N00302:58
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.
Reas. 2. From the carnal confidence that is in the hearts of many ungodly men: they are not willing to believe themselves such and so bad as they are, but presume that they are as much as any in the favour of God: the Jews thought themselves the Temple, though fallen into the depth of Apostasy, Jer. 7. 4. Men build upon false Grounds, and place their ⟨p. 16⟩trust in lying words; and suppose that if they can but fairly dissemble with God, he must needs believe them.
Reas. 2. From the carnal confidence that is in the hearts of many ungodly men: they are not willing to believe themselves such and so bad as they are, but presume that they are as much as any in the favour of God: the Jews thought themselves the Temple, though fallen into the depth of Apostacy, Jer. 7. 4. Men build upon false Grounds, and place their ⟨p. 16⟩trust in lying words; and suppose that if they can but fairly dissemble with God, he must needs believe them.
USE This may put us upon it to try our hopes, and prove what it is that our confidence is grounded upon: we say we call God Father, and if we would do so rightly, Consider 1 Pet. 1.17. If ye call on the Father,—pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. It will little avail us to challenge him to be our Father, if he refuseth to own us as his Children: and let us be assured, that if we do not bear his image, we shall notwithstanding all our pretences be looked upon as Bastards and not Sons: it is not verbal calling of God our Father, but a careful doing the will of our Heavenly Father, that will render us blessed.