Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of…

1. For the evidence of the truth of the Doctrine, take these Conclusions.

1. There may be some kind of deliberations and purposes in the heart of a sinner that is unconverted, about repenting and returning to God. Every purpose is not an evidence of sincerity. A man held under the sting and lashes of an awakened accusing Conscience, may be made to vomit up his morsels, and (in ⟨p. 275⟩a fright) to make forced promises of leaving off his sinful ways; and upon the hearing of the Gospel, may resolve (as John's Generation of Vipers) to flee from the wrath to come: distressed Consciences are often hurried to it, rashly to throw themselves upon such resolutions; and some visible practise, and that violent for the while.

1. There may be some kind of deliberations and purposes in the heart of a sinner that is unconverted, about repenting and returning to God. Every purpose is not an evidence of sincerity. A man held under the sting and lashes of an awakened accusing Conscience, may be made to vomit up his morsels, and (in ⟨p. 275⟩a fright) to make forced promises of leaving off his sinful wayes; and upon the hearing of the Gospel, may resolve (as John's Generation of Vipers) te flee from the wrath to come: distressed Consciences are often hurried to it, rashly to throw themselves upon such resolutions; and some visible practise, and that violent for the while.

2. That which discovers the falsehood of these resolutions is, that they are very short-lived; they soon expire: many of them do not live long enough to make any visible show in practice, but die in the womb; many a sick man in horror, promiseth Reformation, if God will spare him: but he recovers not so fast as his resolutions decay and die. Others that have had a more forcible impulse, do a little seemingly, but are like the stony ground,