N00302:646
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.
4. Humbly depend upon, and go to God for all supplies of grace in every work you have to do: Proud man would have his stock in his own hand, to make use of when and as he pleaseth; but God will have us to come and ask for every Grace, & wait on him for it, and the humble soul will do so: If you consider that you deserve nothing, you will be glad that you may have it for asking: Remember you are but Children, and have not wisdom enough to manage your own stock, but would soon prove bankrupts: this should animate you, that whatever you want, God is ready to give, if you ask, Mat. 7. 7.
5. Carry it humbly towards God though he doth not bestow so much grace upon you as on others: We are sometimes ready to say, though I deserve nothing at God's hands, yet I am as deserving as another; God can afford such an one so much wisdom, faith, patience, comfort &c. and why may not I have it as well? This spirit of envy and emulation is contrary to Humility: and this very argument, rightly improved ⟨p. 267⟩might make thee silent: is God a free disposer? Is it his own that he gives? and may he not deal it out at his liberty? is thy eye evil, because his is good? doth not poor man challenge as great a liberty as this is, and will you deny it God? nay, because thou art unworthy, thou hast cause to be thankful that thou hast any at all, when there are so many millions that have none, and who hath made thee to differ from them? yea, call thy self to an account, how hast thou husbanded thy little? if ill, that should humble and silence thee; if well, then comfort thy self, that he who improved his two talents well, had his master's Euge, and entered into the Lord's joy. yea, how knowest thou, but that their work and temptation is greater than thine, and therefore stand in need of more?
5. Carry it humbly towards God though he doth not bestow so much grace upon you as on others: We are sometimes ready to say, though I deserve nothing at God's hands, yet I am as deserving as another; God can afford such an one so much wisdom, faith, patience, comfort &c. and why may not I have it as well? This spirit of envy and emulation is contrary to Humility: and this very argument, rightly improved