into that separation and with-drawing from his Father which brought upon him all this misery that befel him which now after so large a view taken of the elder Brothers state comes in the next place as the second Branch of this Text to be considered by us viz. CHAP. VIII The second state of wanderers from God in two Branches opened and applyed THE misery of departing and wandring from God implyed in these words This thy Brother was dead was lost a two-fold metaphorical expression to represent it by Let us briefly and but briefly consider them Branch 1. Was dead A sinner by leaving God and running after sin and Satan brings death upon himself becomes as a dead man So Solomon tells us too Prov. 21.16 He that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall abide in the congregation of the dead For as the Apostle saith also to the Believers Rom. 8.13 If ye walk after the flesh ye shall dye and it must needs be so for 1. With God is the fountain of life Psal 36.9 In his favour is liâ—e Psalm 30.5 and his eternal Word or Son is that eternal life that was with the Father in the beginning in whom was life and that was manifested in these last dayes more fully to us 1 John 1.2 with John 1 4. The Spirit of God is life and the spirit of life Rom 8.2.10 by whom God through Christ breaths in life and so this God this one Father Son and Spirit having life in himself gives life also to others as he pleases and hath given to all life and breath and all things and so in the beginning when he made man made him of the dust of the earth and breathed in him the breath of life and man became a living soul Gen. 2.7 both as his body and person was made alive in the world indued with breath sense motion and understanding and also as his soul or inward man being upright and having its dependance on God being in subjection to his Word and Spirit in his image and likeness and so in his favour while upright he was owned of him and in union with him and had peace and joy and spiritual life in himself as so deriving it from him but in departing from him his word and command which is life and tends to life also is death and man so doing he dyed Spiritually First as to the loss of the favour of God in which was his life and of his subjection to God and fellowship with his Word and Spirit the fountain and conveyor of life and he fell under his displeasure in and from which is death even the death of the spirit of man inasmuch as the favour and fellowship of God his Word and Spirit being withdrawn his life was withdrawn with them and inasmuch as it lay open to his anger to inflict misery upon it and so the inward state of the soul and spirit became unquiet dead without sense of the life of God the favour spirit and operations of his grace in it and was filled with fear shame guilt as the effects of the life withdrawn and misery deserved and exposed to and then bodily death as to its principles entred and so the sentence for dying at Gods pleasure bodily and for ever had not mercy looked upon man and prevented followed also Gen. 2.17 and 3.18 19 Rom. 5.12.18 2. But God rich in mercy looking back upon his prodigal Son man here devised his recovery and to that end sent his Son or Word that eternal life that was with him and made him flesh and in that flesh mortal and under the sentence of death that was upon man and accordingly delivered him up to death for our Sins who by his death destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil and swallowed up death from off the nature of man as it is in him and filled it with immortallity and eternal life so as he having dyed dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him but the fulness of the God-head dwells in him bodily and all the fulness of his favour grace and blessing in which is life yea and the Spirit of Life is in and upon him so as he also in dying and by his death inasmuch as it was sustained by him for us even for all men hath obtained a release of all men from under that first Death and Judgement in which all universally and alike were condemned to dye as it did and must have stood upon us without his interposing and hath the ordering of Death and Grave and Hell in his hand and dispose with power and authority to bring us thereout and enliven and quicken soul and body yea and invest them with immortality and eternal life as pleases him he being in himself and for mankinde the resurrection and the life the deliverer and the raiser and the only ground or foundation cause and effector of the Resurrection in others either as to soul or body and the life quickning them and in which they being quickned live John 11.25 Yea in him is and God hath given to us even to the same us whom he commands to believe which is all men or men indefinitely eternal life so as that in partaking of him we partake of the Resurrection and are raised up in and by him in our spirits and partake of life spiritual life and so whosoever believeth in him though dead in himself is enlivened by him and shall live and being made alive in believing and going on yet to believe shall not dye shall not lose this life that he hath in and by him for ever but is alwayes in the raised state as to his state spiritually and shall be so at the last day bodily too and so alwayes in the favour of God in which is life in a justified state from sin and wrath curse and death and in a state of acceptation with God and heir-ship to the life promised further of God in and by him and hath his interest in and fellowship with God the fountain of life and the Spirit of God and its influences who is the Spirit of life and gives and upholds life as it is said He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life and so as all mankinde are in a released state from the destructiveness of the first death as in and of it self and in a possibility of life because in the hand of Christ where is life even spiritual and eternal life yea both for soul and body as in a root and fountain for them and communicable to them so all such of men as in hearing and receiving the Word and Doctrine of Christ which is called the word of life and life Acts 5.20 John 6.63 Prov. 4.13 because Christ objectively is in it as the matter of it set forth in and by it and his Spirit which is life and the Spirit of Life accompanies it and breaths in it are therein by the
