N00302:400
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. The reason why there are so many under the clearest Gospel dispensations, that live and lie in Sin: It is not for want of light, for Scripture truths are written with Sun-beams; it is not for want of evidence, for they are full of demonstration; it is not because men are not concerned in them, for their everlasting concerns are therein contained; but it is for want of due consideration: Men come and go, they hear the Word the most pertinent and profitable truths; but few make personal application; few enter into their own souls and debate the matter with themselves: It is God's complaint, Jer. 8. 6. No man repented of his wickedness, saying, what have I done? Men rush into the ways of Sin, and are bold and fearless, though God seeth and threatens, and why? Because they do not consider of this, Hos. 7. 2. They consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickedness. Jerusalem is obstinate, till she be ruined, and why? see, Lam. 1. 9. She remembereth not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully The young fool followeth his harlots, till a dart striketh through his liver, and how is this?. Prov. 7. 25. He knoweth not that it is for his life: The sons and daughters of men are wilfully blind, because they shut ⟨p. 162⟩their eyes, and will not receive counsel. If men would look into their sinful ways, and compare them by the word of God, they might find enough to terrify and fright them therefrom; but they cannot abide to think of it: If they would enquire into the ways of God, they might discover the purity and pleasantness of them; but they will not suffer their thoughts to dwell there: Hence they are called sottish children: Nay, if the spirit of God begin to touch and prick them, they are never well till they have banished all the thoughts of seriousness, or sense of regret; hence they are compared to men that are drunk and asleep, that cannot abide to be awakened, and if they are made to rub their eyes, they soon fall asleep again: Hence also it is that they cannot endure soul-searching truths, left they should be disquieted; and thus men go on till they drop into hell for want of consideration.