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

2. Where this spirit is found ruling in a professor, it is a certain note of an Hypocrite I know there is no sin but hath its motions in a Believer, but it doth not there reign; but where it so doth, let a mans profession be what it will, it proves it vain and dissembling: and the reason is plain, because it contradicts this property of a Believers grace, which is to rejoice both in the glory of God, and in our neighbours good; both of which are herein so eminently manifested, that if there be any grace stirring, it will be raised by it: God most prizeth the glory of his grace, which that ⟨p. 364⟩more appears, the more vile and unworthy the subject hath been: And the joy of Conversion is the realest and best joy that a soul can have, that of glory differs from it but in degree; and he that envies God's Glory, and his neighbours good, he breaks the whole Law at once.

2. Where this spirit is found ruling in a professor, it is a certain note of an Hypocrite I know there is no sin but hath its motions in a Believer, but it doth not there reign; but where it so doth, let a mans profession be what it will, it proves it vain and dissembling: and the reason is plain, because it contradicts this property of a Believers grace, which is to rejoyce both in the glory of God, and in our neighbours good; both of which are herein so eminently manifested, that if there be any grace stirring, it will be raised by it: God most prizeth the glory of his grace, which that ⟨p. 364⟩more appears, the more vile and unworthy the subject hath been: And the joy of Conversion is the realest and best joy that a soul can have, that of glory differs from it but in degree; and he that envyes God's Glory, and his neighbours good, he breakes the whole Law at once.

USE, 1. Here we see a Reason why the faithful People of God meet with so much opposition, in the world, not only from the professed enemies of Godliness, but also from many pretenders to it; they cannot bear the prosperity of the righteous, the more God favours them, the more they envy them; alas, all are not Israel that are of Israel: There are many that profess God, and yet hate godliness; and then no wonder if they cannot endure that God should bless the Godly: they therefore persecute them, and do all they can to disturb them in their quiet and tranquility: Let not these things amuse us, bet let it satisfy us if God love us, though men hate us: if God give us joy in himself, peace in our consciences, though others seek to trouble us, be not discontent, nor let us seek mens favour but God's; yea, let that always be our prayer,