Spirit quickned and raised to spiritual life endued with spiritual sense and perception of spiritual things and so of God and Christ and to spiritual breath and desires after them and motion towards them and in them and so spiritual understanding peace joy satisfaction according to the measure of Christ partook of by them but yet so as the room enlightned by the Sun retains its light by admitting that light from without into it so as if that be withdrawn and shut out the light within is gone or as the branch lives in the stock and root so as if it be separated therefrom it dies and withers so is it here The soul in thinking ro live on it self or what it hath in it self yea what life it hath received in it self from Christ and so with-drawing from Christ and from his Word and Spirit loses its life and dies as it lets slip departs from and rejects Christ or the Knowledge Faith and Spirit of God and Christ so it departs from and le ts slip its life Whence that of Moses Deut. 32.46 47. Set your hearts to all the words that I testifie amongst you this day for it is not a vain thing for you or an empty word for you for it s thy life and in this word as the Hebrew words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you shall prolong your dayes and so Prov. 4.13 Lay fast hold of instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy life and ver 23. Keep thy heart above all keeping or with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life and the Apostle John 2 John 9. tells us that He that transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God that is as by the opposition in the next branch of the verse appears the Father and the Son and so by consequent the Spirit of both they are strangers from the life of God and so without God and Christ in the world Ephes 4.18 and 2.12 and so they are dead 1. Spiritually as being deprived of spiritual life and destitute of it being in departing from the Word of God and obedience of the Spirit of Christ therein 1. Gone from Christ and his Spirit and the Spirit of Christ departed and gone from them as to any enlivening or living efficacies in them as a principle of spiritual life in them though in this there may be as a gradual departing from the word of God and from God and Christ and the Spirit therein so a gradual with-drawing and dying of the spiritual life in them as it is in the natural life when a man forsakes his meat that should preserve life in him yea and then 2. There is a spending consuming or dying of the spiritual gifts or efficacies of the Spirit of Life formerly infused and found in them though there may be for a time somewhat of these abiding as it is in a branch that though the life of it be gone yet something of the sap and greenness the effects of that life abide for a time and go away by degrees John 15.5 6. and as the heat in a dead body after the life and soul is gone yet something of the heat and warmth often abide that was the effect of the soul and life while there but that 's decreasing too and goes away at last and this may be signified in the Parable by the Prodigals spending his portion or substance in riotous living it was not all gone so soon as gone from his Father but it soon after went away and was spent though yet the rational sense as a man a natural man may abide and so he began to be in want he was sensible there was not that of gifts parts and graces fore-received from the Spirit of God as used to be but that there was a loss of those things and so of his comfort and hope springing from them they were gone but then 3. There is a senselessness of spiritual and divine things properly such and of his state in that respect no sight and view of the Glory of God that is in the face of Jesus nor of his excellencies and preciousness the Vertues of his Blood and Sacrifice no hearing of his Calls Counsels Instructions no spiritual hearing of his Voice when wholly gone from God and Christ he is deaf to all these things nor knows nor regards the meaning of them no taste and rellish of the Grace and Favour of God to and in his Spirit no sense and feeling of the joyes of Gods Salvation and the workings and breathings of his Grace in him Prov. 23.35 nor of his judgements upon him no savour or taste of his graciousness nor smell of his ointments could he but finde gifts or parts or some such things or have but the love respect or favour of such as admired him before it s all he desires is sensible of the want of or troubled about 4. There is no breath no spirit in any of his profession if the carkass of that remain an outward form of godliness there may be and of religious acts but no breath in them no divine force power or vertue from Christ as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without the works of it or that works nothing in the soul or upon others is dead James 2.26 Nor is