that parables and borrowed speeches from vulgar and knowne matters â—erue as midwiues to further our trauaile in heaâ—enlie knowledge and do helpe exceedingly and â—erue our capacities And as this Argument is mouing in it selfe in â—espect of the forme and maner thereof This parable is the abridgment of the Gospel so doth it manie wayes instruct and comfort vs in regarde of the subiect and matter thereof For I maie well tearme it the Epitome of the Gospell the abstract and compendium of the whole woorke of our redemption For these two poynts are the summe of our doctrine and our preaching The doctrine of Repentaunce The forgiuenesse oâ— sinnes The summe of the Gospel Repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes Vnto Repentance properlie doe belong the whole bodie of sinne and our entire conuersion from our sinnes to God The forgiuenesse of our sinnes naturally compriseth the free grace of God our iustification and whatsoeuer else appertaine to our Redemption Nowe these and each of these liuelie are depainted as it were in a Table in his fresh colours in the image and counterfeit oâ— the prodigall sonne the matter and argument oâ— this famous hystorie The second Chapter Of the common condition of parents in their children vnder the person of the prodigall sonne his father and therewithall of the estate of the militant Church THe person of the father by due order being first intreated of his pitifull estate in his children is remembred For being the kindest and best father that might bee as bearing the person of God the father hee is a spectacle of the vnhappiest father in one of his children He had but two sonnes but this fewnesse I steeme no small part of parents happinesse For â—hildren being so chargeable in their bringing vp â—â—e number of them howe so euer well inclined â—re mainlie burdensome vnto manie poore paâ—â—nts and doe vtterlie vndoe them as well in their â—ood intendements of their ciuill education as of â—heir putting foorth to their godlie informatiâ—â—n But heerein is all miserie that out of â—wo there muste needes bee one in whome all â—ewdnesse and vngraciousnesse should abide of 〈◊〉 most rebellious vnnaturall and desperate disâ—osition This mans estate is set out as a looking Glasse A Glasse for fathers wherein many fathers may beholde themselues â—r this is no rare or straunge example but such a â—ne as is rife and common in these dayes as in â—mes of olde For ancient recordes of holie writte â—oe shewe how pestilentlie and that commonâ—â—e the holie fathers haue beene plagued and tortuâ—ed with their children Gen. 4. Of the first brace of sonnes which the worlds eie did see was not Caine one of â—hem A branded runnagate from the face of the â—arth vnnaturall to his father vnmercifull to his â—rother hereticall towards God as supposing his â—loudie fact could be hidde from God flattering â—imselfe in his owne wickednesse vntill his abhominable inuentions were found out and last of all fulfilling the measure of his sinne dreadfully dispaiâ—ing of the mercie of his God But from Adam to descende to Noah was 〈◊〉 lucke more fortunate or his comfort in his childrâ—â— greater Of his lease of sonnes was there not Cham Gen. 9. whome neither the good counsaile of 〈◊〉 tender father coulde keepe in compasse nor tâ— fearefull example of Gods horrible vengeaunceâ— the raging floud could reduce to order but tâ—king an aduantage of his fathers weakenesse ouâ—whelmed with wine and throwne into a sleep blowed open his skirts and discouered his nakeâ—nesse and made him the argument of his sport anâ— pastime and a scorne and derision to those thâ— were about him What shall we say of Abraham our father oâ— whose heedefull care of the well nurturing Gen. 18. anâ— training vp his children God himselfe is witnesse If his lot did fall into a fairer ground he hath causâ— to reioyce but his eie was not so watchfull anâ— iealous ouer them but of his two sonnes the basâ— begotten Ismael was a scoffing eluish and inordinate companion To this calamitie was Isaac also subiect whâ— was heauilie vexed with his vnhappie Esau But a load of afflictions was laid vpon Iacob by his childrens misgouerment Gen. 34. His onelye deare daughter and darling Dinah was rauished of Shechem Gen. 35. Gen. 37. Gen. 38. Ruben his eldest son defiled his fathers bed His Cockney Ioseph was solde as a bondslaue by his sons to the Ismaelites and transported into Egypt His sonne Iudah committed incest with his daughter in lawe Thamar And thus was hee â—ade a myrrour of of miserie by his childrens inâ—icitie Of this matter we haue a cloude of witnesses â—t it is needelesse to heape vp examples in a thing 〈◊〉 manifest Helie his two sonnes Hophney and â—hinees Dauid his two sonnes Ammon and Absaâ—â— do confirme the same Wherefore let the diligent regard of these and â—â—ch like examples prepare vs vnto patience when â—â—euer it shall please God to make the disobediâ—â—ce and rebellion of our children the chastisement â—f our sinnes Our vnnaturall children bee giuen vs as spectaâ—â—es to helpe our blinde eyes A similitude that will not see our â—â—lues By seeing their vndutifulnesse vnto vs their â—â—thers wee may see our owne vndutifulnesse vnto â—od our Father Isay 1. For he hath nourished and brought 〈◊〉 children but they haue rebelled agaynst him It is â—â—erefore a iust punishment laid vpon vs that they â—hould forget vs because we doe forget God Aug. li. 5 cont Iulian. cap. 2. It is Gods common course to punish sinne by sinne â—nd one sinne as Augustine sayth is the punishâ—ent of an other and God permitteth one sinne 〈◊〉 take vengeance of another as afterwardes shall â—ee prooued more at large in his due place But â—hat ende soeuer the Lord aymeth at by this kind â—f iudgement it is no straunge thing for which we â—hould be wondred at or