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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Luke XV].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC42014.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC42016.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L U K E.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Evil manners, we say, beget good laws; so, in this chapter, the
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murmuring of the scribes and Pharisees at the grace of Christ, and the
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favour he showed to publicans and sinners, gave occasion for a more
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full discovery of that grace than perhaps otherwise we should have had
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in these three parables which we have in this chapter, the scope of all
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of which is the same, to show, not only what God had said and sworn in
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the Old Testament, that he had no pleasure in the death and ruin of
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sinners, but that he had great pleasure in their return and repentance,
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and rejoices in the gracious entertainment he gives them thereupon.
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Here is,
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I. The offence which the Pharisees took at Christ for conversing with
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heathen men and publicans, and preaching his gospel to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. His justifying himself in it, by the design and proper tendency of
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it, which with many had been the effect of it, and that was, the
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bringing of them to repent and reform their lives, than which there
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could not be a more pleasing and acceptable service done to God, which
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he shows in the parables,
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1. Of the lost sheep that was brought home with joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:4-7">ver. 4-7</A>.
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2. Of the lost silver that was found with joy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:8-10">ver. 8-10</A>.
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3. Of the lost son that had been a prodigal, but returned to his
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father's house, and was received with great joy, though his elder
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brother, like these scribes and Pharisees, was offended at it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:11-32">ver. 11-32</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Lu15_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu15_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Lost Sheep and Piece of Silver.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to
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hear him.
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2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man
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receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
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3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
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4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of
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them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and
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go after that which is lost, until he find it?
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5 And when he hath found <I>it,</I> he layeth <I>it</I> on his shoulders,
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rejoicing.
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6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together <I>his</I> friends
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and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have
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found my sheep which was lost.
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7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one
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sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just
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persons, which need no repentance.
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8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose
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one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek
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diligently till she find <I>it?</I>
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9 And when she hath found <I>it,</I> she calleth <I>her</I> friends and
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<I>her</I> neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have
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found the piece which I had lost.
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10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of
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the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The diligent attendance of the publicans and sinners upon Christ's
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ministry. <I>Great multitudes</I> of Jews <I>went with him</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+14:25"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 25</A>),
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with such an assurance of admission into the kingdom of God that he
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found it requisite to say that to them which would shake their vain
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hopes. Here multitudes of <I>publicans</I> and <I>sinners</I> drew near
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to him, with a humble modest fear of being <I>rejected</I> by him, and
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to them he found it requisite to give encouragement, especially because
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there were some haughty supercilious people that frowned upon them. The
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<I>publicans,</I> who collected the tribute paid to the <I>Romans,</I>
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were perhaps some of them <I>bad men,</I> but they were all
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industriously put into an <I>ill name,</I> because of the prejudices of
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the Jewish nation against their office. They are sometimes ranked with
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<I>harlots</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:32">Matt. xxi. 32</A>);
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here and elsewhere with <I>sinners,</I> such as were openly vicious,
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that traded with <I>harlots,</I> known rakes. Some think that the
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<I>sinners</I> here meant were <I>heathen,</I> and that Christ was now
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on the other side Jordan, or in <I>Galilee of the Gentiles.</I> These
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<I>drew near,</I> when perhaps the multitude of the Jews that had
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followed him had (upon his discourse in the close of the foregoing
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chapter) <I>dropped off;</I> thus afterwards the Gentiles took their
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turn in hearing the apostles, when the Jews had rejected them. <I>They
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drew near to him,</I> being afraid of drawing nearer than just to come
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within <I>hearing.</I> They drew near to him, not, as some did, to
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solicit for cures, but to hear his excellent doctrine. Note, in all our
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approaches to Christ we must have this in our eye, to <I>hear him;</I>
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to hear the instructions he gives us, and his answers to our
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prayers.</P>
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<P>
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II. The offence which the <I>scribes</I> and <I>Pharisees</I> took at
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this. They <I>murmured,</I> and turned it to the reproach of our Lord
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Jesus: <I>This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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1. They were angry that <I>publicans</I> and <I>heathens</I> had the
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means of grace allowed them, were called to repent, and encouraged to
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hope for pardon upon repentance; for they looked upon their case as
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<I>desperate,</I> and thought that none but Jews had the privilege of
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repenting and being pardoned, though the prophets preached repentance
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to the nations, and Daniel particularly to Nebuchadnezzar.
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2. They thought it a disparagement to Christ, and inconsistent with the
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dignity of his character, to make himself familiar with such sort of
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people, to <I>admit</I> them into his company and to <I>eat with
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them.</I> They could not, for shame, condemn him for <I>preaching to
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them,</I> though that was the thing they were most enraged at; and
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therefore they reproached him for <I>eating with them,</I> which was
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more expressly contrary to the tradition of the elders. Censure will
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fall, not only upon the most innocent and the most excellent
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<I>persons,</I> but upon the most innocent and most excellent
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<I>actions,</I> and we must not think it strange.</P>
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<P>
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III. Christ's justifying himself in it, by showing that the worse these
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people were, to whom he preached, the more glory would redound to God,
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and the more joy there would be in heaven, if by his preaching they
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were brought to repentance. It would be a more pleasing sight in heaven
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to see Gentiles brought to the worship of the true God than to see Jews
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go on in it, and to see publicans and sinners live an orderly sort of
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life than to see <I>scribes</I> and <I>Pharisees</I> go on in living
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such a life. This he here illustrates by two parables, the explication
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of both of which is the same.</P>
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<P>
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1. The parable of the <I>lost sheep.</I> Something like it we had in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+18:12">Matt. xviii. 12</A>.