there any inward spiritual breathing after God or towards him as is seen in the Parable where when the Prodigal began to be in want he hath no sense or remembrance of his Father or Fathers house nor desire after it but all spiritual things being gone he goes further from his Father and joyns up himself to a Citizen of that Countrey puts himself servant or an Apprentice to his lust or to Satan wholly to be given up and be at the beck thereof and to seek satisfaction in and from it as the Apostle saith His servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness Rom. 6.16 and so he only savors the things of the flesh now and desires the husks that the Swine feed on which this Citizen set him to keep even such things as bruitish men delight and rejoyce in and have their comforts from Nor 5. Is there any motion God-ward in him no creeping stirring much less going towards him in his heart or spirit but as a Swine-heard a moving only as a rational or bruitish man after the Swine and their husks after and with evil sensual and wicked persons but as no thought or desire after so no seeking to go to his Father till he came to himself from out of that spiritual swoon or death as we often finde the Scripture tells us the way of sinners is that being gone from God when they fall into misery or want yet they return not to God that smites them nor seek healing and help in Christ but run after dead works or empty lying vanities asking counsel but not of God and covering with a cover but
not of his spirit that they may adde sin to sin Isa 30.1 2 15. When God calls to return to him they have no breath desire sense of motion after the things in him But we will ride upon horses say they and flee upon the swift and as in Hos 5.13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound then went Ephraim down to Assyria and sends to King Jareb c. No motion towards God but from him and therein 6. As from a dead body there issues forth filth and stinch blood and matter sometimes that is loathsome and abominable and makes it unfit to be amongst the living so is it with dead souls devoid of the life of God as Psal 14.1 2 3. The fool or fallen man fallen from God and Christ saith in his heart there is no God there 's his voidness of spiritual life sense or motion or faith towards him as also in that Rom. 3. â—2 There is none that understandeth none that seeketh after God but then beside it follows Corrupt are they and have done abominable works there is none that doth good no not one they are all become filthy or as in the Margin stinking loathsome And as in Rom. 3.13 Their threat is an open Sepulchre nothing breaths out thence but putrifaction and filth and stench things abomâ—nable to God and unacceptable to God and good men When the Doctrine of God and the Spirit of God and Christ are gone once and the savour of his Grace lost though there may be yet too a form of Prayers Fasting and outward formalities and observances yet then they are all dead works Heb. 9.14 as a menstruous cloth a filthy thing The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord Prov. 15.8 and 21.27 Isa 1.11 13 14. and unpleasing to men unsavory to those that are spiritually men indued with sense reason and understanding nay often gross prophaneness and debauchery issues from them 7. And then as dead bodies they are separated from the living from the living God and his living Houshold and Family God cannot endure to look towards them with any delight or likement of them or have them in his sight or presence they are condemned of him loathed and detested as to their dead estate by him cut off from him and and his justifying and approving Grace and then objects of his anger or displeasure as any evil or vain Spirit may bring them before him or make them come as dead carkasses possessed with evil spirits into his sight 2. And so if they be not through some miraculous mercy revived they be dead as to body not only in that they must as all others come to a natural death in the appointed time but often are also exposed to in danger of and sometimes taken away by judicial deaths as either in some judgement or testimony of wrath from God as Pharaoh when drowned in the Red Sea Saul conquered by the Philistines and slaying himself and many of the Rebellious Israelites destroyed in the Wilderness or else as sometimes by some judicial deaths from men as Zedekiah and Ahab whom the King of Babylon rosted in the fire Jer. 29.22 The two Malefactors that were put to death with Christ God sometimes permitting and in anger against his people for their voluntary goings from him giving them up so far to their own hearts lusts as Psal 81.11 12. as to suffer them to fall into notorious sins such as bring not only shame but exemplary punishments by death also or however persisting they dye in their sins as to their bodies also yea and if by these things mercy be not extended so as to turn them to God and pull them out of spiritual death there follows at length 3. Eternal death of body and soul wholly cast out and separated from God and from his presence into everlasting misery and torments both in souls and bodies for ever in which is both a perfect loss and deprival of all good things both bodily and spiritual and also a perfect and eternal subjection to all misery and mischief pain sorrow and unspeakable torment upon soul and body for ever a sad and doleful portion of the workers of iniquity and of those that having been quickned up to a spiritual life let it slip again and depart from it by going away from the Doctrine of Christ and so from Christ and the Holy