A92856:767
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.
1. It is a lawful Joy and Pleasure. There are many things which are pleasant, but they are not Lawful: Stolen waters are sweet, saith Solomon, but God allows them not; the Tree in the garden was Pleasant, but it was not Lawful for Adam and Eve to taste of. Sinful ways afford some kind of joy, but that joy is forbidden fruit; God hath cursed sin and all that comes out of sin. Agrippina poisoned her husband with the meat he most delighted in. Wicked men delight and rejoice in sinful things, but this is only sweet Poison, God allows it not; nor is it safe: But conversion yields a Joy, which the soul may safely feed on; It is lawful to rejoice in the Lord, and to rejoice in Christ, and to rejoice in the pardon of our sins, and to rejoice that our names are written in the book of Life.
1. It is a lawful Joy and Pleasure. There are many things which are pleasent, but they are not Lawful: Stollen waters are sweet, saith Solomon, but God allowes them not; the Tree in the garden was Pleasant, but it was not Lawful for Adam and Eve to taste of. Sinful wayes afford some kind of joy, but that joy is forbidden fruit; God hath cursed sin and all that comes out of sin. Agrippina poysoned her husband with the meat he most delighted in. Wicked men delight and rejoyce in sinful things, but this is only sweet Poyson, God allowes it not; nor is it safe: But conversion yeilds a Joy, which the soul may safely feed on; It is lawful to rejoyce in the Lord, and to rejoyce in Christ, and to reioyce in the pardon of our sins, and to rejoyce that our names are written in the book of Life.
2. It is a Spiritual Joy; A Joy that reacheth to the spirit of Man, and that becomes the spirit of man, and that raiseth the 1spirit of man. 1. Many men have joy in their faces, and yet not joy in their hearts; A man in a fever hath a lively colour, when yet he hath a dying heart; and many have joy in their tongues and mouths, and yet no joy in their consciences. As he said to one that commended his fine shoe, But you do not know where it pincheth me; a wicked man hath an hell in his conscience, who yet hath a smile in his countenance; But a Converted mans joy, is an heart joy; My servants shall sing for joy of heart,