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

2. Because his works declare him to be so: his works of providence towards his visible Covenant people evince it, Psal. 78.37. But he being full of compassion forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not. His works of special favour towards his Elect, in pardoning their Sins, and accepting of them to be his Children, do more notably confirm it.

2. That this is the moving cause of all the mercy which he shows to a sinner, will appear.

2. That this is the moving cause of all the mercy which he shews to a sinner, will appear.

1. From the nature of God: He is the first mover to his own actions, and cannot possibly be moved by any thing out of himself: Hence man's pity and God's, differ in respect of the the moving cause: Man hath such an affection habitually, but it lies still till an object excite it; but God is otherwise, it moves it self: That which moves in us, hath the respect of a cause, and that which is a cause is in nature before the effect, but the good will of God to man, whence all his compassion flows, was from Eternity, Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore in loving kindness have I called thee.

1. From the nature of God: He is the first mover to his own actions, and cannot possibly be moved by any thing out of himself: Hence man's pity and God's, differ in respect of the the moving cause: Man hath such an affection habitually, but it lyes still till an object excite it; but God is otherwise, it moves it self: That which moves in us, hath the respect of a cause, and that which is a cause is in nature before the effect, but the good will of God to man, whence all his compassion flowes, was from Eternity,