N00302:484
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.
IN the former verse we had the Prodigal quickening and encouraging himself to return to his father, which is the first part of his deliberation.
IN the former verse we had the Prodigal quickning and encouraging himself to return to his father, which is the first part of his deliberation.
2. In these words is set down his deliberate conclusion, or consultation and determination what improvement to make of these arguments, which is, in sum to make proof of his fathers love in the most penitent and humble manner. More particularly, he resolves upon ⟨p. 203⟩two things: 1. That he will return to his father, I will arise, and go to my father. 2. How he will demean himself when he comes to him, viz. in the most submissive and self abasing manner that is possible, and this appears, both in his confession and petition. 1. In his confession, in which he acknowledgeth, 1. His sin, aggravated in two things. 1. The object against whom, against heaven. 2. The presence in which, before thee. 2. The merit or desert of his sin, I am no more worthy to be called thy son. 2. His petition, submitting to his fathers disposal, Make me as one of thy hired servants. Before I enter upon particulars, it will be needful to enquire, to what head in Divinity this is to be referred; whither to a preparatory or to a saving work: and I suppose it may be made evident that it refers to a saving work, and that true conversion is here deciphered, and set forth in these and the following words, verse, 20. begin.
2. In these words is set down his deliberate conclusion, or consultation and determination what improvment to make of these arguments, which is, in summe to make proof of his fathers love in the most penitent and humble manner. More particularly, he resolves upon ⟨p. 203⟩two things: 1. That he will return to his father, I will arise, and go to my father. 2. How he will demean himself when he comes to him, viz. in the most submissive and self abasing manner that is possible, and this appears, both in his confession and petition. 1. In his confession, in which he acknowledgeth, 1. His sin, aggravated in two things. 1. The object against whom, against heaven. 2. The presence in which, before thee. 2. The merit or desert of his sin, I am no more worthy to be called thy son. 2. His petition, submitting to his fathers disposal, Make me as one of thy hyred servants. Before I enter upon particulars, it will be needful to enquire, to what head in Divinity this is to be referred; whither to a preparatory or to a saving work: and I suppose it may be made evident that it refers to a saving work, and that true conversion is here deciphered, and set forth in these and the following words, verse, 20. begin.