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

1. He owns and yields himself to be at the Sovereign dispose of God, being one of his creatures, and he may appoint him to what he ⟨p. 254⟩will, without wrong: If the Potter may order his mass of clay (though his fellow creature) to make vessels of the same lump, for several uses, some honourable, some dishonourable; much more may God dispose of him, who gave being to the lump it self of which he was made, Rom. 9. 21.

1. He owns and yields himself to be at the Soveraign dispose of God, being one of his creatures, and he may appoint him to what he ⟨p. 254⟩will, without wrong: If the Potter may order his mass of clay (though his fellow creature) to make vessels of the same lump, for several uses, some honourable, some dishonourable; much more may God dispose of him, who gave being to the lump it self of which he was made, Rom. 9. 21.

2. Hence he lays himself down before Gods Sovereignty, and yields himself to become a subject of it: he puts himself into God's hands as a Sovereign; as a rebel yields himself up freely to his Prince; resolving with himself that God shall do with him what he will, whether it be in judgement or in mercy: He will not strive, contend, or make any rebellious resistance against him. Thus did Eli, 1 Sam. 3. 18. and David, 2 Sam. 15. 26. Here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

2. Hence he layes himself down before Gods Soveraignty, and yields himself to become a subject of it: he puts himself into God's hands as a Soveraign; as a rebel yields himself up freely to his Prince; resolving with himself that God shall do with him what he will, whether it be in judgement or in mercy: He will not strive, contend, or make any rebellious resistance against him. Thus did Eli,