bee a Prouerbe or by worde in mens mouthes because of our euill quaâ—â—fied and disposed children Parents must not â—eare the iniquitie of their children and their dissolute liues must not bee simplie laid vnto their châ—â—ges For their eies wil be euill though they be gooâ— an habit and custome which is got of sinne is anâ—ther nature and cannot be forsaken Furthermore in the estate of this father in 〈◊〉 children we may perfectly behold the conditioâ— of the Church We are not to feuer our selues from the Church because of the wicked which are in the church thereby not obscurely shadow and prefigured For his two sonnes are two kind of people good and badde mingled here togithâ— and resorting to the Church It is not to bee lookâ— for that the militant Church should be withoâ—â— blemish and corruption in this world For it is tâ— Lords field wherein the tares do grow vp with tâ—â— wheate Matth. 13 Matth. 3 and the Lords fâ—â—â—re wherein the chaffe mingled with the wheate Matth. 13 and the draw not whâ—â— gathereth togither al kinds
the wisedome and knowledge of God What is man that he is so mindfull of him or the sonne of man whom he should visit and see a farre off For our condition is the selfe same which this prodigal mans was For when we were all a farre off from him Ephes 2 straungers from his couenaunt of promise aliants from the common wealth of Israel Ephe. 8 when wee were deade in sinne God who is rich in mercie hath quickened vs by graciouslie beholding vs. He hath chosen vs from all eternitie to bee his people and the sheepe of his pasture but not by our merits but by his mercies not that wee chose him but that hee chose vs and saw vs a farre off when wee did not see him Did not the Lord see Abraham a far off whenas he liued among the idolatrous Chaldeans and called him from thence and made a couenant of saluation with him that he would be his God and the god of his seed was not Adam before him seen a farre off whenas hee turning his eyes from him and fleeing from his presence God called him vnto him and lifted him vp being desperately deiected with the shame of sinne which hee newlie had committed with the promise of his grace by the seede of the woman by which this his sinne should againe be remitted Was not Dauid much exorbitant and exceeding far from God when as the Prophet Nathan was sent vnto him to call him home againe and bring him vnto God Did not God behold the Israelites afarre off from the habitation of his dwelling when hee did see the miserie of them in captiuitie and deliuered them out of the hands of their enemies brought their feete into a large roome by planting them in the pleasant promised lande of Canaan What should I rippe vp such varietie of examples as may serue this purpose Thus he beheld Mathew the customer Matt. 9 â—uk 19 â—phâ— 2 Zacheus the vsurer Paul the persecuter and vs the Gentils when we were as the Apostle saith a far off being without hope without god in the world calling vs his people who were not his people and his beloued who were not his beloued The grace of God therefore seeing vs a far off being in our sins draweth vs froÌ„ our sins calleth vs to a confession and repentance of our sinnes and pardoneth all our sinnes Without this there is nothing that we can doe of our selues being not able to thinke a good thought God must loose the bondes of thy necke O captiue daughter of Syon 〈◊〉 52 Peter denied his maister and wept not for God did not looke vpon him he denied him the second time and yet 〈◊〉 not weepe for why as yet the Lord did not looke vpon him hee denied him the thirde time and hee wept bitterly but the text saith that the Lord did look vpon him Luke 22 O Lord our God then looke vpon vs and then wee shall with Peter weepe bitterly for our sinnes The second Chapter Of the mercie and compassion by this father shewed vnto the prodigall sonne THe circumstance of the father his seeing his sonne whilest he was a farre off beeing first of all remembred in good order this inference of his compassion shewed him as an exposition of the same is immediatelie adioyned For God his seeing vs is no superficiall and bare sight of vs it consisteth not in an idle speculation but hee seeth vs to shewe mercie and compassion of vs and to worke our saluation God seeth not his seruants as hee doth the wicked caitifes Aâ—nas Caiphas Pilate and such like who stil remaine obdurate and hardened in their sinnes but he seeth them by bestowing his graces vppon them as Peter and Andrew Iames and Iohn Mat. 4 Ioh. 1 Luke 5 Nathanael and Matthew who forthwith left their nettes the seate of custome and vngodlie trade of sinne making them Apostles vessels and ministers of his great mercie There is verie great oddes betweene God his Great difference theâ— is betweene god his seeing vs and man his seeing vs. seeing vs and man his seeing vs. Oftentimes one Courtier is heard to say vnto another Did the Prince to day see thee and eftsoones he answereth I. But what of that for hee often is neuer a whit the better for it for infinite people doe crowde to see the Prince and the Prince eieth many of them and yet thereby benefiteth not any of them But if God seeth vs it is well with vs it cannot bee in vaine but effectuall vnto vs. For the eyes of the lord are the portall doores of pittie the windowes and casements that haue a prospect to saluation He alwaies beholdeth vs with the eyes of kindnesse Gen 19 Exod 3 Luke 19 Mark 14 Actes 9 as Abraham in Chaldea Loth in Sodome Zachee vpon the figge tree Peter in the high Priests hal the theefe vpon the crosse and Paul when he was Saul in his iourney to Damascus Howe happie was this for the prodigall sonne for his father to see him for immediatelie he had compassion of him so is it with vs hee hath mercie on vs as soone as hee seeth vs. Genes 26. That we maie say with Agar Thou Lord lookedst on me The issue whereof was that the Lorde did heare her tribulation Did God at any time looke vpon anie and did not shewe him mercie â—â—od 3 He looked vpon the Israelites and presentlie hee deliuered them from the Egyptians â—ark 14 He behelde Peter and the yse which before couered his heart when he abiured his Maister melted at the heate and fire of his spirit and made a great thawe so as streames of water and brinish teares issued from thence Hee saw Mathew as he went by the way gathering vp of mony Matt. 9 and forthwith he bestowed a better office of him and charged him to gather vp soules vnto him He sawe certaine fishermen Matt. 4 Iohn 9 and he ordained them fishers of men Hee saw him that was blind from his birth and his sight was restored him He sawe multitudes following him Matth. 