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There it was designed to show the care God takes for the preservation
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of saints, as a reason why we should not offend them; here it is
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designed to show the pleasure God takes in the conversion of sinners,
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as a reason why we should rejoice in it. We have here,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The case of a sinner that goes on in sinful ways. He is like a
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<I>lost sheep,</I> a sheep <I>gone astray;</I> he is <I>lost</I> to
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God, who has not the honour and service he should have from him;
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<I>lost</I> to the flock, which has not communion with him; <I>lost</I>
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to himself: he knows not where he is, wanders endlessly, is continually
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exposed to the beasts of prey, subject to frights and terrors, from
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under the shepherd's care, and wanting the green pastures; and he
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cannot of himself find the way back to the fold.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) The care the God of heaven takes of poor wandering sinners. He
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<I>continues</I> his care of the sheep that did not go astray; they are
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<I>safe in the wilderness.</I> But there is a particular care to be
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taken of this lost sheep; and though he has a hundred sheep, a
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considerable flock, yet he will not <I>lose</I> that <I>one,</I> but he
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goes after it, and shows abundance of care,
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[1.] In <I>finding it out.</I> He follows it, enquiring after it, and
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looking about for it, until he <I>finds</I> it. God follows
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backsliding sinners with the calls of his word and the strivings of his
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Spirit, until at length they are wrought upon to think of returning.
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[2.] In <I>bringing it home.</I> Though he finds it <I>weary,</I> and
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perhaps <I>worried</I> and worn away with its wanderings, and not able
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to bear being driven home, yet he does not leave it to perish, and say,
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It is not wroth carrying home; but <I>lays it on his shoulders,</I>
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and, with a great deal of tenderness and labour, brings it to the fold.
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This is very applicable to the great work of our redemption. Mankind
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were gone astray,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:6">Isa. liii. 6</A>.
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The value of the whole race to God was not so much as that of one sheep
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to him that had a hundred; what loss would it have been to God if they
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had all been left to perish? There is a world of holy angels that are
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as the ninety-nine sheep, a noble flock; yet God sends his Son to
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<I>seek and save that which was lost,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:10"><I>ch.</I> xix. 10</A>.
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Christ is said to <I>gather the lambs in his arms,</I> and carry
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<I>them in his bosom,</I> denoting his pity and tenderness towards poor
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sinners; here he is said to bear them <I>upon his shoulders,</I>
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denoting the power wherewith he supports and bears them up; those can
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never perish whom he carries upon his shoulders.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) The pleasure that God takes in repenting returning sinners. He
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<I>lays it on his shoulders rejoicing</I> that he has not lost his
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labour in seeking; and the joy is the greater because he began to be
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out of hope of finding it; and he <I>calls his friends and
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neighbours,</I> the shepherds that keep their flocks about him,
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<I>saying, Rejoice with me.</I> Perhaps among the pastoral songs which
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the shepherds used to sing there was one for such an occasion as this,
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of which these words might be the burden, <I>Rejoice with me, for I
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have found my sheep which was lost;</I> whereas they never sung,
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<I>Rejoice with me, for I have lost none.</I> Observe, he calls it
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<I>his sheep,</I> though a <I>stray,</I> a wandering sheep. He has a
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right to it (<I>all souls are mine</I>), and he will claim his own, and
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recover his right; therefore he looks after it himself: <I>I have found
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it;</I> he did not send a servant, but his own Son, the great and good
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Shepherd, who will find what he seeks, and will be found of those that
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seek him not.</P>
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<P>
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2. The parable of the <I>lost piece of silver.</I>
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(1.) The <I>loser</I> is here supposed to be <I>a woman,</I> who will
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more passionately grieve for her loss, and rejoice in finding what she
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had lost, than perhaps a man would do, and therefore it the better
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serves the purpose of the parable. She has <I>ten pieces of silver,</I>
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and out of them loses only one. Let this keep up in us high thoughts of
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the divine goodness, notwithstanding the sinfulness and misery of the
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world of mankind, that there are nine to one, nay, in the foregoing
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parable there are ninety-nine to one, of God's creation, that retain
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their integrity, in whom God <I>is</I> praised, and never <I>was</I>
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dishonoured. O the numberless beings, for aught we know numberless
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worlds of beings, that never were lost, nor stepped aside from the laws
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and ends of their creation!
