N00302:271
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.
2. Nor because there is not help to be had with God for such: Fallen, back-slidden, wandering Prodigals may have hope with him in returning, Hos. 13. 9. Oh Israel thou hast destroyed thy self, but in me is thy help. Hence the following invitation, Chap. 14. 1. The Prodigal when he came home found it so. God is both able and willing, hence he never casts off a true penitent, but always gave to such the best welcome.
2. Nor because there is not help to be had with God for such: Fallen, back-slidden, wandring Prodigals may have hope with him in returning, Hos. 13. 9. Oh Israel thou hast destroyed thy self, but in me is thy help. Hence the following invitation, Chap. 14. 1. The Prodigal when he came home found it so. God is both able and willing, hence he never casts off a true penitent, but alwayes gave to such the best welcome.
2. Affirmatively.
1. From the pride of heart which is in natural men: There is a proud shame (as I may call it) when a man knowing that he hath ill deserved at the hands of God, and greatly provoked him to anger by sinful departing from him, whereby he hath become his own undoer, is now ashamed to come in God's sight, such was in our first Parents upon their Apostasy, Gen. 3. 10. Man is ashamed, i.e. in truth he is too proud to take that shame to himself, ⟨p. 111⟩