A92856:786
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. Afflictions and persecutions do only take away the Christians outward comforts: The Shell, not the Kernel; the Case, not the 1Jewel (which neither make nor mar the joy and comfort of a converted person) they do not take away the true principles of comfort. There are three sorts of comforts; Sensual; which are drawn out of our sinful lusts; Conversion is an enemy to these: Sensitive; which are drawn out of the creatures; affliction is an enemy to these: Spiritual, which are drawn out of the favour of God, the blood of Christ, the Testimony of a good conscience; afflictions cannot hinder these, and only a sinful unconversion is an enemy to these: The Winter freezeth up the ⟨p. 345⟩Ponds, but not the Ocean; the winds blow out the Candle, but not the Sun: An Unconverted man may have an exemption from all outward Afflictions, and yet have no inward Joy; for although he hath peace with men, yet he hath no peace with God; and although he hath no trouble upon his Estate, yet he may have terror upon his Conscience. But a Converted man, although he be compassed with outward Sorrows, nevertheless he hath inward Joy; though all the Candles be blown out, yet I am Comforted as long as the Sun doth shine. There are two sorts of evils; there are mala tristia, & mala turpia: afflictions are only Sorrowful evils as to ou• sense, they are not Sinful evils as to our conscience. Now no evil is able to take away spiritual comfort, unless it be a sinful evil; I confess, that did a godly man look upon creature comforts as his bonum ultimum, as that which made him happy, then afflictions would be inconsistent with his joy, he might well cry out, as Micah once, Ye have taken away my gods, and what have I more? But he doth not so: It is not the Creature, but the Creator, which is the foundation of his Happiness and joy. A man may be Bad who hath them, and Good who wants them: If we had hope only in this life (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 15.) we were of all men the most miserable. I wish that you would or could give credit unto two things, one is, That that only makes the estate comfortable which denominates it to be good; for nothing can be truly delightful, but what is truly good. The other is, That there is a greater power in the presence of the chiefest good to make the Soul joyful, then there can be in the recess or absence of the least kind of good to make it uncomfortable.