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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.
3. Be exceedingly thankful for all God's mercies: Humility only is thankful: That God should give to us, such as we are, such mercies, this makes it exceeding great mercies: to see a sinner, one that deserves nothing, eating, and drinking, and compassed with mercies, this changeth gratitude.
4. Let these mercies break thy heart, and quicken thee to obedience: If we did but know our selves, the least mercy would do this: That is a proud heart, that is not softened by mercies, and quickened to duty too: The humble souls language is, What shall I render to the Lord? Psal. 116. 12. How should I live? What manner of one should I be who enjoy such favours, who might have been a back-log in hell, or ground between the millstones of Divine revenge? See therefore that you are unspeakably in debt to God for every favour, be it never so little, yet if the soul be humble as it ought to ⟨p. 271⟩be, it will point us to God, and put us upon obedience.
4. Let these mercies break thy heart, and quicken thee to obedience: If we did but know our selves, the least mercy would do this: That is a proud heart, that is not softened by mercies, and quickened to duty too: The humble souls language is, What shall I render to the Lord? Psal. 116. 12. How should I live? What manner of one should I be who enjoy such favours, who might have been a back-log in hell, or ground between the milstones of Divine revenge? See therefore that you are unspeakably in debt to God for every favour, be it never so little, yet if the soul be humble as it ought to ⟨p. 271⟩be, it will point us to God, and put us upon obedience.