N00302:809
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.
1. Here we see how sincerely God speaketh, when he saith, As I live I delight not in the death of a sinner, but had rather he should repent and live. The satisfaction which he expresseth himself to take in a sinners conversion, is an abundant confirmation of it. If after God hath said and sworn it in his Word, there ⟨p. 339⟩should any make a doubt of it; let him go to the converted sinner, and he shall tell him such a story of God's abundant love, and that precious entertainment that he gave him, as shall make it evidently appear. If God did not take great delight in our Conversion, can we think that he would make such a royal feast to entertain us, & confer so many & such unspeakable benefits and blessings upon us? Do men use to kill and slay, to make noble feasts for the entertainment of those whom they have no delight to see?
2. Here we see a reason why the affections of the soul do often appear more ardent and overflowing towards God, about, or quickly after Conversion, than afterwards, and discover themselves, both,
1. In an extraordinary delight in spiritual duties: The soul now can scarce find opportunity to do any thing else, but read, hear pray, meditate, confer with Christians, &c. Why is it their Wedding day, it is a feast day with them, and they cannot but be ravished with it: It is a new world with a Prodigal, when come from a famine to such plenty and delicacy.