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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.
3. He takes up a firm resolution to lie and tarry at the door of mercy, to repair to this fountain for all good, and to expect and wait for all here.
3. He takes up a firm resolution to ly and tarry at the door of mercy, to repair to this fountain for all good, and to expect and wait for all here.
1. He […] not, nor will he make use of any other Attribute, or plead for acceptance by; and this hope is in God's Grace, and all his pleading is, For thine own Name sake. As far as mercy may be moved to look favourably upon him, so far his hope reacheth, and no further.
1. He 〈…〉 not, nor will he make use of any other Attribute, or plead for acceptance by; and this hope is in God's Grace, and all his pleading is, For thine own Name sake. As far as mercy may be moved to look favourably upon him, so far his hope reacheth, and no further.
2. Hence he resigns himself to mercy's disposal: Text. Let God but accept of me, take me into his house, and now let mercy do what it sees fit: May I be but a subject of saving mercy, I will trust that for the rest.
3. Here he will wait God's time for the discovery of himself in his love: He knows he is at the foot of mercy, and here he will not limit the holy one of Israel, but will tarry his leisure, Isa. 8. 17. He remembers it is mercy he hath to do with, and therefore it must not be commanded, but waited for.
4. If mercy seem to turn from him, and indignation to burn against him; if mercy seem not to regard (as Christ to the Canaanitish woman) yet he will bear all this, and still wait. If mercy seem (like that unjust Judge) to stop its ears, anger to sit in the countenance of the the most high, he will submit, and yet throw ⟨p. 257⟩himself upon the mercy of an angry and offended God, Mic. 7.9.
4. He is resolved that if God will accept him, witness his love to him, and acknowledge him in Christ, his free mercy shall have the full and whole Glory of it, and he will engage his heart to magnify mercy, by degrading himself, and keeping in mind his own unworthiness: God shall have the praise of all, his heart shall echo, grace, grace, through all his life, and heaven shall ring with these glorious acclamations to all eternity.
4. He is resolved that if God will accept him, witness his love to him, and acknowledge him in Christ, his free mercy shall have the full and whole Glory of it, and he will engage his heart to magnifie mercy, by degrading himself, and keeping in mind his own unworthiness: God shall have the praise of all, his heart shall eccho, grace, grace, through all his life, and heaven shall ring with these glorious acclamations to all eternity.
This is the true Gospel humility, which the spirit of God worketh in every soul whom he draws home to himself: This is a true qualification of Repentance of Faith, and the modification of it in respect of the term to which the sinner returns, viz. God: and those that so come shall find mercy. For the Reasons why God brings the soul thus to his foot, they are such as these.
This is the true Gospel humility, which the spirit of God worketh in every soul whom he draws home to himself: This is a true qualification of Repentance of Faith, and the modification of it in respect of the term to which the sinner returnes, viz. God: and those that so come shall find mercy. For the Reasons why God brings the soul thus to his foot, they are such as these.
Reas. 1. To take away all boasting from the creature: that the soul may have nothing at all before it to confide in: man is emptied of himself as long as there is any self-sovereignty remaining in him: he doth not, cannot acknowledge all to come from God, till he utterly relinquish the disposal of himself: He cannot see that his Salvation is wholly out of himself, as long as he think she may capitulate with God about it. Now God will hide pride from man.
Reas. 1. To take away all boasting from the creature: that the soul may have nothing at all before it to confide in: man is emptied of himself as long as there is any self-soveraignty remaining in him: he doth not, cannot acknowledge all to come from God, till he utterly relinquish the disposal of himself: He cannot see that his Salvation is wholly out of himself, as long as he think she may capitulate with God about it. Now God will hide pride from man.
2. That his glorious Sovereignty may be fully subscribed to: Hence God will save none till they do yield that he might damn them, and hath no obligation from them to do otherwise: God will be seen in his royalty, to dispense grace from a throne, or not at all, hence we are to go to a throne of grace, Heb. 4. 16. God's Sovereignty is a most precious pearl in his Royal Diadem, and he will not suffer it to be plucked out: Job shall be convinced of this before he returns his captivity.
2. That his glorious Soveraignty may be fully subscribed to: Hence God will save none till they do yield that he might damn them, and hath no obligation from them to do otherwise: God will be seen in his royalty, to dispense grace from a throne, or not at all, hence we are to go to a throne of grace, Heb. 4. 16. God's Soveraignty is a most precious pearl in his Royal Diadem, and he will not suffer it to be pluckt out: Job shall be convinced of this before he returnes his captivity.
