N00302:642
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. In respect of the progress of grace in your souls: the people of God meet with many changes, exercises, temptations; and in these, diversities of our-lettings and withdrawings of grace, and without humility cannot carry it right in these interludes: in particular.
1. Limit not God to such a measure or manner ⟨p. 265⟩of the dispensation of his grace: as we should desire all grace, so we should be thankful for every portion of it: Beggars must not be choosers. Paul would have grace to vanquish temptation; God would have him content with grace sufficient to keep him from being vanquished by it: If you have any Grace, it is a gift, and if you would have more, you must be humbled, 1 Pet. 5. 5.
1. Limit not God to such a measure or manner ⟨p. 265⟩of the dispensation of his grace: as we should desire all grace, so we should be thankful for every portion of it: Beggars must not be chusers. Paul would have grace to vanquish temptation; God would have him content with grace sufficient to keep him from being vanquished by it: If you have any Grace, it is a gift, and if you would have more, you must be humbled, 1 Pet. 5. 5.
2. Be humble when God denies thee the special communication of grace: Whether it be of enlarged assistance; though ragged and poor, and canst scarce do any thing, but art ready to slip and fall: thou hast earned nothing, and God knows what is best for thee: Or in respect of consolation, thou hast not those ravishing apprehensions which thou wouldest, but he seems to hide the light of his countenance, complain not, he is sovereign and just, resolve to wait,