N00302:733
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. To the converted, learn you also from hence,
1. Not to be proud of your grace, or think highly of your selves above others: He hath but a shadow of grace, and not that which is true, who is apt to say, I am not as this Publican. It is certain, where grace is most eminent, there the creature is least in his own eyes, not arrogating or ascribing any thing to it self. That Grace is the most insuspectible and renders us most unworthy in our own esteem.
2. Would you be serviceable in your generation to the glory of God, be directed to go to him in all you have to do, for his grace, that by it alone you may undertake. Paul will engage in any thing, so Christ shall stand engaged to strengthen him. It may teach us to begin every work with prayer, which we desire to have succeed; for if God be not in it, leading and strengthening, it will certainly fail: Not all other advantages of helps and means will be otherwise then abortive, if grace give them ⟨p. 295⟩not their efficacy. If you set about any thing without engaging God in it, the very spring, and rise, and strength of all is wanting.