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

1. From the restless endeavours which natural men use for the obtaining of the things of this life: That which a mans utmost desires and endeavours are laid out about, that is that which he builds his hopes upon, and such is the world to the men of the world: All mens projects, aims and endeavours run this way, their ⟨p. 128⟩heads are always rolling, their hands and feet always moving to this; for this it is they rise up early, sit up late, wear themselves out in restless labour, that they may grasp in as much as they can of these things; yea, the Psalmist undertakes to tell us what are their inward thoughts, Psal. 94. 11. Their inwards thought is that their houses shall continue for ever.

1. From the restless endeavours which natural men use for the obtaining of the things of this life: That which a mans utmost desires and endeavours are laid out about, that is that which he builds his hopes upon, and such is the world to the men of the world: All mens projects, aims and endeavours run this way, their ⟨p. 128⟩heads are alwayes roling, their hands and feet alwayes moving to this; for this it is they rise up early, sit up late, wear themselves out in restless labour, that they may grasp in as much as they can of these things; yea, the Psalmist undertakes to tell us what are their inward thoughts, Psal. 94. 11. Their inwards thought is that their houses shall continue for ever.

2. From the confidence which worldly men place in their enjoyment of the things of the world: If once they prosper, they presently grow high, and proud and self-conceited, though formerly they carried themselves low and humble: yea, now they begin to be become regardless of convictions, and too good for reproofs; yea, they are strongly confident, and presumptuously take up their rest here: They are upon this account called their strong City,