N00302:879
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.
SERMON XXVII.
Vers. 28. And he was angry and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. Vers. 29. And he answering said to his father, Lo those many years I do serve thee, neither at any time transgressed I thy commandment, & yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. Vers. 30. But as soon as this thy son was come, which had devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
IT follows now to consider the offence it self, and that which we have here principally to ⟨p. 367⟩take notice of, is the plea which his son useth to justify his anger. In particular we may observe. 1. Wherein he discovered his anger, he would not go in. 2: His fathers meekness and condescendency to him, he went out and entreated him. 3. His resolute refusal, grounded upon a pretended plea of just offence, where he chargeth his father for a double partiality; 1. In neglecting of him; and not rewarding of his faithful service, wherein he accuseth him of great unkindness, vers. 29. 2. In showing such extraordinary favour to his younger brother, who deserved ill at his hands; hence, 1. He reviseth his former wicked carriage. 2. Adds his fathers kind entertainment to it, to make it look odious, vers. 30. as if his father had by this approved of his prodigality; he therefore takes no notice of his repentance and return. Hence,