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

1: The natural mans sinful way is right in his own eyes, unregenerate men, though fools themselves, and foolish in all they do, yet think they are the only wise and prudent: They call evil good; i. e. they so judge of it. The Prodigal, in his vain humour, thought it the only happy life to get abroad into a far country, and riot it among strangers, where he might live at large: Sinners think the way to hell a fair, large, broad, pleasant way; here they promise themselves to find pleasures, profits, preferments; they see no hurt in their courses, and can laugh at the ways of God and godliness, as foolish and unprofitable. Of these the wise man speaks, Prov. 14. 12. There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. The truth is, the greatest number of sinners think they sin with a great deal of reason.

1: The natural mans sinful way is right in his own eyes, unregenerate men, though fools themselves, and foolish in all they do, yet think they are the only wise and prudent: They call evil good; i. e. they so judge of it. The Prodigal, in his vain humour, thought it the only happy life to get abroad into a far country, and riot it among strangers, where he might live at large: Sinners think the way to hell a fair, large, broad, pleasant way; here they promise themselves to find pleasures, profits, preferments; they see no hurt in their courses, and can laugh at the wayes of God and godliness, as foolish and unprofitable. Of these the wise man speaks, Prov. 14. 12. There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the wayes of death. The truth is, the greatest number of sinners think they sin with a great deal of reason.

2. Nay, the sinner hath many strong engagements lying upon him to follow his own ways and courses: his heart is naturally set upon them, sin is connatural to him; he hath all his dependence for happiness upon these designs, ⟨p. 155⟩