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(2.) That which is lost is a piece of silver,
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<B><I>drachmen</I></B>--<I>the fourth part of a shekel.</I> The soul is
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<I>silver,</I> of intrinsic worth and value; not base metal, as iron or
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lead, but <I>silver,</I> the mines of which are <I>royal mines.</I> The
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Hebrew word for <I>silver</I> is taken from the <I>desirableness</I> of
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it. It is <I>silver coin,</I> for so the <I>drachma</I> was; it is
|
||
|
|
stamped with God's <I>image and superscription,</I> and therefore must
|
||
|
|
be <I>rendered to him.</I> Yet it is comparatively but of small value;
|
||
|
|
it was but seven pence half-penny; intimating that if sinful men be
|
||
|
|
left to perish God would be no loser. This silver was lost <I>in the
|
||
|
|
dirt;</I> a soul plunged in the world, and overwhelmed with the love of
|
||
|
|
it and care about it, is like a piece of money in the dirt; any one
|
||
|
|
would say, It is a thousand pities that it should <I>lie there.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Here is a great deal of care and pains taken in quest of it. The
|
||
|
|
woman <I>lights a candle,</I> to look behind the door, under the table,
|
||
|
|
and in every corner of the house, <I>sweeps the house,</I> and <I>seeks
|
||
|
|
diligently till she finds it.</I> This represents the various means and
|
||
|
|
methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to himself: he has
|
||
|
|
<I>lighted the candle</I> of the gospel, not to show himself the way to
|
||
|
|
us, but to show us the way to him, to discover us to ourselves; he has
|
||
|
|
<I>swept the house</I> by the convictions of the word; he <I>seeks
|
||
|
|
diligently,</I> his heart is upon it, to bring lost souls to himself.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Here is a great deal of joy for the finding of it: <I>Rejoice with
|
||
|
|
me, for I have found the piece which I had lost,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Those that rejoice desire that others should rejoice with them; those
|
||
|
|
that are merry would have others merry with them. She was glad that she
|
||
|
|
had found the piece of money, though she should spend it in
|
||
|
|
entertaining those whom she called to <I>make merry with her.</I> The
|
||
|
|
pleasing surprise of finding it put her, for the present, into a kind
|
||
|
|
of transport, <B><I>heureka, heureka</I></B>--<I>I have found, I have
|
||
|
|
found,</I> is the language of joy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The explication of these two parables is to the same purport
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:7,10"><I>v.</I> 7, 10</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>There is joy in heaven, joy in the presence of the angels of God,
|
||
|
|
over one sinner that repenteth,</I> as those publicans and sinners did,
|
||
|
|
some of them at least (and, if but <I>one of them</I> did repent,
|
||
|
|
Christ would reckon it worth his while), more than <I>over</I> a great
|
||
|
|
number of <I>just persons, who need no repentance.</I> Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The <I>repentance</I> and <I>conversion of sinners</I> on earth
|
||
|
|
are <I>matter of joy</I> and rejoicing <I>in heaven.</I> It is possible
|
||
|
|
that the greatest sinners may be brought to repentance. While there is
|
||
|
|
life there is hope, and the worst are not to be despaired of; and the
|
||
|
|
worst of sinners, if they repent and turn, shall find mercy. Yet this
|
||
|
|
is not all,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] God will <I>delight</I> to show them mercy, will reckon their
|
||
|
|
conversion a return for all the expense he has been at upon them. There
|
||
|
|
is always <I>joy in heaven.</I> God <I>rejoiceth in all his works,</I>
|
||
|
|
but particularly in the works of his grace. He rejoiceth to do good to
|
||
|
|
penitent sinners, with his <I>whole heart</I> and his <I>whole
|
||
|
|
soul.</I> He rejoiceth not only in the conversion of churches and
|
||
|
|
nations, but even over <I>one sinner that repenteth,</I> though but
|
||
|
|
<I>one.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The good angels will be glad that mercy is shown them, so far are
|
||
|
|
they from repining at it, though those of their nature that sinned be
|
||
|
|
left to perish, and no mercy shown to them; though those sinners that
|
||
|
|
repent, that are so mean, and have been so vile, are, upon their
|
||
|
|
repentance, to be taken into communion with them, and shortly to be
|
||
|
|
made like them, and equal to them. The conversion of sinners is the joy
|
||
|
|
of angels, and they gladly become ministering spirits to them for their
|
||
|
|
good, upon their conversion. The redemption of mankind was matter of
|
||
|
|
joy in the presence of the angels; for they sung, <I>Glory to God in
|
||
|
|
the highest,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:14"><I>ch.</I> ii. 14</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) There is more joy over <I>one sinner that repenteth,</I> and
|
||
|
|
turneth to be religious from a course of life that had been notoriously
|
||
|
|
vile and vicious, than there is <I>over ninety-nine just persons, who
|
||
|
|
need no repentance.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] More joy for the redemption and salvation of fallen man than for
|
||
|
|
the preservation and confirmation of the angels that stand, and did
|
||
|
|
indeed need no repentance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] More joy for the conversion of the sinners of the Gentiles, and of
|
||
|
|
those publicans that now heard Christ preach, than for all the praises
|
||
|
|
and devotions, and all the <I>God I thank thee,</I> of the Pharisees,
|
||
|
|
and the other self-justifying Jews, who though that they <I>needed no
|
||
|
|
repentance,</I> and that therefore God should abundantly rejoice in
|
||
|
|
them, and <I>make his boast</I> of them, as those that were most <I>his
|
||
|
|
honour;</I> but Christ tells them that it was quite otherwise, that God
|
||
|
|
was more praised <I>in,</I> and pleased <I>with,</I> the penitent
|
||
|
|
broken heart of one of those despised, envied sinners, than all the
|
||
|
|
long prayers which the scribes and Pharisees made, who could not see
|
||
|
|
any thing amiss in themselves. Nay,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] More joy for the conversion of one such great sinner, such a
|
||
|
|
Pharisee as Paul had been in his time, than for the regular conversion
|
||
|
|
of one that had always conducted himself decently and well, and
|
||
|
|
comparatively <I>needs no repentance,</I> needs not such a universal
|
||
|
|
change of the life as those great sinners need. Not but that it is best
|
||
|
|
not to go astray; but the grace of God, both in the power and the pity
|
||
|
|
of that grace, is more manifested in the <I>reducing</I> of great
|
||
|
|
sinners than in the <I>conducting</I> of those that never went astray.
|
||
|
|
And many times those that have been great sinners before their
|
||
|
|
conversion prove more eminently and zealously good after, of which Paul
|
||
|
|
is an instance, and therefore in him God was greatly <I>glorified,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:24">Gal. i. 24</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They to whom much is forgiven will love much. It is spoken after the
|
||
|
|
manner of men. We are moved with a more sensible joy for the recovery
|
||
|
|
of what we had lost than for the continuance of what we had always
|
||
|
|
enjoyed, for health <I>out of</I> sickness than for health
|
||
|
|
<I>without</I> sickness. It is as <I>life from the dead.</I> A
|
||
|
|
constant course of religion may in itself be more valuable, and yet a
|
||
|
|
sudden return from an evil course and way of sin may yield a more
|
||
|
|
surprising pleasure. Now if there is such <I>joy in heaven,</I> for the
|
||
|
|
conversion of sinners, then the Pharisees were very much strangers to a
|
||
|
|
heavenly spirit, who did all they could to hinder it and were grieved
|
||
|
|
at it, and who were exasperated at Christ when he was doing a piece of
|
||
|
|
work that was of all others most grateful to Heaven.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Lu15_32"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Prodigal Son.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
|
||
|
|
12 And the younger of them said to <I>his</I> father, Father, give
|
||
|
|
me the portion of goods that falleth <I>to me.</I> And he divided unto
|
||
|
|
them <I>his</I> living.
|
||
|
|
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all
|
||
|
|
together, and took his journey into a far country, and there
|
||
|
|
wasted his substance with riotous living.
|
||
|
|
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in
|
||
|
|
that land; and he began to be in want.
|
||
|
|
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country;
|
||
|
|
and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
|
||
|
|
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that
|
||
|
|
the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
|
||
|
|
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired
|
||
|
|
servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I
|
||
|
|
perish with hunger!
|
||
|
|
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,
|
||
|
|
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
|
||
|
|
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one
|
||
|
|
of thy hired servants.
|
||
|
|
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a
|
||
|
|
great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran,
|
||
|
|
and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
|
||
|
|
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against
|
||
|
|
heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy
|
||
|
|
son.
|
||
|
|
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best
|
||
|
|
robe, and put <I>it</I> on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes
|
||
|
|
on <I>his</I> feet:
|
||
|
|
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill <I>it;</I> and let us
|
||
|
|
eat, and be merry:
|
||
|
|
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost,
|
||
|
|
and is found. And they began to be merry.
|
||
|
|
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew
|
||
|
|
nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
|
||
|
|
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these
|
||
|
|
things meant.
|
||
|
|
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father
|
||
|
|
hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe
|
||
|
|
and sound.
|
||
|
|
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his
|
||
|
|
father out, and intreated him.
|
||
|
|
29 And he answering said to <I>his</I> father, Lo, these many years
|
||
|
|
do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy
|
||
|
|
commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might
|
||
|
|
make merry with my friends:
|
||
|
|
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured
|
||
|
|
thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted
|
||
|
|
calf.
|
||
|
|
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all
|
||
|
|
that I have is thine.
