N00302:61
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.
1. The positiveness of it: Though he calls him Father, yet he asks in a way of challenge, as though his father had stood obliged to do it upon his asking; as though the Estate were his during his fathers life: he doth not beg, but as it were command.
2. His asking is under the notion or consideration of an interest in it, he calls it therefore the Portion falling to him: the word [Greek or Hebrew] signifies, quod contingi•, that which befell him of it self, q. d. that which providence hath made mine, as if he were not beholden to his fathers courtesy; yea, as if it would have been an injury in his father to have denied him.
2. His asking is under the notion or consideration of an interest in it, he callsit therefore the Portion falling to him: the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 signifies, quod contingi•, that which befel him of it self, q. d. that which providence hath made mine, as if he were not beholen to his fathers courtesy; yea, as if it would have been an injury in his father to have denyed him.
3. His discontent in being at his fathers disposal and providing, and desire to be at his own pleasure: he seeks to shake off the yoke of his fathers Government, will be ordered by him no longer, and proudly thinks himself wiser than he; he can order things better for his own benefit than his father hath done: The substance is, he would be from under command, and have all in his own hands.