N00302:390
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.
5. To true conversion is necessarily required the full and free consent of the will: for God regardeth the heart, and judgeth of mens actions according as that is in them; so, the will is the regent in man, and the first mover to every action: If that be true in it, the work is real, if that be deceitful, the work is hypocritical: Conversion is a turning of the whole man from sin unto God, it is a leaving off the old ways of sin, to take up a new life of holiness; and how can this be done, so long as the heart loves to wander? besides the will of man never stands neuter, though it may halt a while, till the understanding hath pondered and weighed things, yet it always comes at length to a conclusion: Men will either love God or Sin, they will either serve God or Mammon: Man is a traveller, he will keep some way: Hence you shall find in the Scripture, that unconversion is ascribed to the will: Psal. 81. 11. Israel would none of me. But when the will is turned the work is done, when the heart is given to God, all is his.
5. To true conversion is necessarily required the full and free consent of the will: for God regardeth the heart, and judgeth of mens actions according as that is in them; so, the will is the regent in man, and the first mover to every action: If that be true in it, the work is real, if that be deceitful, the work is hypocritical: Conversion is a turning of the whole man from sin unto God, it is a leaving off the old wayes of sin, to take up a new life of holiness; and how can this be done, so long as the heart loves to wander? besides the will of man never stands neuter, though it may hault a while, till the understanding hath pondered and weighed things, yet it alwayes comes at length to a conclusion: Men will either love God or Sin, they will either serve God or Mammon: Man is a traveller, he will keep some way: Hence you shall find in the Scripture, that unconversion is ascribed to the will: Psal. 81. 11. Israel would none of me. But when the will is turned the work is done, when the heart is given to God, all is his.