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

Having thus considered of the Prodigals deliberation in general, we now come to look upon the motives themselves, by which he argued himself into a resolution to return to his father; and these are two, which do comprise under them in general, the two main heads of consideration; the one respects his father, the other himself: The order of them is Rhetorically propounded, where the first argument is last placed, in the deliberation: for ⟨p. 169⟩doubtless mans necessity first drives him, or else God's goodness would never draw him. Proud man will live at home as long as he can. The motives are joined together, because neither alone will do, but both together are needful to make a full persuasive to a Sinner to return to God. Man's misery throughly apprehended, without the discovery of Gods mercy, would drive to despair; and Gods mercy propounded to a man that is insensible of his need of it, would be slighted and refused: But where these two meet in one, the former drives a man out of himself, and the latter draws him to God. I shall endeavour to speak of them severally.

HAving thus considered of the Prodigals deliberation in general, we now come to look upon the motives themselves, by which he argued himself into a resolution to return to his father; and these are two, which do comprize under them in general, the two main heads of consideration; the one respects his father, the other himself: The order of them is Rhetorically propounded, where the first argument is last placed, in the deliberation: for ⟨p. 169⟩