N00302:391
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.
6. The Will will never be gained till all the forementioned obstructions be taken away. For they are so many fortresses in which it settleth and secureth it self: As long as the heart remaineth deceived, it is also unpersuadable, ⟨p. 158⟩Isa. 44. 20, A deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul. Whiles men call good evil, and evil good, whiles a mans own way is right, and pleasant, and accustomed, and God's ways are uneasy and unprofitable, whiles he finds substance in a way of Sin, and fills his house with spoil, and he sees no profit in praying to God and serving him, how can he desire the knowledge of his ways? Nay, he will say to the Almighty, depart, 44.16, 17, 18. And till he finds Sin to be bitter, the way of it dangerous, the end death; till he grows weary of this way, and sees the beauty in holiness, he will never reject his old, and make choice of a new way.
6. The Will will never be gained till all the forementioned obstructions be taken away. For they are so many fortresses in which it setleth and secureth it self: As long as the heart remaineth deceived, it is also unperswadable, ⟨p. 158⟩Isa. 44. 20, A deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul. Whiles men call good evil, and evil good, whiles a mans own way is right, and pleasant, and accustomed, and God's wayes are uneasie and unprofitable, whiles he finds substance in a way of Sin, and fills his house with spoil, and he sees no profit in praying to God and serving him, how can he desire the knowledge of his wayes? Nay, he will say to the Almighty, depart, 44.16, 17, 18. And till he finds Sin to be bitter, the way of it dangerous, the end death; till he grows weary of this way, and sees the beauty in holiness, he will never reject his old, and make choise of a new way.