|
||
|
|
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this
|
||
|
|
thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is
|
||
|
|
found.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here the parable of the prodigal son, the scope of which is the
|
||
|
|
same with those before, to show how pleasing to God the conversion of
|
||
|
|
sinners is, of great sinners, and how ready he is to receive and
|
||
|
|
entertain such, upon their repentance; but the circumstances of the
|
||
|
|
parable do much more largely and fully set forth the riches of gospel
|
||
|
|
grace than those did, and it has been, and will be while the world
|
||
|
|
stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, both to direct and to
|
||
|
|
encourage them in repenting and returning to God. Now,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The parable represents God as a <I>common Father</I> to all mankind,
|
||
|
|
to the whole family of Adam. We are all his <I>offspring,</I> have all
|
||
|
|
<I>one Father,</I> and <I>one God created us,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+2:10">Mal. ii. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>From him</I> we <I>had</I> our being, <I>in him</I> we still <I>have
|
||
|
|
it,</I> and from him we receive our <I>maintenance.</I> He is <I>our
|
||
|
|
Father,</I> for he has the <I>educating</I> and <I>portioning</I> of
|
||
|
|
us, and will <I>put us in</I> his testament, or <I>leave us out,</I>
|
||
|
|
according as we are, or are not, dutiful children to him. Our Saviour
|
||
|
|
hereby intimates to those proud Pharisees that these publicans and
|
||
|
|
sinners, whom they thus despised, were their brethren, partakers of the
|
||
|
|
same nature, and therefore they ought to be glad of any kindness shown
|
||
|
|
them. God is the God, <I>not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+3:29">Rom. iii. 29</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
the <I>same Lord over all, that is rich in mercy to all that call upon
|
||
|
|
him.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. It represents the children of men as of <I>different</I>
|
||
|
|
characters, though all related to God as their common Father. He had
|
||
|
|
<I>two sons,</I> one of them a solid grave youth, <I>reserved</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>austere,</I> sober himself, but not at all <I>good-humoured</I> to
|
||
|
|
those about him; such a one would adhere to his education, and not be
|
||
|
|
easily drawn from it; but the other <I>volatile</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>mercurial,</I> and impatient of restraint, roving, and willing to
|
||
|
|
try his fortune, and, if he fall into ill hands, likely to be a rake,
|
||
|
|
notwithstanding his virtuous education. Now this latter represents the
|
||
|
|
publicans and sinners, whom Christ is endeavouring to bring to
|
||
|
|
repentance, and the Gentiles, to whom the apostles were to be sent
|
||
|
|
forth to <I>preach repentance.</I> The former represents the Jews in
|
||
|
|
general, and particularly the Pharisees, whom he was endeavouring to
|
||
|
|
reconcile to that grace of God which was offered to, and bestowed upon,
|
||
|
|
sinners.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The <I>younger son</I> is the prodigal, whose character and case are
|
||
|
|
here designed to represent that of a sinner, that of every one of us in
|
||
|
|
our natural state, but especially of some. Now we are to observe
|
||
|
|
concerning him,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. His <I>riot</I> and <I>ramble</I> when he was a prodigal, and the
|
||
|
|
extravagances and miseries he fell into. We are told,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) What his request to his father was
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He said to his father,</I> proudly and pertly enough, "<I>Father,
|
||
|
|
give me</I>"--he might have put a little more in his mouth, and have
|
||
|
|
said, <I>Pray give me,</I> or, <I>Sir, if you please, give me,</I> but
|
||
|
|
he makes an imperious demand--"<I>give me the portion of goods that
|
||
|
|
falleth to me;</I> not so much as you <I>think fit</I> to allot to me,
|
||
|
|
but that which falls to me as <I>my due.</I>" Note, It is bad, and the
|
||
|
|
beginning of worse, when men look upon God's gifts as debts. "<I>Give
|
||
|
|
me the portion,</I> all <I>my child's part,</I> that falls to me;" not,
|
||
|
|
"<I>Try me with a little,</I> and see how I can manage that, and
|
||
|
|
accordingly trust me with more;" but, "<I>Give it me all</I> at present
|
||
|
|
in possession, and I will never expect any thing in <I>reversion,</I>
|
||
|
|
any thing <I>hereafter.</I>" Note, The great folly of sinners, and that
|
||
|
|
which ruins them, is being content to have <I>their portion in
|
||
|
|
hand,</I> now in this lifetime to <I>receive their good things.</I>
|
||
|
|
They look only at the things that are seen, that are temporal, and
|
||
|
|
covet only a present gratification, but have no care for a future
|
||
|
|
felicity, when that is spent and gone. And why did he desire to have
|
||
|
|
his portion in his own hands? Was it that he might apply himself to
|
||
|
|
business, and trade with it, and so make it more? No, he had no thought
|
||
|
|
of that. But,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He was <I>weary</I> of his <I>father's government,</I> of the good
|
||
|
|
order and discipline of his father's family, and was fond of liberty
|
||
|
|
falsely so called, but indeed the greatest slavery, for such a
|
||
|
|
<I>liberty to sin</I> is. See the folly of many young men, who are
|
||
|
|
religiously educated, but are impatient of the confinement of their
|
||
|
|
education, and never think themselves their own masters, their own men,
|
||
|
|
till they have broken all God's bands in sunder, and cast away his
|
||
|
|
cords from them, and, instead of them, bound themselves with the cords
|
||
|
|
of their own lust. Here is the original of the apostasy of sinners from
