N00302:821
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. Who are these Servants?
Answ. Touching the Ministry of the Holy Angels, though the thing be a truth, Heb. 1. 14. Yet the way is more secret: and I verily believe they do more for the Saints than they are aware of, and may be as active in suggestion of that which is good, as satan that which is evil: But I shall not adventure here to particularize, therefore,
2. By these servants we may understand the ⟨p. 344⟩Ministers of the Gospel, who are appointed to this end, to be labourers under Christ for the help of the Elect, and bringing of them to Glory, Eph. 4. 10, 11, 12. these are therefore called Ambassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5. 20. Now Ambassadors are the representatives of their Princes, and manage foreign affairs in their name; and these do dispense for Christ the Gospel of Reconciliation, vers. 19. Hence they are called Ministers, and Stewards, I Cor. 4. 1. Whose work is to distribute their Masters Estate according to order. They are also called Deacons, I Cor. 3. 5. Because as they do by office distribute the outward, so do these the spiritual treasures.
2. By these servants we may understand the