N00302:403
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.
USE, 2. For a word of Counsel and Exhortation unto sinners: Oh, be persuaded as you love your souls, and desire their good, as ever you would be converted and healed, that you would be entreated to call your hearts to ⟨p. 165⟩an account, and put your selves upon serious and solemn consideration; consider your state, your ways, your end, and for Motive.
USE, 2. For a word of Counsel and Exhortation unto sinners: Oh, be perswaded as you love your souls, and desire their good, as ever you would be converted and healed, that you would be intreated to call your hearts to ⟨p. 165⟩an account, and put your selves upon serious and solemn consideration; consider your state, your wayes, your end, and for Motive.
1. Consider, your misery is not less, but your danger is greater, because you do not mind it. Naturalists tell us of a great (but foolish) creature, which, when danger is near it, thrusts its head into a bush, and presumes, because she seeth not, she is secure: Just thus it is with poor sinners, when God threatens wrath, and declares Judgement against them, they shut their eyes, or stop their ears, will not mind it, and now they think all is safe: But know it assuredly that God will be as good as his word, and what he hath spoken shall come to pass, Whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear: He that sleeps at the top of a Mast, is not in less, but more danger of being thrown into the Sea and drowned, because he is asleep: And be sure, hell will be no whit easier to bear, because you drop into it unawares.