5 and hee opened his mouth and taught them Iohn 6 Hee lifted vppe his eyes and sawe another multitude following him and hee communed with Philip about bread and prouision of victuals for them Luke 1 Hee did looke on the low estate of his handmaid and hereupon the virgin peremptorilie concludeth that All generations shall call her blessed Gods eyes are compared to the Doues eyes vpon the riuers of water Cant. 5 because they are most pure cleane and simple farre from all euill and full of all goodnesse Matt. 3 In respect whereof the holie Ghost when he descended assumed vnto himselfe the forme of a Doue Dauid vniteth and knitteth togither Gods sight and Gods mercie because towardes his Saints they cannot bee sundred Oh Lorde looke vpon mee Psal 24 and bee mercifull vnto me for I am poore and in miserie Else where hee singeth
of God acceptable and perfect As before he had giueÌ„ vp his members as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne Rom. 6 so now giuing them vp as weapons of righteousnesse vnto God He is no more proude in his own eyes but his soule is humbled euen as a weaned child Psal 131 casting down himselfe before his mercie seate and in feare worshipping towardes his holie Temple comming with a rente heart aswell as rente garmentes Ioel. 2. Psal 84 and turning vnto the Lorde his God desirous to bee a doore keeper or a hired seruant in the house of his God rather then to conuerse in this miserable condition in the tents of the vngodly And this his sute hath speedy good successe his father beholding him a farre off with the eye of mercie and graciouslie embracing him when he was in presence with the armes of pittie For hee did put off his sackcloth and girded him with gladnesse hee adorned him with a ring dignity and greate worshippe did hee laie vppon him he richlie did decke a Table for him in despight of his enimies he did finallie make him glad with the ioy of his countenance and did wipe away al teares from his eyes The allegorie â—he allegoâ—â—â— of this â—â—rable and morall application of this parable without constraining it seemeth to be this The father is God these his two sonnes are two sortes of people in the Church of God The one of them orderlie and of good gouernment contented to abide in his fathers house liberties of this church the other exorbitant refractorie and disloyall gadding abroad after his owne fancies yet humbled by discipline and by chastisement reformed The far Country which he traced was his far departure from his fathers Lawes by his wicked lustes The substance which he wasted was the riches of his grace which he deuided to him The famine hee sustained was the want of the breade of eternall life and infinite other defectes and wants vnto which a sinner is subiect when he is gone from God The cruell tyrant whom hee serued was the Diuell whome he obayed this farme of his which hee attended was this present euill worlde in the which the Diuell raigneth The swine which he kept were vncleane spirits vngodlie companions the hearde into which the Deuils doe enter and doe violentlie throwe into the sea of all euill The huskes which rather burdened then relieued his stomacke were the light and idle vanities of this worlde His sinnes wich hee did feede vppon the alluring baites and inticementes of the Deuill His returne home was his returne from sinne by speedy repentaunce his welcome home was the gracious acceptance of this his repentaunce His first roabe was his first royaltie which Adam lost and Christ redeemed for vs. The seruaunts who did fetch it were the ministers of his holie worde who bring his graces to vs. The ring was the seale of Gods holy spirit and a token of his dignity whereby he crieth Abba father and is sealed vnto the day of redemption The shooes of his feete were the preparation of the Gospell of peace The fat Calfe that was killed was Christ slaine from the beginning of the worlde for him and vs all his prodigal children The heauenly banket mirth and musicke is the ioy and happines which we shal bee partakers of in the kingdome of heauen all which shall bee orderlie prooued vnto vs in their proper places Now of this parable there is a manifold vse The vse of this parab A similitudâ— whether we respect the matter or maner of this history It is like to a great peece of money which containeth in it the value of manie peeces It is full of mysteries and matters of much moment albeit in our grosse and carnall mindes we cannot conceiue them It is often seene that thinges of great price of those that are ignoraunt of the vertue of them are vtterlie reiected which by men of iudgement who doe know their nature are verie much accounted of A similituâ—â— A base Countrey man passeth by a King and doth him no reuerence because hee knoweth him not A similituâ—â— A simple Pesant as he walketh in the fielde trampleth vnder foote many holsome simples which the skilfull Apothecary carefullie gathereth vp and maketh of them many healthfull confections In this fielde wherein we walke many hearbes and flowers of forcible operations fit to bee applied to all wounded consciences may bee gathered of vs. There is no one bedde in the Lordes Eden no place of holie Scripture in the whole Bible which yeeldeth more sauory and comfortable doctrine then this place doeth For first the manner and forme of this parable delighteth very much as shrowding his matter vnder a parable and borrowed speech and allegoricall discourse and this is the common custome of Gods spirit for very good causes First it serueth to strengthen our weake memories â—hy Christ â—ormeth by paraâ—s that thereby wee may better keepe in minde his holesome instructions For euen as the stomacke vnlesse it hath a retentiue facultie to retaine and digest the meate and nourishment that is put into it 1. 