Spirit and so finally persist but this last was through mercy here prevented This is one expression of the sad estate of the sad estate of such persons The wages of sin is death Rom. 6.23 The other is Branch 2. He was lost The word say some Criticks here translated Lost is at the best of a harsh signification 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the best to dye yea to dye by some miserable way to perish as in this parable I perish with hunger ver 17. and so the expression of coming to himself implyes that he was extinct for a time fainted and dyed away through hunger but that the mercy of God revived him he had quite perished which is worse then simply dead perisht as we properly say of those that dye of hunger and cold and are lost for want of help or looking to he being gone away from them that used to look to him or with reference to the other Parables where whatever the Criticks say the same word is used of the sheep and groat lost â—o as not forthcomâ—ng or found and so being a loose Son he was not only a loser but quite lost himself too Such the fruit of mens sinning and wandring from God Let us view it in some particulars 1. He was a loser though that 's not all he lost his Father and his Fathers house his portion and patrimony his enjoyments he was wont to have and his brother yet had all that entertainment food rayment harbour shelter lodging attendance respect and honour which he had in his Fathers house formerly these and all things of that nature were wholly lost and gone from him and from his enjoyment and interest and is this nothing for sinners to lose both livelihood and life yea such a livelihood and such a life as God in Christ is and gives such safety satisfaction content rest and refreshing hope and rejoycing as his Word and Spirit and Christ in and by both and God in and by all give to the abiding soul to lose a most sweet secure satisfying and abiding livelihood and life it cannot be expressed to lose a Kingdom with all its contents But 2. He was lost himself he was gone quite out of all these things and out of the way to them again as a sheep lost out of its pastures He was not to be found either in his Fathers house or Fields under none of his promises under no engagement of his shelter or protection in no way of his or of his servants and peoples walkings He was gone and so are sinners out of all Gods paths and so
or woman for the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here is of both Genders or Sexes and extends to either man or woman though carried on after in the Masculine with reference to and for the fitter resemblance of God but what I say would any man or woman do think you if having but two Sons they should lose one of them would they not more industriously seek him and finding him again would they not be much more glad for him though they have another beside then for a Sheep and then a woman though never so great a Housewife for a six pence Such the scope of this third Parable in which our Lord shews his and his Fathers fatherly affection to mankinde as made by him and as his Off-spring as the Poet saith descended of him and much more to such as are his by Adoption and special grace of Regeneration by and through Jesus Christ The fruit of the travel of his Soul and the issue of his Word and Spirit vouchsafed to and working in and upon them And so he saith and I shall a little paraphrase on it CHAP. II. The Parable of the Prodigal Paraphrased to the Text. A Certain man had two Sons that 's but a few the smallest number that can be but by how much the fewer the loather would the Father be to lose one of them Ver. 2. And the younger of them said to his Father give me the portion of Goods that falleth to me shewing that the beginning of mans departure from God is his not liking to live upon God and Christ by Faith in him but desiring to have his portion in himself in his own hand dispose and keeping that he might be a Lord in himself Jer. 2.31 and live apart from God in his own sufficiency of Wisdom Power Understanding c. And he divided unto them his living signifying the readiness of God to distribute to men his gifts and benefits as pleases him Verse 13. And not many dayes after the younger Son gathered all together either as arrogating to himself what he had received of God or taking a view of and contemplating his riches received from God so as to estimate himself accordingly the Spring of Spiritual pride and subjecting them to his own will And he took his journey into a far Countrey went away and departed in heart and life from his dependance on and obedience to the Lord and from close cleaving to him for counsel protection direction and blessing and he there in the world or state of Apostacy from God wasted spent or scattered his substance whatever substantial gift or grace he had received of God with riotous living living carelesly and spending Gods Gifts on his own lusts and pleasures Verse 14. And when he had spent all as a man may soon spend and lose all in being departed from God who should and would continually supply him in depending on him and being guided by him there arose or was a mighty famine in that Land a great want and spiritual emptiness to the soul from the world in that its departed and separated state from God there being nothing in the Idols to which the soul is gone out but emptiness and misery And he began to be in want to be sensible of the loss of satisfaction he was wont to receive from God and had in his gifts and of the emptiness of his soul in their absence or loss Verse 15. And he went yet further from