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

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.

USE, 1. Here we see how far those are from true Repentance, who instead of aggravating, do mince and extenuate their Sins, and endeavour to make them look as small as they can, that they may be little affected with, or humbled for them. Many pretend they have come to God, and believed in him, but how did they come? Why, as the Pharisee, with their proud boastings, not as the Publican, with a Lord have mercy on me a sinner. They have looked for