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

2. The reason why God makes the true penitent thus see and acknowledge Sin is not to drive the soul beyond hope of mercy, but it is.

1. To make the creature so touched with the sense of his own sin, that he may thus see it in its worst colours, and thence learn to loath it, ⟨p. 227⟩and himself for it: that he may see Sin hateful not only in its consequents, but in its self, and thence what reason God hath, and how just it is for him to be so severe, and bear such a dreadful witness against Sin, as he doth in his word and works, Ezek. 36. 31.

2. That the greatness of the riches of his grace may appear, and be known to be unsearchable: that every believer may experience the meaning of that, Rom. 5. 20. Where sin hath abounded, grace did much more abound. Hence Paul shall not only acknowledge grace, but with an emphasis, 1 Tim. 1. 15, 16. The blacker the Sin looketh, the brighter will grace appear, and the more intense will the love of the soul be to God: It is our Saviours argument, Luk. 7. 47. To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. That believer that hath seen and known the worst of himself, ever hath the most precious thoughts of Christ.