God instead of repenting and turning back to him and fastned joyned himself to a Citizen of that Country Such the folly of the heart of man departed from God that under the sense of its loss and want it rather goes further from him and layes about more earnestly for and sticks more closely to some creature comfort Idol yea or to the Devil and his counsel thinking to finde help there then looks back to God So long as it can hope to finde help or life out of him any where else it comes not to him And he sent him into the fields to feed swine Such is the base drudgery work of sin and the Devil that he employes the soul in an employment far below a Princes Son and yet so foolish be the disobedient departed sons of God that they rather submit to any base servile drudgery where they hope to finde though never so poor a subsistence rather then repent and go back to God See this in other phrases Isa 30.1 2 15 16. Hosea 5.13 14. Jeremiah 2.13 and many other places Verse 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the Swine did eat of but no man gave unto him Such the baseness of the revolted lost Soul that it could be content to subsist or finde its life and pleasure in the vilest things rather then to return to God and to the things above that he hath prepared in Christ for us Such the emptiness and vileness of all worldly enjoyments that they be fitly resembled to husks Swines meat rather then Mans And such the merciful providence of God toward his strayed children as oft-times not to suffer them to finde satisfaction or supplies from any thing they sinfully seek it in for this was the way to cure him as mad men and men distracted sometimes are by being kept fasting and hunger bit And such was he now as follows when it s said Verse 17. And when he came to himself Men are drunk with Sathans delusions sins deceits or the worlds lushious fulness while they can finde therein what to feed themselves on or are made men while without sense of their sin and misery and without mindefulness of God But God often by afflictions and crosses recalls them and brings them again to their Sences to see what they have done and whitherto they be brought and what course they should now take as it s added He said How many hired Servants of my Fathers have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger The beginning of Conversion is when the Sinner is made sensible of his misery and sees and beholds also Gods goodness and sufficiency to relieve and help him remembers whence he is fallen and what relation God stands in toward him in his Son there is the beginning of his quickning and reviving again God is good to hired Servants those that walk in his wayes and do his work only with eye to themselves and their own advantages thereby and have not been begotten to him through the immortal seed of the word the grace in his Son discovered to and received by them But how much more to such as being begotten to him by his love do in love to him depend on and serve him Thence he resolves Verse 19. I will arise Sin overthrows the sinner and makes him by groveling and groaning under its burthen and pressure when discerned but grace perceived and called to remembrance quickens and gives motion strength and resolution to arise from the practice of it and from
and to that purpose of haunting walking or being yoaked up with them for they will prove snares to our souls and draw us away from God by their conversations Psal 1.1 Prov. 1.10 11. and 9.6 7. and 13.20 and 22.24 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17. 5. Of slothfulness in the way of God for that will cast into a deep sleep and lead to weariness and fainting Prov. 19.15 Be not slothful but follow their steps who through faith and patience have inherited the promises Heb. 6.12 6. Of giving way to our affections and passions Be sober be vigilant for our adversary the Devil goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour c. 1 Pet. 5.8 Mortifie we our Members that are upon the earth fornication uncleanness evil concupiscence inordinate affections and covetousness which is Idolatry put off also these things anger wrath malice blasphemy lying c. Col. 3.5 8. I might adde more as not to dally with temptations nor conceal but disclose them seasonably to some faithful friends c. But I forbear in reading and minding the Scriptures and calling upon God we may get such understanding as to discern and hate every false way Psal 119.104 Use 3. Think upon our wayes and bring them to the light of Gods truth and where we finde we have gone awry Turn we our feet to Gods testimonies searching and trying our wayes and turning to the Lord Psal 119.59 Lam. 3.40 Yea where we have turned out from God make haste to return and keep his Commandements again Let the wicked forsake his wayes and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord for he is gracious and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55.7 not continuing in sin to back-slide to a perpetual back-sliding refusing to return and holding fast deceit till there be no remedy but destruction not despairing of finding mercy and forgiveness with him upon returning to him for with him there is mercy and with him plenteousness of redemption in seeking to him that wounds for sin he will heal us yea he will revive and quicken us and the third day we shall live in his sight Hos 6.1 but that leads us to and springs from the third Branch viz. CHAP. IX The third state of Penitent Sinners in two Branches of it opened THE joyful and good estate of sinners that return to God after they have wandered from