danger. If a rich man becomes poor, there is a diminution of his Condition; if a poor man becomes rich, there is a danger to his spirit, lest he becomes covetous or proud. If a man be lifted up to greatness and authority, there is a danger, lest he forgets God, and be injurious; if an healthy man becomes sick and weak, here is an impairing, a loss and danger of life: Only, when a wicked man is converted, and becomes holy, there is neither diminution nor danger; converting grace is no thief in the Candle: It is no preternatural heat which sucks away that which is vital; thou losest nothing at all by it, no spot to thy credit, no burden to thy conscience, no eclipse to thy honour, no gall in thy Cup, nor wast to thy Lands: It doth not darken thy name, nor weaken thy strength, nor diminish thy coffers, nor embitter thy comforts: No loss but the losing of sin, which we cannot keep but to our loss; all that it doth is this, that it decreaseth and destroyeth thy sinful lusts; it roots out those weeds, it pulls out hell, it heals thy wounds, and is the deadly enemy to thy deadliest enemies.