A92856:806
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. That they are enemies and slanderers of the goodness and 1sweetness of the ways of God, who load the estate of Conversion with all the ignominious reproaches of sadness and heaviness; and mopishness, and melancholy, and bitterness, and grave of all joy and pleasure: As the Spies of old traduced the good and pleasant land of Canaan, which abounded with milk and honey, O it was a land that did eat up the Inhabitants thereof; But as God spake once to Aaron and Miriam, How were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? so I to these; How are ye not afraid to reproach the ways of the living God? Is not God the God of comfort? Is not Christ the consolation of Israel? Is not the Holy Ghost the comforter? are not the Scriptures written for our consolation? are not the Promises the breasts of Consolation? are not all the paths of Wisdom paths of pleasantness? are not the Graces of God the very beds of Spices? Is not the peace of Conscience a peace that passeth all understanding? Doth David find the Word sweeter then the honey comb? Doth Job find it better then his appointed food? Doth Jeremiah find it the Rejoicing of his heart? Doest thou read of so many Converted persons in Scripture full of joy and gladness, rejoicing in Christ, rejoicing in the hope of the Glory of God, rejoicing in Troubles, in Persecutions, yea, in Death it self; and yet darest thou to revile and scandalize the converted mans condition as the only sea of Bitterness, and darkest night, eclipsing all joy and comfort? I pray thee to consider, 1. This doth arise from the gall of thy wicked and embittered Spirit, hating and despising the goodly excellencies of holiness and holy persons. 2. It doth show a cursed heart to call good evil, as it doth to call evil good; and as he that justifies the Wicked, so he that condemns the just, is an abomination to the Lord; How much more then, he who condemns Righteousness it self. 3. This doth show an Universal rage against Gods glory and mans happiness; So heavily dost thou load the paths of Conversion, that so much as in thee lies, thou dissuadest and discouragest all the men on earth from leaving off their sins, so that God shall have no Glory from them; nor they any true happiness from God. 4. And lastly: Take heed least God deal with thee, as once he did with the lying spies;
2. That they are enemies and slanderers of the goodness and 1