him and that 's signified in these expressions It was meet that we should make merry and be glad for this thy Brother was dead and is alive again was lost but is found in which are three expressions considerable as implying the goodness and joyfulness of such a state viz. 1. In that it is said He is alive again 2. In that it s said He is found 3. In that it s said It was meet that we should make merry and be glad Branch 1. First The converted repenting and returned sinner is alive again he is come to himself again ver 17. How comes that about 1. Not from himself he had no power while alive to keep himself of and by himself being with-drawn from his Father from dying None can keep alive his own Soul Psal 22.29 How much less when dead can any quicken himself again But 2. It was from and by the good Shepheard seeking him and restoring his soul Psal 23.3 Though sinners by departing from Christ in his Word and Spirit and so from God lose their life and dye Yet Christ from whom they depart loses not the life that 's in him for them in him yet is life as the root of mankinde or for mankinde to be enlivened by or as the fountain and spring of life and though the branch be dead yet this root can infuse life to it again and though the pipe being cut be dry yet the Fountain being a living Fountain can fetch in the pipe again and infuse living waters again into it Christ lives though the sinner dye and while he is not as a tree twice dead pluck't up by the roots and withered yea as a branch cut off from the stock withered gathered and cast into the fire and burnt such is the nature and excellency of this stock above all other stocks and of this root above all other roots that it can gather it into unity with himself again and infuse new life into it God is able to ingraft the cut off Branches in again Rom. 11.23 Yea some compared to trees twice dead may be pull'd out of the fire Jude 12,23 with Zech. 3.2 That is while a man is not wholly given up of God and rejected while the day of Grace is not wholly past and expired Christ hath life in himself for men and so as he can extend it to men to quicken them again and bring them back to himself and to the life in him for the Spirit is still upon him and is the Spirit of Life and the word is still in his mouth a living word and he can yet call to the dead and make them hear and hearing to live John 5.25 Adam when he was fallen and we in him he could not recover us again for he was but a living soul at first and being dead our root in him was dead and so we also irrecoverably lost and gone in him But this second Adam is not so he being dead for us raised himself again and he lives yet and hath the power or keyes of Hell and Death and can therefore revive us though dead therefore writing to the Angel of the Church of Sardis of whom he sayes That he had a name to live but yet was dead he saith Thus saith he that hath the seven Spirits and the seven Stars Having the seven Spirits of God though he that he speaks to be dead yet his speaking to him can put life into him and therefore he rationally enough bids him be watchful and strengthen the thing that be ready to dye and remember how thou hast heard and received and hold fast c Rev. 3.1 2 3. If he say Lazarus come forth though he was dead he lives because he is the Resurrection and the life and his giving forth this life by his Spirit in his word again brings in the nature and operations of life into the dead sinner though as rubbing and chafing men in a swoon often helps to revive them so here we may conceive Gods ordering the Prodigal to be so pinched with poverty might conduce to the receiving him See the like intimated Hos 5.15 with 6.1 but in the life infused was 1. An inward spiritual sense minde and remembrance of things that in the state of death were forgotten and not thought of or apprehended as we finde this dead Prodigal reviving calls to remembrance what he thought not on before at least with any livingness as that he had a Father and a Fathers House in which were many hired Servants and bread enough for them all and to spare and that he perisht there
for hunger Now he is awakened both to a sense of his state and to an understanding where he may finde relief or rather this was as Aqua vitae infused into him 2. An inward desire and breathing after that relief and help that he is made apprehensive of and whereof he had had before the taste and experiment for that 's implyed in his resolving to go to his Father for it that he desired and breathâ—d after it So the sinner brought into minde and remembrance of God and his goodness in Christ in his reviving again hath effected in him a desire to finde that goodness again which he had proved before and that he hath again heard of and remembers And this is a gasping for life and breath again upon the Aqua vitae or Water of Life infused 3. An inward hope that he may be made partaker thereof again in giving diligence to return to God in Christ for it and to seek it in him and in his favour and love towards him and indeed therein life is more compleatly entred or breath recovered and the soul more properly lives in the receiving this hope and having it begotten in the heart and though it be but of a possibility and some likelihood of being made a partaker of satisfaction again in God and Christ Whence proceeds and springs as a further action of life 4. An inward purpose and resolution of quitting his present posture in which this thought of God and his goodness coming upon it found it This state of sinning keeping Swine maintaining and nourishing bruitish lusts affections