A92856:787
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.
Were Afflictions the greatest evils, and were Creatures the best good, then joy could not consist with afflictions; but God is the chiefest good, and the Christian enjoys him under all afflictions as his inseparable good; Ergo. 2. As Afflictions do not take off the 1Christians true joy, so the times of afflictions are oft times the most proper seasons for joy and comfort to his soul. There are three seasons of special comforts which God is pleased to reserve for his servants, one is after great temptations, or to prepare against them; as that Voice, This is my well beloved Son, came to Christ immediately before his temptation. The second is, after ⟨p. 346⟩great Humiliations. God who comforts them that are cast down, saith Paul, 2 Cor. 7. 6. The Angel comforted Christ after his Agony; the Cordial comes after the Physic. The third is, before and under great afflictions and trials: Paul was to appear before Nero, but first God appeared to him saying, Be of good cheer Paul. He is come, he is come, said the Martyr when he saw the stake; and Stephen saw heaven opened before he dyed. The comforts of heaven came into his heart just before the stones were thrown at him to dash out his brains. 2 Cor. 1. 3. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comforts, who comforteth us in all our tribulations; for as our sufferings abound, so our Consolation aboundeth through Christ. Is not the night a season to light a Candle? and is not weakness the season to give a Cordial? and is not the winter a season to make a Fire? When doth or can the Christian more need the comforts of God, then when all comforts on earth do fail him? 3. As afflictions deprive not the Christian of the true principles of Joy, so neither 2can they hinder those principles in himself from acting in a way of comfort. There are two principles (especially) in the Christian which enable him to joy and comfort: One is Faith: It is still Day, and never Night with Faith; the Star shines best in the night; (Believing ye rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of Glory,