Theod. And not without reafon. For in it we have defcrib'd to us, the evil and mifchief of a vicious. course of life, the admirable efficacy and advantage of repentance, the immenfe benignity and compaffion of Almighty God to relenting, returning finners, and the aftonishing kindness and affection wherewith he receives them upon their return. See here an unbridled youth, in the midst of his juvenile heat and activity, cafting off the yoke, that he might the more fecurely, and with the lefs fear or interruption, purfue his licentious finful inclinations, going into a far country, to be at a distance from his aged father, fo as neither to be under his eye, nor be disturb'd by fuch wholfome advice as he had refolv'd before-hand not to attend to, or be influenced by. See him taking his fill of fenfual pleasures, ftudying all the most extravagant gratifications of an unbridled luft, fpending his eftate (n) in riotous living, and with harlots, without any thought of returning to himself, or to his native country, and his father's house, till mere neceffity, and the dreadful mifery he had thus fenfelefly brought upon himself, forced him to it. See him who had thus thoughtlefly wafted his portion in all manner of excefs, expos'd in a while (as it ordinarily happens to the intemperate and debauched) to the extremity of want and penury, thruft out of his coftly lodgings, divefted of his glittering attire, at the utmoft lofs for mere neceffaries for his fubfiftence, conftrained to earn his bread in the sweat of his brows, and in the most fervile and abject manner, by (o) feeding the fwine, and even brought fo low, as to defire that he might partake of the fame food with them; and no man gave unto him. See him again wrought upon by thefe difmal effects of his folly, and defirous to humble himself to his offended father, in the most fubmiffive manner, that, if poffible, he might obtain admittance into his family, though it were but in quality of one of his underfervants, rather than perifh with hunger in a foreign (2) Luke xv. 13. and 30. (0) Ver. 15, 16.

nation.

nation. For thus he began to reafon with himself: How is it, that I, who have indeed deferv'd my father's utmost indignation, that he fhould no longer own me for his fon, feeing I have fo fhamefully abus'd his kindnefs and bounty to me, yet know his goodness to be fuch, that I cannot doubt but he will take fome notice of me, and receive me, I hope, into his houfe again, though it were but in the place of one of the meaneft of his attendants; where at leaft I may be fupplied with thofe neceffaries my nature calls for, and not linger out my time, as I do here, pinch'd with hunger, and choak'd with thirft; how is it, that I thus fenfelefly continue to prolong my mifery, without seeking that redrefs, which I can hardly fail of upon my repentance? Why do I delay to implore fo kind a father's pardon, that I may not remain deftitute of those conveniencies, and that provision of food, which all that belong to him are furnished with? I will no longer thus obftinately punish myself, but will try the tender bowels of a compaffionate parent, in hope he will not reject me when I do fo. (p) How many hired fervants of my father's have bread enough, and to spare, and 1 perifh with hunger! I will arife, and go to my father, and will fay unto him, Father, I have finned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy fon: make me as one of thy hired fervants. And now behold the wonderful compaffion of Almighty God to penitent finners, lively reprefented in the father's joyful reception of this former reprobate. His difpleasure against fo undutiful a fon is immediately laid afide, upon the first appearance of amendment. His bowels prefently yearn towards him, and in a manner prevent the prodigal's humiliation, and confeffion of his past wickedness. He could not fuffer himself to ftay for the other's coming to him; but as foon as ever he difcovered him at a distance, ionλayxuíoln, his heart was moved within him, and he was diffolved into love and pity, and haftened above the usual pace of a father, (p) Luke xv. 17, 18, 19.

