N00302:936
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.
DOCT. 2. Unregenerate men have no cause to complain that God shows more special favour to repenting sinners, than he doth to them.
DOCT. 2. Unregenerate men have no cause to complain that God shews more special favour to repenting sinners, than he doth to them.
What ever they think they have to say for themselves, yet God wrongs them not: The father could entertain the younger son, without injuring his elder: This will appear if we consider,
1. That God in the dispensing of his grace, acts as a free Agent. This is insinuated in that Parable, Mat. 20. 15. A Father is not bound to give an account to his Children how he improves his estate; much less is God to sinful men how he distributes his grace. The Creature cannot oblige the Creator, much less a sinful creature, who hath forfeited all: It is the Apostles Challenge, Rom. 11. 31. Who hath ⟨p. 387⟩given to him at any time? The•• cannot be respect of persons in grate it is; there is no binding rule of justice in the bestowing of kindness, and where the benefit is a free favour, the choosing one, and passing by another is arbitrary, and depends on the will of the Donor. In Gods bestowing of Grace on the Children of men, there can be none worthy, and if he will pitch upon the most unworthy, to make his favour the more notable, who shall call him to an account?