N00302:144
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.
3. When men, by falsely interpreting of Gods patience and benignity, do presume him to favour and approve of their wicked ways; so they argued, Psal. 50. 21. These things thou hast done, and I kept silence: thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self. Prospering iniquity is in their account, Piety; sin unpunished, settles their resolutions, and fortifies them in their courses, Eccl. 8.11. And what is this but to go far from God, when men make such a God of him, that if he were •o, he should cease to be God? Make him to be one that loves your sin, and approves of your iniquity, and you do manifestly deny the God-head.
3. When men, by falsly interpreting of Gods patience and benignity, do presume him to favour and approve of their wicked wayes; so they argued, Psal. 50. 21. These things thou hast done, and I kept silence: thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self. Prospering iniquity is in their account, Piety; sin unpunished, settles their resolutions, and fortifies them in their courses, Eccl. 8.11. And what is this but to go far from God, when men make such a God of him, that if he were •o, he should cease to be God? Make him to be one that loves your sin, and approves of your iniquity, and you do manifestly deny the God-head.
4. When men go on in evil ways adding sin to sin: all sin sets the creature at a distance from the holy God; sin is of a separating nature, Isa. 59. 2• Your sins have separated between you and your God. Every transgression is a step from God, when men throw themselves into vain courses they are upon their journey; and as they grow more bold in wicked ways, they get further off from him: Sin is called a going a whoring from God, & what is that but a going from the lawful husband, to the bed of a stranger? Apostate Judah is therefore said to be gone far from God,