especially

especially when going to meet a child, and more especially again, fuch an undutiful, graceless, unworthy child, as this had been. He had not patience to stay for his fon's approach, much lefs could he find in his heart to withdraw himfelf, as one that was angry. His réfentment was all buried in a speedy oblivion; and nothing now appeared, but the fondest careffes of one who had fo little deferved them, and against whom he had been fo juftly, fo lately, and fo highly incensed. All on a fudden, nothing was to be feen but joy and gladnefs, and the heartieft endearments, together with all other tokens of mirth, for the recovery of a loft child. (q) When he was yet a great way off, bis father faw him, and bad compaffion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kiffed him; and faid to bis fervants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. And bring bither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. For this my fon was dead, and is alive again; and was loft, and is found. A comfortable resemblance of the infinite mercy of our Heavenly Father, and his ineffable commiferation for the greatest of finners, and the certainty they may promise themfelves of a favourable acceptance with him, fo they do but renounce their finful courfes, and walk as becomes the holy profeffion they have taken upon them. Let them but (r) repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance; and they need not fear, that he will fhew himfelf irreconcileable to them. On the contrary, they may encourage themfelves with a wellgrounded expectation of a gracious reception, and of great joy and rejoicing in Heaven at their converfion. Whenever they come to themselves, and are difpofed to return to their provoked Father, acknowledging their offences, and repenting of all their riot and excess, and all the wickedness they had fallen into, they will find him more ready to forgive, than they are to fue to him for forgiveness. Wheprodigal did

(9) Luke xv. 20, 22, 23. (r) Acts xxvi. 20.

but

but make fome advance towards his father, whilst he was yet at a distance, the father, impatient of delay, runs to him, embraces and kisses him, with the utmost affection, and entertains him with joy; and that no ordinary and common joy, but even more than if after the example of his elder brother, he had all along continued with, and been dutiful to him.

Anchith. Oh the great, the exceeding great, and infinite goodness of Almighty God!

Theod. Here you fee that verified, which was spoken in the Old Teftament, by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, (t) Return, thou backfliding Ifrael, faith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, faith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou haft tranfgreffed, and bas fcattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, faith the Lord. Turn, O backfliding children, faith the Lord; for I am married unto you; and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you paftors according to mine heart, which fball feed you with knowledge and understanding. And, a little after, (u) Return, ye backfliding children; and I will heal your backflidings. As he also faith, by another prophet, (x) As I live, faith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live: Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O boufe of Ifrael? The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his tranfgreffion: As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness. And again, (y) Caft away from you all your tranfgreffions, whereby ye have tranfgreffed, and make you a new beart, and a new fpirit; for why will you die, O boufe of Ifrael? For I have no pleasure in the death of him

(t) Jer. iii. 12, 13, 14, 15. (u) Ver. 22. (x) Ezek. xxxiii. 11, 12. (y) Chap. xviii. 31, 324.

that

that dieth, faith the Lord God: Wherefore turn yourfelves, and live ye.

Anchith. True; but thefe words were spoken to the Jews; and how fhall I be fure they relate to us as well as to them?

Theod. Befides what I have faid concerning the pa rable now infifted upon, (which was fpoken by our Saviour to his difciples, and fo plainly teftifies the great love of God to penitent finners amongst us Chriftians) you will eafily anfwer this doubt yourself, if you but attend awhile to what the apoftles have fpoken in relation to it. Of a truth, fays St. Peter, (z) 1 perceive that God is no respecter of perfons; but in every nation, be that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. Agreeably whereto St. Paul argues, (a) Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not alfo of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles alfo; feeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcifion by faith, and the uncircumcifion through faith. And in another place, (b) There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the fame Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever fhall call on the name of the Lord, shall be faved. And again, faith the apostle, (c) Whatfoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. And yet more fully, (d) Remember, that ye being, in time paft, Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcifion by that which is called the circumcifion in the flesh made with bands; that at that time ye were without Chrift, being aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael, and strangers from the covenants of promife; having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jefus, ye, who fometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and bath broken down the middle wall of partition ́(≈) A&s x. 34, 35. (a) Rom. iii. 29, 30. (6) Chap. x. 12, 13. (c) Rom. xv. 4. (d) Ephef. ii. 11, &c.

between