Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of…

The Riches and Freeness of the Grace of God, manifesting it self in the Conversion and Salvation of undone self-ruined Sinners (having by the same Grace first provided for this in the glorious Redemption wrought out by Christ) is one of the great designs of Gospel discoveries. Proud nature slights it it self, ⟨p. 2⟩and envies it to others. The self-conceited Pharisee deems none to deserve favour but himself, and thinks he hath reason to find fault with a merciful God, if he reveal and apply his mercy to any other. A notable Instance of this, the Chapter afore us doth afford: our Saviour Christ is recorded, ver. 1. (and it was not the first time that he had so done) to condescend to teach Publicans and Sinners in the great concerns of their Souls, and instruct them in the way to eternal li•e: [Ver. 2.] The Pharisees and Scribes (those self-admiring Justiciaries) take great offence, and when almost did they otherwise than find fault with the spotless actions of Christ? but when offence is taken and not given, the woe denounced falls upon those that take it: Christ therefore doth not for this abstain, lest they should be prejudiced, but strenuously maintains and justifies that which he hath done against all their cavils. The main things which we aim at in this vindication are the discovering: