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

2. To be by all ways engaging our hearts to God, to love and fear him; and hence to get more and more persuaded of his goodness, of the riches of his Grace in Christ, of the great happiness of those whom he admits into favour with himself: the better we are acquainted with, and persuaded of God, the more intense will be the actings of our Grace, Psal. 9.10.

2. To be by all wayes engaging our hearts to God, to love and fear him; and hence to get more and more perswaded of his goodness, of the riches of his Grace in Christ, of the great happiness of those whom he admits into favour with himself: the better we are acquainted with, and perswaded of God, the more intense will be the actings of our Grace, Psal. 9.10.

3. The qualities of this act are these three,

1. It is a speedy work: if repentance be begun in the heart, it cannot rest there, but presently breaks forth, Psal. 39. 3. the young man no sooner purposed, but he practised, his resolutions were no sooner sealed, but he falls upon them; the Soul that is throughly persuaded, sees so much reason, and feels such urgent necessity; Sin is made so bitter, and God represented so desirable, and his present state so dangerous, that he cannot be at rest till the thing be done.

1. It is a speedy work: if repentance be begun in the heart, it cannot rest there, but presently breaks forth,