A92856:798
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.
Object. 4. We see no persons to walk more sadly and more uncomfortably 1then (at least) many do who are converted persons, Ergo. To this give me favour to answer more fully: 1. This is a False Charge, and a very unjust Calumny: take the divisions of the sons of men according to the diversity of their spiritual conditions, compare men with men, according unto them, and I dare confidently affirm, That no condition is more dreadfully sad then the condition of men Unconverted; and no condition is more comfortably cheerful, then the condition of men truly Converted; let's a while peruse the phrases and instances of such. Me thinks the terrible passages in Scripture may abundantly convince us of the dreadfulness of an Unconverted and wicked person, Isa. 57. 20. The wicked are like the raging sea that cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ver. 21. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Job 20. 16, 17, 23, 24, 25. there Zophar sets him out: He shall suck the gall of Asps, and the Vipers tongue shall slay him. He shall not see the Rivers, nor the floods and streams of Honey and Butter. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall send upon him the fierceness of his wrath, and shall cause it to rain upon him. The bow of Steel shall strike him through, the glistering sword cometh out of his gall, terrors are upon him. Psal. 11. 6. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest; this shalt be the portion of their cup. Again, did you ever read of any one godly and converted person who fell into that horrible despair ⟨p. 352⟩as Cain or Judas did? But take the hardest agonies incident to true converts, they are 1. rather fears then horrors; 2. rather doubts then despairs; 3. effects of a mistaking Conscience, then a rightly condemning Conscience; 4. They can look towards the Promises, as Jonah did in the deeps towards God; 5. Faith doth doth act for relief, and will hold some communion with God; 6. They are abated by the Ordinances; 7. They are but for a time; 8. They end in fullest settling and glorious comforts, and likewise with advantage to their gracious condition. And truly, it is impossible that wicked and ungodly men should ever enjoy that serenity and peace as the godly do, for as much as all the principles and causes of uncomfortableness abide on the wicked. 1. Sin is in them in all its strength: