N00302:724
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.
2. Of the infallibility of the conversion and salvation of Gods Elect; because it flows from Grace as that highest cause of it. If it did firstly depend upon any thing in us, our mutability ⟨p. 292⟩would expose it to hazard, and thence it would be dubious, and always questionable: but if Grace lead, all is certain; for who or what can be able to frustrate Grace, or disappoint it in all that it hath designed for our Salvation? of Grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, Rom.4.16.
2. Of the infallibility of the conversion and salvation of Gods Elect; because it flows from Grace as that highest cause of it. If it did firstly depend upon any thing in us, our mutability ⟨p. 292⟩would expose it to hazard, and thence it would be dubious, and alwayes questionable: but if Grace lead, all is certain; for who or what can be able to frustrate Grace, or disappoint it in all that it hath designed for our Salvation? of Grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, Rom.4.16.
3. The reason why the means convert at one time, and not at another; and one man and not another. Many a powerful Sermon, awakening Providence, &c. pass, and the man still goeth on frowardly in his ways, but at last, that which seems to be in it self of less efficacy, awakens, melts, humbleth, healeth the Soul: but this is when Grace begins to work, and that, only that, is irresistible, man's sinful heart is too hard for every thing else; and this is done when and where God pleaseth, John 3. 8.