3. That the grace of God may not lift them up, but keep them low and humble: That they may not despise others, no• think of themselves beyond what is meet: that they may not be high minded, but fear; that they may always remember who hath made them to differ from others, and may dwell upon that, that it is by Grace they are saved, and not of themselves.
3. That the grace of God may not lift them up, but keep them low and humble: That they may not despise others, no• think of themselves beyond what is meet: that they may not be high minded, but fear; that they may always remember who hath made them to differ from others, and may dwel upon that, that it is by Grace they are saved, and not of themselves.
USE, Give me leave here to improve the former and present Doctrine, in a serious word of Exhortation; as you would prove your selves true penitent•, to get and keep humble before God: Ply this work of humiliation, and exercise the grace of humility; get humble, walk humbly before the Lord: Renounce self-sufficiency, and cast off self-sovereignty. For Motive.
USE, Give me leave here to improve the former and present Doctrine, in a serious word of Exhortation; as you would prove your selves true penitent•, to get and keep humble before God: Ply this work of humiliation, and exercise the grace of humility; get humble, walk humbly before the Lord: Renounce self-sufficiency, and cast off self-soveraignty. For Motive.
1. Consider how acceptable an humble soul is to God, and how displeasing pride is to him: ⟨p. 259⟩God takes great delight in those that are humble, he dwells with them, Isa. 57. 15. If any are like to have more of Gods refreshing and comforting presence than others, it is those that are humble: where this grace is in exercise, God will give more grace. Their services are highly esteemed by God, Psal. 51. 17. he hath a peculiar respect to them, Isa. 66. 2.
1. Consider how acceptable an humble soul is to God, and how displeasing pride is to him: ⟨p. 259⟩God takes great delight in those that are humble, he dwels with them, Isa. 57. 15. If any are like to have more of Gods refreshing and comforting presence than others, it is those that are humble: where this grace is in exercise, God will give more grace. Their services are highly esteemed by God, Psal. 51. 17. he hath a peculiar respect to them, Isa. 66. 2.
2. Consider how much reason, and how many causes you have to be humble, to see and count your selves vile creatures, and to lie low before God:
2. Consider how much reason, and how many causes you have to be humble, to see and count your selves vile creatures, and to ly low before God:
1. Your sins should make and keep you humble: The sin of your heart, the leprosy of your nature, the body of death, that heart-full of filthiness and corruption: your daily sins of act, in omission of duty, in transgressing the command; especially your particular enormities, Psal. 51. 1. This evil. It will be a truth for ever that you have committed things worthy of death, and are not worthy to be called sons and daughters of God, an hired servants place is too good for you.
1. Your sins should make and keep you humble: The sin of your heart, the leprosie of your nature, the body of death, that heart-full of filthiness and corruption: your daily sins of act, in omission of duty, in transgressing the command; especially your particular enormities, Psal. 51. 1. This evil. It will be a truth for ever that you have committed things worthy of death, and are not worthy to be called sons and daughters of God, an hyred servants place is too good for you.
2. Your duties should humble you: Hast thou done any thing for God? it was not thou didst it of thy self, but the spirit in thee. And in all your duties you may see humbling considerations; how cold your affections? how little impression had they on your hearts? of how little continuance, even as the morning ⟨p. 260⟩dew? How little sincerity, how much hypocrisy? How little grace, how much corruption?
2. Your duties should humble you: Hast thou done any thing for God? it was not thou didst it of thy self, but the spirit in thee. And in all your duties you may see humbling considerations; how cold your affections? how little impression had they on your hearts? of how little continuance, even as the morning ⟨p. 260⟩dew? How little sincerity, how much hypocrisie? How little grace, how much corruption?
3. All your afflictions should humble you: God hath hung many weights on thy heart to crush thee, and thou shouldest be ashamed that they have brought thee no lower: All personal, & all public rebukes of God's Providence, all Wilderness Trials, are to humble the people of God, Deut. 8. 1.5, 16.
3. All your afflictions should humble you: God hath hung many weights on thy heart to crush thee, and thou shouldest be ashamed that they have brought thee no lower: All personal, & all publick rebukes of God's Providence, all Wilderness Tryals, are to humble the people of God, Deut. 8. 1.5, 16.
