N00302:567
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.
Now when the humbled Soul is thus made sensible of his own worthlessness, hereupon these further fruits of it discover themselves.
1. He is really taken off from all confidence in himself: he now dares to rest no longer upon any thing that is his, whether of nature or grace, to give him favour with God, and plead for him in his presence. He now dares not to rely upon his duties, though done with never so much seriousness and sincerity; no, they are Loss, Dung, Rags to him; they are not to be trusted in, or accounted of.
2. He is taken off from exalting himself, ⟨p. 240⟩and his own duties: all self conceits are beaten down; and his business is to undermine them, and undervalue them; he denies himself, this is true humility, Mat. 16. 24. He despiseth his own services, they are nothing, nor is he ever she more worthy for them.