|
||
|
|
God; they will not be tied up to the rules of <I>God's government;</I>
|
||
|
|
they will themselves <I>be as gods,</I> knowing no other <I>good and
|
||
|
|
evil</I> than what themselves please.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He was willing to get <I>from under his father's eye,</I> for that
|
||
|
|
was always a check upon him, and often gave a check to him. A shyness
|
||
|
|
of God, and a willingness to disbelieve his omniscience, are at the
|
||
|
|
bottom of the wickedness of the wicked.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] He was distrustful of his <I>father's management.</I> He would
|
||
|
|
have his <I>portion of goods</I> himself, for he thought that his
|
||
|
|
father would be laying up for hereafter for him, and, in order to that,
|
||
|
|
would limit him in his present expenses, and that he did not like.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] He was <I>proud of himself,</I> and had a <I>great conceit of his
|
||
|
|
own sufficiency.</I> He thought that if he had but his portion in his
|
||
|
|
own hands he could manage it better than his father did, and make a
|
||
|
|
better figure with it. There are more young people ruined by
|
||
|
|
<I>pride</I> than by any one lust whatsoever. Our first parents ruined
|
||
|
|
themselves and all theirs by a foolish ambition to be
|
||
|
|
<I>independent,</I> and not to be beholden even to God himself; and
|
||
|
|
this is at the bottom of sinners' persisting in their sin--they will be
|
||
|
|
<I>for themselves.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) How kind his father was to him: <I>He divided unto them his
|
||
|
|
living.</I> He computed what he had to dispose of between his sons, and
|
||
|
|
gave the younger son <I>his share,</I> and offered the elder his, which
|
||
|
|
ought to be a <I>double portion;</I> but, it should seem, he desired
|
||
|
|
his father to keep it in his own hands still, and we may see what he
|
||
|
|
got by it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>All that I have is thine.</I> He got all by staying for something in
|
||
|
|
reserve. He gave the younger son what he asked, and the son had no
|
||
|
|
reason to complain that he did him any wrong in the dividend; he had as
|
||
|
|
much as he expected, and perhaps more.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Thus he might <I>now see his father's kindness,</I> how willing he
|
||
|
|
was to please him and make him easy, and that he was not such an unkind
|
||
|
|
father as he was willing to represent him when he wanted an excuse to
|
||
|
|
be gone.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Thus he would in a little time be made to see <I>his own
|
||
|
|
folly,</I> and that he was not such a wise manager for himself as he
|
||
|
|
would be thought to be. Note, God is a kind Father to all his
|
||
|
|
children, and gives to them all <I>life, and breath, and all
|
||
|
|
things,</I> even to the evil and unthankful, <B><I>dieilen autois ton
|
||
|
|
bion</I></B>--<I>He divided to them life.</I> God's giving us life is
|
||
|
|
putting us in a capacity to serve and glorify him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) How he managed himself when he had got his portion in his own
|
||
|
|
hands. He set himself to spend it as fast as he could, and, as
|
||
|
|
prodigals generally do, in a little time he made himself a beggar:
|
||
|
|
<I>not many days after,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, if God leave us ever so little to ourselves, it will not be long
|
||
|
|
ere we depart from him. When the bridle of restraining grace is taken
|
||
|
|
off we are soon gone. That which the younger son determined was to
|
||
|
|
<I>be gone</I> presently, and, in order to that, he <I>gathered all
|
||
|
|
together.</I> Sinners, that go astray from God, <I>venture their
|
||
|
|
all.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now the condition of the prodigal in this ramble of his represents to
|
||
|
|
us a <I>sinful state,</I> that <I>miserable</I> state into which man is
|
||
|
|
<I>fallen.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] A sinful state is a state of <I>departure</I> and <I>distance</I>
|
||
|
|
from God. <I>First,</I> It is the <I>sinfulness</I> of sin that it is
|
||
|
|
an apostasy from God. He <I>took his journey</I> from his father's
|
||
|
|
house. Sinners are fled from God; they <I>go a whoring from him;</I>
|
||
|
|
they revolt from their allegiance to him, as a servant that runs from
|
||
|
|
his service, or a wife that treacherously departs from her husband, and
|
||
|
|
they say unto God, <I>Depart.</I> They get as far off him as they can.
|
||
|
|
The world is the <I>far country</I> in which they take up their
|
||
|
|
residence, and are as at home; and in the service and enjoyment of it
|
||
|
|
they spend their all. <I>Secondly.</I> It is the misery of sinners that
|
||
|
|
they are afar off from God, from him who is the Fountain of all good,
|
||
|
|
and are going further and further from him. What is hell itself, but
|
||
|
|
being <I>afar off</I> from God?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] A sinful state is a <I>spending</I> state: There he <I>wasted his
|
||
|
|
substance with riotous living</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
devoured it <I>with harlots</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and in a little time <I>he had spent all,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He bought fine clothes, spent a great deal in meat and drink, treated
|
||
|
|
high, associated with those that helped him to make an end of what he
|
||
|
|
had in a little time. As to this world, they that <I>live riotously
|
||
|
|
waste</I> what they have, and will have a great deal to answer for,
|
||
|
|
that they spend that upon their lusts which should be for the necessary
|
||
|
|
substance of themselves and their families. But this is to be applied
|
||
|
|