〈◊〉 helpe 〈◊〉 weake â—mories â—militude vntill it hath passage through the vaynes and partes of the whole bodie to cherish and to battle it it receiueth no good so vnlesse wee laie vp and keepe in our hearts such needefull pointes of doctrine as are taught vs from the word all preaching is in vaine and our hearing is vnprofitable vnto vs. â—â—â—ilitude As precious pearles and iewels are fastened vnto ribbandes that they might not bee lost so Gods heauenlie worde an incomparable treasure and a pearle of greatest price is set out in parables that it might not be lost of vs. You shall haue manie olde persons that shall verie manie yeeres remember a familiar example or similitude borrowed from such things as we haue here common vse of which they shal heare from a preacher when as many other deepe poynts and matters of more substance then examined and discussed shall be quite forgotten and onelie because prouerbes and plausible similitudes drawne from dayly pracâ—ize do take deeper roote and impression in their mindes And for this cause God doth often open his mouth in parables and declare vnto the people hard sentences of olde A second cause moouing him thereunto 2 That wee may better vnderstand that which is taught vs. is to lay open and vnfolde more plainlie that which is â—aught vs that wee maie the better conceiue it and â—earne it Aristotle the Philosopher prescribeth â—his course Vt à notioribus ad minus nota procedamus That in our way of teaching by plaine and â—nowne things we leade our schollers to the betâ—er vnderstanding of those that are vnknowne â—owe because things visible obiect to our senses â—re better knowne then those that are inuisible â—nd remooued from the same and those that are â—orporall are better conceyued then those that are â—pirituall hence is it
not therefore take heede hereof and take no other course Therefore assoone as anie temptation dooth arise consider in the beginning vnto what daunger it may leade thee in the ende Take it by the ende as Iacob tooke Esau by the feete and by the ende Haue God alwaies before thine eyes and thou canst not doe amisse so saith Dauid Psa 16 I did set God before mine eyes therefore I can not faile wherefore my heart is glad and my tongue reioyceth my flesh also doth rest in hope The Mathematicians doe esteeme the circular figure as the perfect figure because in a circle the beginning and the ende doe meete togither therfore that we may bee made perfect let vs in all actions lay the beginning and the ende togither And let God who is the Alpha and beginning be Omega vnto vs and the ending likewise And let vs account all things but doung to gaine Iesus Christ Phil. 3 so shall we abide alwayes in our fathers house and our trust shall bee in the tender mercie of God for euer and euer The seuenth Chapter What the prodigall sonne did when hee had receyued his portion from his father IF riches increase set not your heart theron â—sal 61 saith the heauenly Psalmist It is great riches not to couet riches and he possesseth much who desireth little To be worldly rich is to be verie poore to be poore in spirit is the greatest riches That must needes be vaine whose ende is vaine and we ought to haue that in greatest detestation which hindereth the course of our eternall saluation And this riches do For as the Falcon that is full gorged 〈◊〉 â—militude will not come to the lure so will not we in our worldly prosperitie seeke after God For God is lost in prosperitie and found in aduersitie â—â—d is lost â—rosperiâ—â—â— and â—â—uersity The prodigall sonne when he had got wealth at will did shake off all obedience and compassed the worlde trauailed vnto the vttermost coasts of the earth as farre as there was ground and as farre as he could from his fathers house He is carried farre that rideth vpon the diuell for sinne leadeth him furie and rebellion spurreâ—h him forward Aug quaest euang qâ—ast 33. Regio longinqua saith Augustine fuit obliuio dei The farre country which he sought was his heart farre from God his vtter forgetfulnes of his fathers seruice He went far from God by his sin and wickednes For by godly obedience we draw neer to God by the contrarie he departed farre from him He departed farre from him How we are said to go far from God First of all by an opposite and farre differing disposition God his Volo being his Nolo his will being his nill and so of the contrarie omitting that which hee shoulde commit and doing that which should be vndone preposterouslie peruerting and disordering Gods precepts making them negatiue which are affirmatiue and affirmatiue which he hath negatiuelie propounded Of this departure our Sauiour Christ speaketh Matth. 