N00302:591
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.
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 ⟨p. 250⟩in it, and to pray, and weep, and strive against it: For.