spiritually. Wilful sinners <I>waste</I> their patrimony; for they
|
||
|
|
misemploy their thoughts and all the powers of their souls, misspend
|
||
|
|
their time and all their opportunities, do not only bury, but embezzle,
|
||
|
|
the talents they are entrusted to trade with for their Master's honour;
|
||
|
|
and the gifts of Providence, which were intended to enable them to
|
||
|
|
serve God and to do good with, are made the food and fuel of their
|
||
|
|
lusts. The soul that is made a drudge, either to the world or to the
|
||
|
|
flesh, <I>wastes its substance,</I> and <I>lives riotously. One sinner
|
||
|
|
destroys much good,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+9:18">Eccl. ix. 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The good he destroys is valuable, and it is none of his own; they are
|
||
|
|
his <I>Lord's goods</I> that he <I>wastes,</I> which must be accounted
|
||
|
|
for.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] A sinful state is a <I>wanting</I> state: <I>When he had spent
|
||
|
|
all</I> upon his harlots, they left him, to seek such another prey; and
|
||
|
|
<I>there arose a mighty famine in that land,</I> every thing was scarce
|
||
|
|
and dear, and he <I>began to be in want,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, Wilful waste brings woeful want. Riotous living in time, perhaps
|
||
|
|
in a little time, brings men to a <I>morsel of bread,</I> especially
|
||
|
|
when <I>bad times</I> hasten on the consequences of <I>bad
|
||
|
|
husbandry,</I> which good husbandry would have <I>provided for.</I>
|
||
|
|
This represents the misery of <I>sinners,</I> who have thrown away
|
||
|
|
<I>their own mercies,</I> the favour of God, their interest in Christ,
|
||
|
|
the strivings of the Spirit, and admonitions of conscience; these they
|
||
|
|
<I>gave away</I> for the pleasure of sense, and the wealth of the
|
||
|
|
world, and then are ready to perish for want of them. Sinners want
|
||
|
|
necessaries for their souls; they have neither food nor raiment for
|
||
|
|
them, nor any provision for hereafter. A sinful state is like a land
|
||
|
|
where <I>famine reigns,</I> a <I>mighty famine;</I> for the <I>heaven
|
||
|
|
is as brass</I> (the dews of God's favour and blessing are withheld,
|
||
|
|
and we must needs want good things if God deny them to us), and the
|
||
|
|
<I>earth is as iron</I> (the sinner's heart, that should bring forth
|
||
|
|
good things, is dry and barren, and has no good in it). Sinners are
|
||
|
|
<I>wretchedly</I> and <I>miserably poor,</I> and, what aggravates it,
|
||
|
|
they brought themselves into that condition, and keep themselves in it
|
||
|
|
by refusing the supplies offered.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] A sinful state is <I>a vile servile state.</I> When this young
|
||
|
|
man's riot had brought him to want his want brought him to servitude.
|
||
|
|
<I>He went, and joined himself to a citizen of that country,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The same wicked life that before was represented by <I>riotous
|
||
|
|
living</I> is here represented by <I>servile living;</I> for sinners
|
||
|
|
are perfect slaves. The devil is the <I>citizen of that country;</I>
|
||
|
|
for he is both in city and country. Sinners <I>join themselves</I> to
|
||
|
|
him, hire themselves into his service, to do <I>his work,</I> to be at
|
||
|
|
<I>his beck,</I> and to depend upon him for maintenance and a portion.
|
||
|
|
They that commit sin are the <I>servants of sin,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+8:34">John viii. 34</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
How did this young gentleman debase and disparage himself, when he
|
||
|
|
hired himself into such a service and under such a master as this! He
|
||
|
|
<I>sent him into the fields,</I> not to feed sheep (there had been some
|
||
|
|
credit in that employment; Jacob, and Moses, and David, kept sheep),
|
||
|
|
but to <I>feed swine.</I> The business of the devil's servants is to
|
||
|
|
<I>make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,</I> and
|
||
|
|
that is no better than feeding greedy, dirty, noisy swine; and how can
|
||
|
|
rational immortal souls more disgrace themselves?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[5.] A sinful state is a state of <I>perpetual dissatisfaction.</I>
|
||
|
|
When the prodigal began to be in want, he thought to help himself by
|
||
|
|
<I>going to service;</I> and he must be content with the provision
|
||
|
|
which not the house, but the field, afforded; but it is poor provision:
|
||
|
|
<I>He would fain have filled his belly,</I> satisfied his hunger, and
|
||
|
|
nourished his body, <I>with the husks which the swine did eat,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:16><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A fine pass my young master had brought himself to, to be
|
||
|
|
fellow-commoner with the swine! Note, That which sinners, when they
|
||
|
|
<I>depart from God,</I> promise themselves <I>satisfaction in,</I> will
|
||
|
|
certainly disappoint them; they are <I>labouring for that which
|
||
|
|
satisfieth not,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+55:2">Isa. lv. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
That which is the <I>stumbling-block of their iniquity</I> will never
|
||
|
|
<I>satisfy their souls, nor fill their bowels,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+7:19">Ezek. vii. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Husks are food for swine, but not for men. The wealth of the world and
|
||
|
|
the entertainments of sense will serve for bodies; but what are these
|
||
|
|
to <I>precious souls?</I> They neither suit their nature, nor satisfy
|
||
|
|
their desires, nor supply their needs. He that takes up with them
|
||
|
|
<I>feeds on wind</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+12:1">Hos. xii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>feeds on ashes,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:20">Isa. xliv. 20</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[6.] A sinful state is a state which <I>cannot expect relief from any