15 vsing the selfe same phrase of speech in the same sence taxing the hypocrisie of the Scribes and Pharisies This people draweth neere vnto mee with their lippes but their hearts are verie farre from mee When as wee see two sitting and talking togither and the one varieth from the other in opinion wee vse to say that the one of them is farre from the other And in this respect maye this prodigall sonne and euerie sinner bee properlie saide to go farre from God Secondlie he is saide to haue gone farre in regarde of the great and manie sinnes hee did commit which the more they were the further they did lead him For euerie sinne being a manifest defection and departure from God they may bee rightlie said to depart lesser or further the lesser or more sinnes they doe commit A similitude As he may bee said to go further then an other that taketh more paces or greater then another This mischiefe was in his farre departure that the further he went the lesser reckoning hee made of his father There was nowe such a space by his farre trauaile betweene the obiect and the sence betweene his eye and his fathers house as his sight failed him the onely great God did nowe seeme the least to his carnall eyes A similitude For a thing which is great in his owne nature if we behold it saâ—e off seemeth little vnto vs Our eye beames the further they are dâ—lated and extended the thinner they seeme and at the last they vanish quite away and are no more seene The Sunne which by the learned iudgement of Astronomers is farre greater then the earth being so farre distant and remooued from our eyes seemeth but of a foote or two bignesse vnto vs. Is not our case the same Haue not we all like lost sheepe departed from the Church the sheepe-fold of the Lord and from Iesus Christ the great sheepheard of our soules who would if we woulde haue remained with him safely brought vs into the greene pastures and would haue led vs to the waters of comfort Haue not wee all of vs gone verie farre from him by wilfull disobedience starting a side-like a broken bowe Haue we not followed euen our owne lustes and made little reckoning of God and his religion It is too manifest that wee haue And what hath beene the occasion of all this but onelie because wee haue beene glutted and forfeited with Gods goodnesse God hath too liberallie dealt vs out our portions and wee haue beene too proude of our ouermuch prosperitie Vngodlie men we are Iude. who haue turned the grace of our God into wantonnesse and haue denied God the onelie Lord and our Lord Iesus Christ As this was the iniquitie and ouerthrowe of Sodome fulnesse of bread and idlenesse so worldlie felicitie is our onlie infelicitie the onelie Carbuncle and destruction of our soule A similitude As the serpent will kill them with his poyson which culled him and cherished him with their heate so worldly goods which through the immoderat heat of our minds we doe gather togither will gnawe our consciences and like a greedie worme that neuer dyeth will euer bee feeding vpon our bodies and our soules My elect people saith God waxed fat Deut. 32 and what then they forsooke God that made them and regarded not the strong God of their saluation The Prophet Esay taketh vp the selfe same complaint Esai 5 saying The Harp the Timbrell the Pipe are in their feasts but they respect not the woorke of the Lord neither do they consider the operation of his hands If the people doe but sit downe to eate and drink we heare by and by that they rise vp to play Exod 32 Wherefore if thou hast a minde to serue God set not thy minde vpon this present euill worlde Thou canst not looke vp to heauen with one eye We cannot inioy God the woâ—ld â—ogither and
grieuous misdeeds committed both against heauen which is thy seate and earth which is thy footstoole O Lord I dare not looke vp vnto heauen I haue so sinned against heauen by sinning against thee that dwellest in heauen and by making more account of this worlde then of heauen I dare not lift vp mine eies vnto thee I haue so sinned against thee so as the sight of thee feareth me and thy feare most mightie God is on euerie side I doe acknowledge my wickednesse and my sinne is euer before thee Against thee onely haue I sinned and doone this euill that thou maiest bee iustified in thy sayings and cleere when thou art iudged I am hee whome thou diddest vouchsafe by adoption and grace to make thiâ—e owne sonne thou hast nourished and brought mee vppe but I haue rebelled against thee The Oxe did knowe his owner and the Asse his maisters crib but I thy sonne did not knowe thee I thy seede and chosen did not obeie thee Wherefore thou gauest mee ouer vnto my owne heartes lustes and diddest let mee followe mine owne imaginations So as I committed all kinde of filthinesse and receiued such recompence of my wickednesse as was meete so as now I am a stranger and forreiner vnto thee I am not therefore worthie of the name of a sonne O let me be numbred among thy hired seruantes O father beholde me in the face of thine annointed for one day in thy courts is better then a thousand with the vngodlie I had rather haue the place of meanest seruice and to bee a doore keeper in thine house then to dwell in the tentes of the vngodlie and sit in the seate of sinners I am he for whose sake thy onlie begotten sonne became man bowed the heauens and came downe made himselfe of no reputation but humbled himselfe euen vnto the death the death of the crosse Thou hast giuen this sonne for mee a most vilde seruaunt that of a seruant I might be made a sonne by beeing conformable vnto the image of thy sonne but I alas haue liued in the flesh haue quenched the spirit and haue walked like an infidel I haue forgotten God that made mee and the strong God of my saluation I haue beene reprobate and abhominable and vnto euery good work vnprofitable whither therefore shall I flee for succour if I looke vp to heauen I am dismaied for I haue sinned against heauen if I repaire vnto thee I am yet in miserie for I haue sinned against thee I am hee whome thou didst preuent with thy liberall blessinges vpon whome thou diddest bestowe a great portion of thy grace