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

Name: Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or A brief discourse, wherein Christs parable of…
Author: Samuel Willard

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]

Samuel Willard 1640–1707printed by Samuel Green for Samuel Philips, 1684

[6], 391, [1] p. ; 15 cm. · 87k words · Evans 379 · Wing W2285

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Mercy Magnified ON A PENITENT Prodigal. › Sermon 26 › Doctrine 1: DOCT. 1. Outward careful attendance upon the visible service of God, is no sure sign of…

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.

[ Earlier:855–870 of 949

:855p. 356–357¶1

1. There may be bodily service where there is not the heart, Ezek. 33. 31. It is the censure which our Saviour passed upon the ⟨p. 357⟩Pharisees of his time, applying the saying of the Prophet to them, Mat▪ 15. 7, 8. and declared it to be vain service, vers. 9. Hence that, 1 Tim. 4. 8. Bodily exercise profiteth little.

:856p. 357¶2

2. Men may do all this for outward credit and applause: When Religion is in fashion, there are many that court it merely for fashion sake, many love to be as the times are; Many are very Religious only in complement, to be talked of, commended, &c. This fault also our Saviour found in the Pharisees, and chargeth hypocrisy on them for it, Mat. 6. 1, and 5.

2. Men may do all this for outward credit and applause: When Religion is in fashion, there are many that court it meerly for fashion sake, many love to be as the times are; Many are very Religious only in complement, to be talked of, commended, &c. This fault also our Saviour found in the Pharisees, and chargeth hypocrisie on them for it, Mat. 6. 1, and 5.

:857p. 357¶3

3. Men may do a great deal because they hope to be saved for their doing: As there is in all men a reaching desire after happiness, so there is also a natural pride, they are willing to be their own saviours, in quest of which men will take much pains; and when they apprehend lie to be had by doing, they will do much: this also was another ground of, and defect in the doings of these Pharisees,

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

DOCT. 2. The Hypocrite is not acquainted with, nor invited to the solemnization of the great joy which is at the conversion of a sinner.

DOCT. 3. It is the guise and Character of an hypocrite, that he is offended and angry at the grace of God, manifested to those whom he converts and takes into favour.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DOCT. 2. The Hypocrite is not acquainted with, nor invited to the solemnization of the great joy which is at the conversion of a sinner.

DOCT. 3. It is the guise and Character of an hypocrite, that he is offended and angry at the grace of God, manifested to those whom he converts and takes into favour.