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

1. The sufficiency of God; it cannot but animate the Prodigal, to think that there is bread enough and to spare in his fathers house: Starving beggars are not wont to ask relief of beggars like themselves, but they go to the rich: Men account it vain to ask an alms where they know there is nothing to be had; but where they understand there is enough, they will be very importunate, because they know such an one can, if the hath an heart to it, do them a kindness: So, here the soul discovers ⟨p. 192⟩a possibility that he may have succour, because God is able; there is all fullness in him, he can save him from hell, and wrath, and misery, and bestow life and salvation upon him if he sees meet: When Jacob heard there was bread in Egypt, he said to his Sons, Why do you sit still and look one on another, and die? So, when a soul hears there is all Grace with God, it prompts him to say, why do I tarry here then, and perish? God therefore thus propounds himself to destroyed Israel, Hos. 13.9. In me is thy help. And Christ propounds it as a question to them in order to their cure, Matt. 9. 28. Believe ye that I am able to do this? Now possibility apprehended gives ease to extreme necessity, and when a soul hears of it, it will not cast off all hope, till it hath made utmost proof, and hence the soul is helped to come to Christ believing, hence the poor Leper makes this his argument, and comes with it: Mat. 8. 2. If thou wilt thou canst make me clean.

1. The sufficiency of God; it cannot but animate the Prodigal, to think that there is bread enough and to spare in his fathers house: Starving beggars are not wont to ask relief of beggars like themselves, but they go to the rich: Men account it vain to ask an alms where they know there is nothing to be had; but where they understand there is enough, they will be very importunate, because they know such an one can, if the hath an heart to it, do them a kindness: So, here the soul discovers ⟨p. 192⟩a possibility that he may have succour, because God is able; there is all fulness in him, he can save him from hell, and wrath, and misery, and bestow life and salvation upon him if he sees meet: When Jacob heard there was bread in Egypt, he said to his Sons, Why do you sit still and look one on another, and dy? So, when a soul hears there is all Grace with God, it prompts him to say, why do I tarry here then, and perish? God therefore thus propounds himself to destroyed Israel,