N00302:345
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.
1. From the natural tendency which there is in outward prosperity to hinder a sinners conversion: for it is an occasion of making him proud, self-conceited, deaf to counsel, Jer. 22. 21. I spake to thee in thy prosperity, and thou wouldest not hear. When men are settled upon the world and their hearts are at ease, they like not to be disturbed.
1. From the natural tendency which there is in outward prosperity to hinder a sinners conversion: for it is an occasion of making him proud, self-conceited, deaf to counsel, Jer. 22. 21. I spake to thee in thy prosperity, and thou wouldest not hear. When men are setled upon the world and their hearts are at ease, they like not to be disturbed.
2. Because the natural man will never go to God as long as he hath any hopes else-where: If he can but have his belly full of husks, he cares for seeking no farther; he must therefore be taken off from every thing here, before he comes to rest upon Christ, who is the only foundation of true rest.
USE. 1. To teach us not to interpret God's providence in the worst sense: Do not be too ready to conclude that he hates you when he strips you of all, but observe the issue; be ⟨p. 136⟩not angry if he hides all created good from you, that he may make way throughly to reveal all his own increated excellencies to your souls; for know it, this is the best love of God you are capable of.