and appetites in the objects whereof the Soul and spirit findes no satisfaction together with a purpose to rise up from under those discouraging complaints and despairs under which it before lay pining and to betake it self by faith and repentance unto God its Father from whom and whose house it had departed and to confess its sin and vileness and submit it self to his disposing I said I will confess my sin Psal 32.4 5. I will arise and go to my Father and I will say to my Father Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants This like the moving and stretching himself when a person is come to himself and revives 5. A putting that resolution into practice strengthning those things that they might not dye again by still remembring his Father and still retaining in minde the fulness of his Fathers house and his great goodness to all therein of whatsoever condition and so he rose up both from his sinful way practise state and condition and from his pining away in himself and in the poring upon his own want and wretchedness and betook himself towards his Father by faith and repentance like the revived man's turning himself that he may get up 6. Being thus made alive by the Grace of God understood and yielded to as common in its gracious workings in the soul as infusing principles of life while he is yet but begun to act and exercise that life in putting sin resolutions into performances his Father sees him and pitties him and runs meets imbraces and kisses him that is while the soul is thus turning to God and going back towards him in the exercise of faith and repentance though but in their beginnings God in the greatness of his compassion and goodness closes with it returns to it accepts it incourages and helps it and speaks comfortably to it kisses it with the kisses of his mouth and therein further puts life and strength into it making it more to hope for his pardon and mercy toward it And this is like the giving the hand to a reviving man endeavouring to turn himself and to arise to help him up therein and then 7. He more confidently though yet humbly and penitently confesses his sins and wretchedness to his Father and humbles himself to him and so exercises repentance in these acts of it Father I have sinned against heaven and before thee and am not worthy to be called thy Son wherein he is like to Daniel on his knees and hands or as one that begins to speak 8. And then he receives a full and free pardon of all his former sins and offences and is made alive with the life of justification implyed in his calling for and putting upon him the best robe even the righteousness of his Son which he will have his Servants and Ministers also to declare to him or put upon him being in his Fathers gracious acceptation imbracing and kissing him as it were inwardly and in the Court of Heaven forgiven before and now he is indeed alive from the dead and as a man upon his legs again while he is not only inwardly quickned but also outwardly by his Fathers sentence proclaimed as an acquit and justified person whom he will not call to an account for his former mispending his living nor execute judgment upon him to death according to the law in that behalf provided against rebellious and stubborn Children that are gluttonous and drunkards Deut. 21.20 but being a new man is owned in Christ in whom he presents him to himself just and righteous and now he hath received him safe and sound ver 27. 9. And so is further acknowledged as his loving Son while the ring is put upon his finger for ornament or espousing the soul to himself again in righteousness and faithfulness and his feet shod to prepare him to walk up and down as his Son before him and herein he is fully restored to his former state of favour with his Father and Fathers House and to his pristine Dignity And in these things Branch 2. He is found The repenting converted sinner that returns to God is found again found passively not that he found himself or recovered himself but the good Shepheard that came to seek and save that that was lost Findes him and he is found when he comes back again Though the wayes by which that good Shepheard seeking findes may be different and here seems to be implyed to be 1. By neglecting him as to appearance or suffering him to wander after his own hearts lust till he be quite lost and perishing Till he eat the fruit of his own way and be filled with his own inventions till he fall down hungry and thirsty and his soul faints in him Psal 107.4 5. as is said in Hos 5.15 I will go and return to my place as it were leaving them and letting them take their own course till misery and affliction come upon them till they acknowledge their offences for then in their affliction they will seek me early To further which also God 2. In the mean while by a secret ordering Providence suffers not the sinner to finde the life of his own hands or not to continue so to do but to be reduced to more misery and want daily and to be crost in and disappointed of his
