Before I come to particular observations, it ⟨p. 380⟩is needful to clear these words from an objection. I have in this discourse interpreted the elder son to aim firstly at the Scribes and Pharisees, and so under them at hypocritical Professors, legal men, and vain boasters; but here seems to be a scruple, viz. How comes it then that his father saith, All that I have is thine? Have unregenerate men a title to Gods, spiritual grace and favour? This objection seems at first blush to carry some force with it, and hath so far prevailed with some, as to make them interpret this eldest son to signify the Godly, who (by a religious education) have not fallen into; but been kept from such foul enormities; and through infirmity are sometimes stumbled at such providences of God: But then as great a scruple may arise on the other hand, viz. Shall the penitent Prodigal have no portion again? Is not all repaired in Christ, which we lost in Adam? Was not Paul, though he had been a persecutor, &c. upon his conversion made a just heir? But to come to some resolution: It is certain Christ must aim at the Pharisees in this eldest son, else the scope and purport of the Parable had been Alien from his present design, and so to no purpose; for his business is to silence their murmurings: You have the occasion of the Parable, verse. 1. 2. Hence the interpretation of every particular must be such, as may be reduced to the general, ⟨p. 381⟩and may bear & suit with it according to the Analogy of faith. It is a good rule in Divinity, That all expressions in Parables must be so interpreted as to agree with other plain Scriptures, referring to the same thing. Parables are similitudes, in which spiritual things are familiarized to us by earthly things, by way of allusion: Now though there be a vast disproportion between God and the Creature, between heavenly and earthly things, yet there is some shadow of those in these, and that is all that we seek in a Parable. Our Saviours design is to convince the Pharisees of the unreasonableness of their murmurings; and he doth it by an argument a majori ad minus. q. d. The Son might seem to have some plea against his Father, but indeed had none, much less have you against me: Though his son had been faithful, and careful, and was heir, yet his father could make a feast, and receive his younger son without detriment to the other;
Before I come to particular observations, it ⟨p. 380⟩is needful to clear these words from an objection. I have in this discourse interpreted the elder son to aim firstly at the Scribes and Pharisees, and so under them at hypocritical Professors, legal men, and vain boasters; but here seems to be a scruple, viz. How comes it then that his father saith, All that I have is thine? Have unregenerate men a title to Gods, spiritual grace and favour? This objection seems at first blush to carry some force with it, and hath so far prevailed with some, as to make them interpret this eldest son to signifie the Godly, who (by a religious education) have not fallen into; but been kept from such foul enormities; and through infirmitly are somtimes stumbled at such providences of God: But then as great a scruple may arise on the other hand, viz. Shall the penitent Prodigal have no portion again? Is not all repaired in Christ, which we lost in Adam? Was not Paul, though he had been a persecuter, &c. upon his conversion made a just heir? But to come to some resolution: It is certain Christ must aim at the Pharisces in this eldest son, else the scope and purport of the Parable had been Alien from his present designe, and so to no purpose; for his business is to silence their murmurings: You have the occasion of the Parable, verse. 1. 2. Hence the interpretation of every particular must be such, as may be reduced to the general, ⟨p. 381⟩and may bear & suit with it according to the Analogy of faith. It is a good rule in Divinity, That all expressions in Parables must be so interpreted as to agree with other plain Scriptures, referring to the same thing. Parables are similitudes, in which spiritual things are familiarized to us by earthly things, by way of allusion: Now though there be a vast disproportion between God and the Creature, between heavenly and earthly things, yet there is some shadow of those in these, and that is all that we seek in a Parable. Our Saviours design is to convince the Pharisees of the unreasonableness of their murmurings; and he doth it by an argument a majori ad minus. q. d. The Son might seem to have some plea against his Father, but indeed had none, much less have you against me: Though his son had been faithful, and careful, and was heir, yet his father could make a feast, and receive his younger son without detriment to the other;
