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

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