A92856:801
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.
3. If any converted persons be sad, and want actual joy and comfort, 1yet their Conversion is not the cause thereof. Can the Sun be any cause of darkness? But, amongst others, these are the Causes of it; Either 1. Thy unconversion. It is the unconverted husband, child, master, which makes sadness in the heart of the converted wife, father, &c. It is thy drunkenness, thy cursing and swearing, thy scorning and sco••ing, thy resisting and shifting the offers of Grace, thy lying and slandering, thy pride and looseness which makes the hearts of Ministers ready to break, and the hearts of thy godly friends ready to sink in them: O they tremble at thy condition, and they grieve to see God so extremely dishonoured. Psal. 119. 136. Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law. ver. 158. I beheld the transgressors and was grieved, because they kept not thy Word. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. The wicked deeds of the ungodly Sodomites vexed the soul of righteous Lot. Luke 19. 41. It was Jerusalems proud obstinacy, that would not know in her day the things which concerned her peace, that made Jesus Christ to weep. 2. Their Captivities to sin. Pauls conversion did never trouble him, but this did trouble him, that he did the evil which he would not; his Corruption, not Conversion; That the Law of his members led him captive against the Law of his mind. It was not Peters Conversion, but Peters transgression, that made him go forth and weep bitterly. It was not Davids Conversion, but Davids great sinning, which made him go so heavily, and roar so greatly, Psal. 32. 3. The Fears and Suspicions that they are not yet truly converted. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death! O they feel so many working Corruptions still, and so little of the strength of Christ still, and so much unbelief still, and so many indispositions ⟨p. 354⟩still, and so many failings still, and so many doubts about these; This •race is not right, the saving Work is not begun; and these things make them o sigh, and weep, and go heavily all the day long. 4. They are but newly crept out of the shell: The Spirit of Bondage is yet hardly worn off, some legal Dints stick on them: they are either still in travel, or but newly delivered; Or if they be got out of the state of Bondage, yet they are for the present under spiritual conflicts;