N00302:134
Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of…
Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of the lost son found, is opened and applied, as it was delivered in sundry sermons, / by Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Two lines from Luke]
printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Philips, 1684
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.
USE. 3. Let this serve to convince unregenerate men of their great wickedness, and show them what a dreadful account they will have to give in to God at the great day: Consider of it solemnly, is it not enough for you to go away from God your selves, but must you needs carry away the whole creation of Gods goodness with you? Shall God gratify your desires in giving you a large portion of his bounty, and can you not give him one hearty acknowledgement for it all, but because he gives you in abundance, do you therefore say to the Almighty depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways? Job 21. 14. Be convinced of folly and madness, and hence consider.
USE. 3. Let this serve to convince unregenerate men of their great wickedness, and shew them what a dreadful account they will have to give in to God at the great day: Consider of it solemnly, is it not enough for you to go away from God your selves, but must you needs carry away the whole creation of Gods goodness with you? Shall God gratifie your desires in giving you a large portion of his bounty, and can you not give him one hearty acknowledgment for it all, but because he gives you in abundance, do you therefore say to the Almighty depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes? Job 21. 14. Be convinced of folly and madness, and hence consider.
1. This is a most ungrateful requital of God; it is a most shameful abuse of his goodness: he may well expostulate with you, as he did with them in, Deut. 32. 5. Do ye thus requite the Lord, Oh foolish people and unwise? Do ye not know that goodness leads unto Repentance? Rom. 2.4. And will you resist that leading, and instead of it lead goodness into rebellion? cannot Jesurun wax fat, but he must presently kick? out of doubt a merciful God is grievously provoked by such things as these.