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

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⟩Ever since man went away from God, and forsook him, he hath had his dependence upon lying vanities, and in those his hopes are laid up: Nay, there are many enticing promises, fair words, and deceiving flatteries which draw his heart away; his lusts do as Prov. 7. 21. With much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattery of her lips she forced him. The carnal concupiscences of the heart of man, are no otherwise to be satiated, but in the prosecution of their sinful ways.

2. Nay, the sinner hath many strong engagments lying upon him to follow his own wayes and courses: his heart is naturally set upon them, sin is connatural to him; he hath all his dependance for happiness upon these designs, ⟨p. 155⟩Ever since man went away from God, and forsook him, he hath had his dependance upon lying vanities, and in those his hopes are laid up: Nay, there are many entising promises, fair words, and deceiving flatteries which draw his heart away; his lusts do as Prov. 7. 21. With much fair speech she caused him to yeild, with the flattery of her lips she forced him. The carnal concupiscences of the heart of man, are no otherwise to be satiated, but in the prosecution of their sinful wayes.

3. More then this, he is deeply rooted in his way: He is practically sixth in it by custom; it is the trade which he hath lived in all his days: He took to it naturally, learnt it readily, and hath lived in it long. Now custom is a second nature, and therefore of much difficulty to after or remove: Mens essays in it are like the washing of an Ethiopian to get off his blackness, as