Praises of God Yea this is a thing meet to be joyed in and for 1. By God his Father himself for so he puts in himself here not only its meet that thou shouldst make merry but we I and thou too A wise Son makes a glad Father Prov. 10.1 My son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that reproacheth me Prov. 27.11 Though this Son had done foolishly in departing and running away from his Father and when he began to be an hungry in joyning himself to a Citizen of that Countrey yet he did wisely when coming to himself he repented and returned and the Father here rejoyces and hath wherewith to answer his other Son reproaching him So also in Prov. 23.15 16. My Son if thy heart be wise my heart shall rejoyce even mine yea my reins shall rejoyce when thy lips speak right things It s meet a Father be glad of his Sons welfare 2. By his Brother or Brethren it is meet we should make merry and be glad not only I but thou also with me for should not brethren love one another and be glad they may enjoy one anothers company in health and safety and therefore be glad when any of them escapes any danger and the more the greater the danger was that is escaped and then 3. By the Servants also that attend on them There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth ver 10. and I have no greater joy saith one of Gods Servants in the Gospel then to hear or see that my Children walk in the truth yea and to repent and turn from swervings too so the Apostle Paul the Servant of Christ Now I rejoyce saith he not that ye were made sorry but that ye were made sorry to repentance 2 Cor. 7.9 4. But most of all by the sinner himself made alive again and found of his Father and in his Fathers house amongst his Brethren whether in the lower rooms while here or in the upper chambers as the Thief or Malefactor that day he dyed was in Paradise O give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Let the redeemed of the Lord say so whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy c. Psal 107.1 2. Quest But why is it meet to make merry and be glad for such a one upon such an occasion surely there is great and good reason for it Answ 1. Because of the goodness of the condition it self in which a repentant sinner is found or brought into Good things are matters of joy when had and enjoyed here 's nothing but good in this state good it is in it self and good to all others therefore worthy joy and mirth and gladness 1. Good in it self for 1. It is a state of life and life is good in it self and therefore matter of promise which it would not be if not good for we do not use to promise what we judge bad and if God judged life bad or it were so in it self God would not promise it He is just he shall surely live Ezek. 18.9 It s matter of prayer Oh that Ishmael might live before thee Gen. 17.18 Let Reuben live and not dye Deut. 33.6 And its matter of praises Psal 1â—9 175 Let my soul live and it shall praise thee and let thy judgements help me Yea it s a matter of Christs purchase that he came into the world to procure and give yea the principal matter I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly John 10 10. and therefore surely life is good a great good Yea skin for skin said the adversary and all that a man hath will he give for his life 'T is usually so but especially spiritual life the life of the soul in Christ and so in the favour of God is good The life which is in the path of righteousness wherein is no death Prov. 12.28 And this is the state the sinner is taken into upon repentance and coming back to God in Christ as in Ezek. 18.17 If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that that is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not dye and ver 22. He shall live So in Chap. 33.11 Turn and live Being brought back to God in and by Christ the only way by which any can come or be brought to God John 14.6.7 he lives in and by Christ who is the Resurrection and the life so as that whoever believes in him whatever he be or hath been though never so dead yet he shall live and living and believing in him he shall live for ever John 11.25 26. And so it s said here He is alive again Object Oh! but the repenting Malefactor upon the Cross dyed for all his repentance Answ As to his body he did and all must and that as so inflicted on him was the fruit of his sin not of his return yea as to its sentence a means of his return from his sin but that which was the fruit of his repentance was that he lived to God Being judged according to 〈◊〉 in the flesh but living according to God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.6 and so his soul lived and went that day to Paradise and lived for ever His death as it was the fruit of his sinning was matter of sadness but as it was a means to his repentance so it was to be joyed in but much more the life of his soul and eternal life promised to and to be enjoyed by both soul and body in the Resurrection the fruits or consequents of repentance are matters of unspeakable joy and gladness if a Childe fall into the fire will not the mother rejoyce to see him snatched out of it and live safely and in health again though with causing the scorched skin to peel off surely yes 2. It is a state of being found a found state a state wherein a sinner is not lost from God and his goodness to his Brethren and fellow Servants but is found in and with them known owned and approved with God and with men Angels of one minde â— God and so is with them under the gracious approving knowledge of God and under his gracious care counsel defence c. and in unity with all that are well and happy found in a large and spacious house in and under the enjoyment of or title to large Provisions richest Furniture sweetest Relations and Friends abiding and eternal safety and satisfactions Come to Mount Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem to be of them as Ephes 2.19 20. and to an innumerable company of Angels to have fellowship with them and protection by them to the General Assembly and Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven as owned of God and inrolled as heirs of heaven and its infinite glory and happiness to be with