A92856:791
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. But then, This strictness is no adversary to his true joy. In 1keeping of thy commandments there is great reward, saith David, Psal. 19. 11. Great peace have they who love thy law, Psal. 119. 165. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy upon the Israel of God, Gal. 6. 16. I beseech you to consider four things: 1. Let thine own Conscience judge, whether it be not a more comfortable course to obey God, then to disobey God? to have grace to serve God acceptably, then to have an heart still free and ready to dishonour and provoke God? Who hath most true comfort, the bones sound and in place, or broken? to walk on the Land, or to be troubled at Sea? the Child who runs away from his Father, or the Child who waits upon his Father? the Child that desires to please, or the Child that continues to grieve and vex? the wandering and famished Prodigal, or the returning ⟨p. 348⟩and embraced Son. Hos. 2. 7. I will return to my first Husband; for then it was better with me then now. 2. Rightly understand what it is strictly to walk with God: It is an endeavour in your affections and duties to draw near to God in all well-pleasing, and to answer the will of God. The Christians course of obedience, it is his daily communion with his God in this life: When thou prayest, what is Praying, but a divine conference of the soul with God? and when thou hearest, what is this but a divine conference of God with the soul? and when thou repentest, what is that but a recovery and return of the soul to God? and when thou believest, what is that but the recumbency of the soul on the goodness of God? and when thou receivest the Sacrament, what is it, but a communion, a feasting with Jesus Christ? If a strict walking be nothing but a divine and heavenly communion with God, why doest thou, how darest thou to judge of it as the only Bar to shut out all joy and comfort? Was there ever any affectionate Wife, that thought it an injury to her Joy to speak with her Husband, or to enjoy the society of her Husband? Was there ever any faithful Friend, who thought it a misery, a burden to enjoy the society of his Friends, to open his heart unto his Friend? How then can it be a prejudice to any mans joy, to enjoy communion with his God? 3. Consult with experience, which hath travelled in the strict ways of God;