whome thy tender mercie embraced on euerie side But I haue wantonlie and wickedlie wasted them by liuing in my lustes and not in thy lawes by fulfilling the lustes of the flesh and of the minde by working all wickednesse and that with greedinesse Thou induedst mee with wisdome aboue others with a greater knowledge of thy word then others I was planted in the house of the Lord that I might flourish in the courtes of my God by being ingrafted into the bodie of the Church and communion of thy saintes and made partaker of thy holie sacraments Thou hast not done so to other nations neither haue other people had such knowledge of thy lawes But woe is me I haue despised these thy mercies broken thy couenants dishallowed thy most holie and reuerend name I haue sinned O father not meanlie as other men but mightilie aboue other for I haue sinned against heauen thy holie place before thee the holiest and in earth the place where thy name is called vpon I am not therefore worthie neither do I desire to be called thy son but let me be thy seruant and o Lord saue thy seruant who putteth his trust in thee O remember not my olde sinnes which I haue coÌ„mitted since I went from thee but of thy goodnes preserue thou him that is appointed to die Thy great bountie shewed to hired seruaunts remaining in thy house putteth mee in hope of the like to bee shewed vnto mee thy Sonne returning to thy house Thy seruants haue enough and I thy sonne O faether like vnto a runnagate continew 〈◊〉 scarcity they eate of the plenteousnesse that commeth from thy Table but I am constrained to beg my bread in desolate places And this misery O father I must needes confesse is of my selfe for I woulde needes depart from thee the health of my life the light of my countenance and my mercifull God Wherefore now sitting by the waters of Babylon I cannot but weepe when I remember thee O Sion But turne thou my captiuitie as the riuers of the south and let mee heare of ioie and gladnesse that the bones which thou hast broken may reioice Though I haue sinned against thee yet I come vnto thee and though thy iustice must shewe vengeaunce vpon sinne yet I appeale vnto thy mercie in thy deere sonne Christ for the pardoning of my sinne I haue sinned and doone wickedlie yet I knowe thy mercie is aboue my sinnes One depth swalloweth vp an other let the depth therefore of thy mercie deuoure and swallowe vp the depth of my sinnes Thy hande is not so short but thou canst saue nor thy eare so thicke but thou canst heare Heare mee therefore O King of Heauen nowe I call vppon thee and bee mercifull vnto my sinnes for they are great Shew some token of kindnesse which thou doest vse to shew to those who put their trust in thee before the sonnes of men Thou diddest not repell the Publican disdaine the Pharisie refuse the Harlot or exclude the thiefe Peter who denied thee and Paule who persecuted thee vppon their returne were receiued into grace Father I returne consider my complaint for I am brought very lowe deliuer my soule out of trouble and my life from the bloudthirstie and though I be not worthy to be thy sonne yet make mee thy seruant so I thy seruant shall reioice in thee I shall bee euer giuing of thankes for the operation of thy hands Grant this grace oh deere father for Iesus Christ his sake thy most deere son and my only blessed Sauiour Amen The ende of the second Booke of the regresse of the prodigall Sonne THE THIRD BOOKE Discouering of the ioyfull welcome home of the prodigal Son and the honorable entertainment which his Father gaue him The first Chapter That the meere mercie of God is the maine motiuâ— of our comming home to God and the sole efficient cause of our whole saluatioÌ„ plainly insinuated by this circumstance of this historie of the fatheâ— his seeing the prodigall sonne when hee was yeâ— a farre off A Reuerend and holie Bishop when as Saint Augustines A Bishops saying of Augustine mother was in exceeding heauinesse for hir sonneâ— peruersenesse before hee was conuerted seeing her strange passions and hir aboundaunt teares which shee powred out for him grauely aunswered thus It is impossible for thy sonne to perish for whome such â—eaers are
sanctifie them and that was the cause it came speedilie on them 〈◊〉 â—1 The Prophet Esaie declaring the office of Christ in preaching the Gospell sheweth that the subiect of this preaching is to publish Gods readinesse to pardon sinners and his vnwillingnes to take iudgement of them And to make proofe thereof hee compareth them together and maketh his clemencie to be far greater and of longer continuance towardes vs then his iustice For hee restraineth his vengeance and limiteth it to a daie but hee extendeth his mercie infinitelie beyonde it giuing a continuance of time vnto it the space of a yeere For thus the spirit speaketh Isai 54 To preach the acceptable yeere of the Lord and the daie of vengeance of our God The same Prophet in an other place confirmeth the same doctrin most comfortablie vnto vs when in the person of God himselfe hee saith A little while haue I forsaken thee but with great compassion will I gather thee for a moment in mine anger I hid my face from thee for a little season but with euerlasting mercy haue I had compassion on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer The due regard hereof breedeth no admiration but it tendeth exceedinglie to our consolation for this is natural and proper vnto God to be gracious and mercifull it is a strange worke to him as the scriptures say of him to punish and shewe vengeance A similitudâ— Euen as a Painter when he hath elaboratelie finished a picture if so be he be constrained in regard of some faultes which he findeth in it vtterlie to blot out and deface all his worke hee is much grieued for it so when God seeth manie defaults and blemishes in