N00302:676
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.
Mercy Magnified ON A PENITENT Prodigal. › Sermon 19 › DOCT. True Repentance is practical Repentance.
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. The declarative glory of God is the great thing which all our doings should aim at. In Conversion therefore, we are not only to praise him, but to show forth his praise; and how is this done, but in life Repentance? God only sees the heart, men observe and judge of our lives.
4. The declarative glory of God is the great thing which all our doings should aim at. In Conversion therefore, we are not only to praise him, but to shew forth his praise; and how is this done, but in life Repentance? God only sees the heart, men observe and judge of our lives.
5. The Will, being commandress over the whole man, is not only to resolve for it self, but for the whole man. Purposing or resolving is properly an act of the will, but it is for the whole, it being representative of all, and being able to indent for all: thus the young man promiseth for himself, I will arise, true purposes are an obligation laid on the whole man for the performance of them.
6. Hence, if the Will be indeed sincere in purposing, practice will follow. This is unquestionable to him who knows what power it hath in man. You shall find in Scripture, that impenitence, or unconversion is charged here, Ezek.33.11. Job. 5.40. Psal. 81.12. and why? but because where the Will leads the whole man naturally and necessarily follows, at least in true and real endeavours. A Believer may indeed fail in the manner of performance, when his Will is intense: but yet, where purposes have been taken, and promises made of Repentance, and not put forth in endeavour, but men sit still where they were,