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

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.