N00302:318
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, 1. Hence see their folly, who spend ⟨p. 126⟩their whole time about the world, and the things of it: They spend their money for that which is not bread, Isa. 55. 2. Is it not an horrible debasing of a man's nature, to aspire no higher, nor seek for any thing better, than that which can neither suit nor satisfy him? To gather husks, and more especially, such as, enjoying the Gospel, have a better trade opened to them? Such before whom the way is presented in which they might come to inherit substance? And what are such as are full fraught with the things of the world? shall we count them rich and happy? I pray what is a Ship-load, or a Ware-house full of husks worth? True grace, though it makes but a little show, is a Jewel more worth than a whole world of such pitiful lumber.
USE, 1. Hence see their folly, who spend ⟨p. 126⟩their whole time about the world, and the things of it: They spend their mony for that which is not bread, Isa. 55. 2. Is it not an horrible debasing of a man's nature, to aspire no higher, nor seek for any thing better, than that which can neither sute nor satisfie him? To gather husks, and more especially, such as, enjoying the Gospel, have a better trade opened to them? Such before whom the way is presented in which they might come to inherit substance? And what are such as are full fraught with the things of the world? shall we count them rich and happy? I pray what is a Ship-load, or a Ware-house full of husks worth? True grace, though it makes but a little show, is a Jewel more worth than a whole world of such pittiful lumber.
USE, 2. Let it then awaken us all to lay out our time, strength, and care about better things; be not content with this world: If these things are no better than husks, leave them to swine, if you are men, seek mans meat. Consider,