vs who are his workmanship engrauen image vpon whome he hath bestowed such exceeding cost as varnishing vs and adorning vs with liuely colours which must be reformed for which cause he must marre that he hath made and begin his worke anew it cannot but bee grieuous and troublesome vnto him A similitude If thou wouldest place a stone of great waight vppon the roofe of thine house thou hast neede of pullies cables for to reare it but if thou wouldst throw it to the ground thou needest doe nothing but let it fall from thee for it will fall of his accord vnto the grounde for naturallie heauie things doe tend downeward as those that are light do ascend vpwarde It is as naturall with God to shewe mercie to a sinner as it is for a stone that is heauie to fall downewarde for the Sunne to shine for the fire to burne or anie other thing to performe his nature Wherefore thou readest euerie where in the historie of Christ of innumerable mercies which hee shewed vnto many but thou readest not of his punishments inflicted vpon any but only at one time when hee made him a whip â—n 2 and chased out of the temple such impure copesmates as had too abhominably prophaned the temple Was there euer any that intreated his mercy and did not obtaine it He healed graciously Malchus his eare â—â—ke 21 his professed and sworn enemie then one of the furious bloud thirsty souldiours who combined together intending his destruction The murmuring Israelites exasperated the Lord exceedingly against them when as the spies returning from Chanaan their tidings displeased them for they so mutinously muttered against God as they were threatned of him that they should not possesse the inheritance promised them or enter into the lande Yet after that when the people were in armes and prepared vnto battell in the middest of iudgement the Lorde could not vtterlie forget mercie hee is so naturallie disposed to bee mercifull and therefore both in anger and loue hee saieth vnto them Doe not ascende vp Num. 14 for I am not with you least yee fall before your enemies If he had not been with them he would not so graciouslie and louinglie haue warned them that they should not go vp but would haue suffered them to fall vpon the sword and bee a pray vnto their enemies Againe if so be he had beene with them and had not been angry with them he would not haue said so directly vnto them I am not with you He was with them and was not with them He was not with them that they should haue the conquest he was with them that they should not be conquered If the Lord be thus mercifull when men are so sinful it is thereby manifest that hee is soone satisfied The foure beasts which Ezechiel did see in a vision had the faces of a Lion Ezech. 1 also of a man in the right side to signifie vnto vs that as he looketh like a lion vpon a sinner that cannot repent vtterlie to destroy him whilest there is none to helpe him so when a sinner returneth from his sinnes and turneth vnto him he hath the louing and kinde face of a man and intreateth him familiarlie and kindlie as a man This father could not be more forwarde in fauor towardes this his lost sonne then to looke out after him and to cast his eyes about to espie where hee might see him and when he had happily seene him a far off to hic out vnto him to embrace him to fall on his neck and kisse him Al these are good notes of good nature and affections but when they do paâ—ley and talke together the zeale is admirable which he expresseth towards him For he is so soon pleased as no sooner the sonne beginneth to speak but the bowels of the father are so presentlie mooued as hee suffereth him not to vtter all he meditated for before he could come to this clause of his set speech Make me one of thy hired seruauntes the father interrupteth him and breaketh off his speech preuenting him graciouslie with his blessings of goodnes and granting infinitly more then he desired Thy God as so reaâ—â—e to shew â—is sinner â—h mercy The father in great wisedome vsed this great speede because his sonnes estate and neede so required it For when as a sinner through anguish of sinne is in extremity as this sinner was hee hath neede of present comfort to preuent despaire and ready encouragement to allaie the rage and furie of his passions which otherwise woulde bee verie dangerous vnto him For this cause God vseth no delay with such but immediatly vpon the forgiuenes of sinnes hee giueth therewithall the riches of his grace there is no time betwixt them but they come both together The remission of sin and the giftes of grace come together Before we can recouer our bodily health after a great sicknesse it is a long time by little and little and by degrees we leisâ—râ—ly attaine it for the body is not of that moment as the soule therefore there is no such vrgent necessitie of the present health of it for by lingering and time it may do wel enough It is otherwise with the soule which woulde languish with griefe
