N00302:588
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.
He voluntarily throws himself down at Gods feet, and leaves him to do with him as he sees meet. This is the highest part of self-denial, which Christ requires in those that come unto him, Mat. 16.24. And this will follow upon a true sight and sense of our own unworthiness; and both of these are rooted in the right apprehension of our own vileness. It will not be amiss to look into the nature of this Grace, and its operation in an humble soul; and there is in it something Negative, and something Positive.
He voluntarily throws himself down at Gods feet, and leaves him to do with him as he sees meet. This is the highest part of self-denial, which Christ requires in those that come unto him, Mat. 16.24. And this will follow upon a true sight and sense of our own unworthiness; and both of these are rooted in the right apprehension of our own vileness. It will not be amiss to look into the nature of this Grace, and its operation in an humble soul; and there is in it somthing Negative, and somthing Positive.
1. The Negative part of it is, that he will be no longer at his own dispose: He finds that he hath been so long enough already to his cost: The Prodigal found that it was the taking upon himself the Government of himself, that ⟨p. 249⟩brought him to all his misery, and this taught him, to see how unable he was to rule and guide himself. He hath no wisdom, no discretion, but is a mere childish thing; hence resolves against it, as they, Hos. 14. 3. He confesseth himself to be brutish and ignorant; readily consents that it is not of man of himself to direct his own way, or make a good choice for himself.
1. The Negative part of it is, that he will be no longer at his own dispose: He finds that he hath been so long enough already to his cost: The Prodigal found that it was the taking upon himself the Goverment of himself, that ⟨p. 249⟩brought him to all his misery, and this taught him, to see how unable he was to rule and guide himself. He hath no wisdom, no discretion, but is a meer childish thing; hence resolves against it, as they, Hos. 14. 3. He confesseth himself to be bruitish and ignorant; readily consents that it is not of man of himself to direct his own way, or make a good choice for himself.
2. The Positive part of it is, that he is willing God should do with him as he seeth meet; to place and order him according to his wisdom and pleasure. But me thinks, in the very front of this discourse, a great and puzzling question seems to assault us, viz. Whether in this part of Humiliation, God requires the souls to be so low as to be willing to be damned if he sees meet? Some have been troubled about it, else I should think the question unnecessary: But lest any may think themselves not humbled enough for want of this, I shall answer it, and I may safely lay it down as a positive assertion, That no man is bound to be willing to be damned. You see how the Prodigal, though he yields to his Father's wisdom and will in disposing of him, yet he begs for a place in his family, and be as one of the household; he would be there where he may have bread and not famish. Thus ought every son and daughter of Adam, to labour to escape damnation; to use utmost diligence ⟨p. 250⟩in it, and to pray, and weep, and strive against it: For.
2. The Positive part of it is, that he is willing God should do with him as he seeth meet; to place and order him according to his wisdom and pleasure. But me thinks, in the very front of this discourse, a great and puzling question seems to assault us, viz. Whether in this part of Humiliation, God requires the souls to be so low as to be willing to be damned if he sees meet? Some have been troubled about it, else I should think the question unnecessary: But lest any may think themselves not humbled enough for want of this, I shall answer it, and I may safely lay it down as a positive assertion, That no man is bound to be willing to be damned. You see how the Prodigal, though he yields to his Father's wisdom and will in disposing of him, yet he begs for a place in his family, and be as one of the houshold; he would be there where he may have bread and not famish. Thus ought every son and daughter of Adam, to labour to escape damnation; to use utmost diligence
1. A desire after happiness, and an abhorrence of misery are naturally seated in a man by a concreated principle: Now such principles as God put into man's nature in Creation, and stamped indelebly upon his being, not capable of being obliterated, were therefore put in him to be helps to lead him right to his end for which he was made: & therefore to be willing to be damned, is a transgression against the nature of man; it is a violence offered to his own being and inclinations.
2. God hath made it the duty of all men to seek after, and use means to obtain happiness: yea, all that duty which God hath laid upon men in the first and second Covenant, it is with an eye and aim at happiness: This is the motive in each to spur man on to his duty: God promised life to Adam if he obeyed, for life therefore was he to obey: and Christ also promiseth salvation to him that believes, he is therefore to believe for salvation, or that he may be saved, 2 Thes. 2. 10.
3. Man was made to glorify God: i. e. the end of the precept for which man was by duty obliged, was that he might serve, honour, and glorify him: and having lost this power by the fall, it is every mans duty to labour after true Grace, whereby he may again please ⟨p. 251⟩God; for without this Principle, we cannot do it, and where this principle is, it necessarily includes, or involves Salvation in it. We cannot desire to be converted, but we do withal desire to be saved. We are to pray for Grace, without which we can do no service for God: Now Eupraxy is happiness formally; to be willing to be damned therefore, includes in it to be willing to be without Grace, and consequently dishonouring God for ever, as the damned do.
3. Man was made to glorifie God: i. e. the end of the precept for which man was by duty obliged, was that he might serve, honour, and glorifie him: and having lost this power by the fall, it is every mans duty to labour after true Grace, whereby he may again please ⟨p. 251⟩God; for without this Principle, we cannot do it, and where this principle is, it necessarily includes, or involves Salvation in it. We cannot desire to be converted, but we do withal desire to be saved. We are to pray for Grace, without which we can do no service for God: Now Eupraxy is happiness formally; to be willing to be damned therefore, includes in it to be willing to be without Grace, and consequently dishonouring God for ever, as the damned do.
Object. But no unregenerate man knows whether he be Chosen to life, and he ought to be willing to be disposed of according to Gods Decree.
Object. But no unregenerate man knowes whether he be Chosen to life, and he ought to be willing to be disposed of according to Gods Decree.
Ans. This Objection labours of great ignorance. For,
1. Not God's Decrees but his Commands are the rules of mens actions, Deut. 25. 29. It is not for us, in enquiring after our duty, so much as to propose what is decreed, what not: For though God hath made it a rule of his own works, yet he hath given us another of ours.
2. No man can know whether he be elected or no, till he can make his calling sure, 2 Pet 1. 10. As for reprobation, there are no ordinary infallible notes known to a man of it, nor doth God reveal the other but by drawing the soul effectually home to Christ.
3. The invitations of the Gospel are to all where the sound of it comes; and all such are bound by the precepts to obey them, except they will bring guilt on themselves, and increase their condemnation, Job. 3. 29.
3. The invitations of the Gospel are to all where the sound of it comes; and all such are bound by the precepts to obey them, except they will bring guilt on themselves, and encrease their condemnation, Job. 3. 29.
4. Men are not damned under the Gospel because they are reprobated, but because they slight the Gospel, and wilfully refuse to accept of Christ and his Salvation, ibid.
5. It is both lawful and a duty to pray for things that God hath never purposed to bring to pass: Stephen else have sinned in his last words, Act. 7. ult. Nor could we ever know whom to pray for, lest we should sin.
Quest. If it be then enquired how far the soul should resign itself up to Gods dispose; I answer, He doth in this act submit himself to the Sovereignty, Justice, and Mercy of God: He throws himself down at the feet of these Attributes; not one alone, but all of them.
Quest. If it be then enquired how far the soul should resign itself up to Gods dispose; I answer, He doth in this act submit himself to the Soveraignty, Justice, and Mercy of God: He throws himself down at the feet of these Attributes; not one alone, but all of them.
1. He submits himself to the Justice of God, acknowledging him to be righteous in all his dealings with him; yea, that he cannot in any wise do him the least wrong: He is incapable of injury from the Almighty.