made white as snow though they be red as Scarlet they shal be as wooll if ye consent and obey ye shall eate the good things of the land In the like maner speaketh the Prophet Amos. Amos. 1 I lift vp vpon you euen a lamentation of the house of Israel the virgin Israel is falleÌ„ and shall no more rise But by and by he mittigateth his mood saying Seeke the Lord and ye shall liue Our sorrowes ende with sinne and God turneth with a sinner Iudgement is turned into mercie when sinne is turned into repentance And this doth Dauid in liuelie sort declare Psa 89 If my people forsake my lawes and walke not in my iudgements if they leaue my statutes and keepe not my commandements I will visit their iniquities with the rod and their sinnes with scourges heere is his iudgement But turne thine eye and behold his mercie But my mercie and louing kindnes will I not vtterlie take from him euer God taxed Adam grieuouslie for his sinne and layde a verie heauie iudgement vpon him enioyning him to hard labour to bring in his liuing with the sweate of his face and turmoyle of his bodie but this labour was stinted and restrayned to his time that it should not bee perpetuall and therefore hee addeth vntill thou returne vnto the earth from whence thou camest Gene. 3 And when our first parents sinned and God was to expell them the pleasaunt Paradise albeit they had grieued him hee had mercie on them and maketh them garmentes of beastes skinnes to defende them from the rage of time and to couer their shame that their nakednesse and filthinesse might not be seene Hee in sinuateth by this course taken with Adam that hee will take the same course with Adams children that in the middest of iudgement he will remember mercie and thâ— hee will vpon our conuersion shew vs his compâ—â—sion Wherefore arise from thy sin and Christ shall giue thee life despaire not of his grace for hee hath medicine to heale all our woundes God woundeth vs at the first but it is to heale and cure vs at the last The tenth Chapter That God vsuallie giueth vnto a sinner more then he can aske THe prodigall sonne not only speedeth with his father of his sute but he receiueth of him more then he desired Hee made but the motion to be a hired seruant but the father restored him to the dignitie of a sonne He preuented him moreouer with his liberall blessings and graciouslie receyued him with all feasting and reioycing Wherein wee may see how farre God exceedeth the manner of men and how mans kindnes is in no sort proportionable vnto the Lords goodnes When as Absalon had murthered his brother AmmoÌ„ 2. Sam. 2â— Dauid his father was in some sort conteÌ„ted to be intreated for him but he wold not grant him accesse vnto his presence to see his face againe But Gods good grace is such as he not onely remitteth sinners but admitteth them to his presence receyueth them to his table and suffreth theÌ„ continuallie to beholde their fathers face It is not therefore without good foresight experience of his bountie that the blessed Apostle Paul tearming God the father of all mercie not content therewith addeth to his stile this iust title The God of all consolation He thinketh it not inough to say that hee is mercifull but by amplyfying it thus hee woulde giue vnto him a kind of absolute and ouerflowing mercie It belongeth to mercie onelie to forgiue sinnes but God stayeth not there but followeth vs with his grace preuenting future sinnes Vpon this my soule receyueth great comfort and from hence deare Christian whensoeuer thou humblest thy soule before God and exhibitest thy sutes and supplications vnto him thou maiest cheere and comfort thy perplexed conscience For this is not written in vaine for vs for it serueth liuelie as all other scripture giuen by inspiration to instruct comfort vs. The meditation therefore whilest I muse vpon this man is this which my soule maketh That it is vsuall with God not onelie to grant the lawfull requests and petitions of his seruants but also because hee best knoweth our necessities to giue vs such graces as are needfull for vs beyonde our requests Hereof we haue instances innumerable in the Scriptures and we shall do well when our case requireth comfort to meditate vpon them Abraham besought God onelie for the life of Ismael â—â—n 17 saying vnto God Oh that Ismael might liue before thee But what was the comfort which Abraham receyued Trulie much euerie way more then his heart conceyued for God thus answered him Sarah thy wife shal beare thee a sonne and thou shalt call his name Isaac and as concerning Ismaell I haue heard thee and twelue Princes shall he beget and I will make a great nation of him Thus beside the life of Ismael which hee granted the summe of Abrahams sute in his abundant mercie aboue his desire he sent him also Isaac and vouchsafed such fauour and grace to Ismael as to blesse him so as kings proceeded from his loynes Salomon onelie requested Wisedome for the better carriage of himselfe in his gouernment 1. King 3 the Lord beside wisedome which hee gaue him aboue others heaped vpon him riches and worldly prosperitie far aboue others Ezechias requested but life at Gods hande 2. King 20 the Lorde not onely graunted it but gaue him a long life and graciously added fifteene yeeres vnto his dayes When as the three kings of Israel Iudah 2. King 3 and Edom were to warre with Moab and were greatlie distressed through want of water for their hoast and for their cattell and came vnto Elisha the man of God for supplie in this behalfe the Lord not onlie satisfied their hearts desire but moreouer went out with their armies before them and gaue them victorie ouer the Moabites The widow woman that was deepelie indebted 2. King 4 and had nothing to satisfie her cruell creditor he beeing vrgent and could not bee answered but that her two sonnes must become his bondmen according to the lawe hauing nothing else to discharge his accounts When shee came vnto the Prophet bemoaning her mishap and required his helpe to the Lord in her behalfe she forthwith had such a comfortable reliefe as shee had Oyle inough giuen her not onelie to defray all kinde of arrerages which was all she desired but sufficient beside to supplie future wantes which was more then she desired Mark 9 Those that brought the man of the palsie vnto Christ desired but bodily health for him but Christ not onely healed his bodie but cured his soule likewise saying vnto him Sonne bee of good comfort thy sinnes are forgiuen thee The theefe besought Christ onely to remember him when he came vnto his kingdome Luke 23 but Christ moreouer promised him Paradise and that hee should be with him that day in his kingdome The ruler requested but life for his sonne