|
||
|
|
creature.</I> This prodigal, when he could not earn his bread by
|
||
|
|
<I>working,</I> took to <I>begging;</I> but <I>no man gave unto
|
||
|
|
him,</I> because they knew he had brought all this misery upon himself,
|
||
|
|
and because he was rakish, and provoking to every body; such poor are
|
||
|
|
<I>least pitied.</I> This, in the application of the parable, intimates
|
||
|
|
that those who depart from God cannot be helped by any creature. In
|
||
|
|
vain do we cry to the world and the flesh (those gods which we have
|
||
|
|
served); they have that which will <I>poison</I> a soul, but have
|
||
|
|
nothing to give it which will <I>feed</I> and <I>nourish</I> it. If
|
||
|
|
thou refuse God's help, whence shall any creature help thee?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[7.] A sinful state is a <I>state of death: This my son was dead,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:24,32"><I>v.</I> 24, 32</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A sinner is not only dead in law, as he is under a sentence of death,
|
||
|
|
but dead in state too, dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of
|
||
|
|
spiritual life; no union with Christ, no spiritual senses exercised, no
|
||
|
|
living to God, and therefore <I>dead.</I> The prodigal in the <I>far
|
||
|
|
country</I> was <I>dead</I> to his father and his family, cut off from
|
||
|
|
them, as a member from the body or a branch from the tree, and
|
||
|
|
therefore <I>dead,</I> and it is his own doing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[8.] A sinful state is a <I>lost state: This my son was lost</I>--lost
|
||
|
|
to every thing that was good--lost to all virtue and honour--lost to his
|
||
|
|
father's house; they had no joy of him. Souls that are separated from
|
||
|
|
God are <I>lost</I> souls; lost as a <I>traveller</I> that is out of
|
||
|
|
his way, and, if infinite mercy prevent not, will soon be lost as a
|
||
|
|
ship that is sunk at sea, lost irrecoverably.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[9.] A sinful state is a state of <I>madness</I> and <I>frenzy.</I>
|
||
|
|
This is intimated in that expression
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>when he came to himself,</I> which intimates that he had been
|
||
|
|
<I>beside himself.</I> Surely he was so when he left his father's
|
||
|
|
house, and much more so when he joined himself to the citizen of that
|
||
|
|
country. <I>Madness</I> is said to be <I>in the heart</I> of sinners,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+9:3">Eccl. ix. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Satan has got possession of the soul; and how raging mad was he that
|
||
|
|
was possessed by Legion! Sinners, like those that are <I>mad,</I>
|
||
|
|
destroy themselves with <I>foolish lusts,</I> and yet at the same time
|
||
|
|
deceive themselves with foolish <I>hopes;</I> and they are, of all
|
||
|
|
diseased persons, most enemies to their own cure.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. We have here his <I>return</I> from this <I>ramble,</I> his penitent
|
||
|
|
<I>return</I> to his father again. When he was brought to the last
|
||
|
|
extremity, then he bethought himself how much it was his interest to go
|
||
|
|
home. Note, We must not despair of the worst; for while there is life
|
||
|
|
there is hope. The grace of God can soften the hardest heart, and give
|
||
|
|
a happy turn to the strongest stream of corruption. Now observe
|
||
|
|
here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) What was the <I>occasion</I> of his return and repentance. It was
|
||
|
|
his <I>affliction;</I> when he was in <I>want,</I> then he <I>came to
|
||
|
|
himself.</I> Note, Afflictions, when they are sanctified by divine
|
||
|
|
grace, prove happy means of turning sinners from the error of their
|
||
|
|
ways. By them the ear is opened to discipline and the heart disposed to
|
||
|
|
receive instructions; and they are sensible proofs both of the vanity
|
||
|
|
of the world and of the mischievousness of sin. Apply it spiritually.
|
||
|
|
When we find the insufficiency of creatures to make us happy, and have
|
||
|
|
tried all other ways of relief for our poor souls in vain, then it is
|
||
|
|
time to think of returning to God. When we see what miserable
|
||
|
|
comforters, what physicians of no value, all but Christ are, for a soul
|
||
|
|
that groans under the guilt and power of sin, and no <I>man gives unto
|
||
|
|
us</I> what we need, then surely we shall apply ourselves to Jesus
|
||
|
|
Christ.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) What was the <I>preparative</I> for it; it was
|
||
|
|
<I>consideration.</I> He said within himself, he reasoned with himself,
|
||
|
|
when he recovered his right mind, <I>How many hired servants of my
|
||
|
|
father's have bread enough!</I> Note, Consideration is the first step
|
||
|
|
towards conversion,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+18:28">Ezek. xviii. 28</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He considers, and turns.</I> To consider is to retire into
|
||
|
|
ourselves, to reflect upon ourselves, to compare one thing with
|
||
|
|
another, and determine accordingly. Now observe what it was that he
|
||
|
|
considered.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He considered how bad his condition was: <I>I perish with
|
||
|
|
hunger.</I> Not only, "I am <I>hungry,</I>" but, "<I>I perish with
|
||
|
|
hunger,</I> for I see not what way to expect relief." Note, Sinners
|
||
|
|
will not come to the service of Christ till they are brought to see
|
||
|
|
themselves just ready to perish in the service of sin; and the
|
||
|
|
consideration of that should drive us to Christ. <I>Master, save us, we
|
||
|
|
perish.</I> And though we be thus driven to Christ he will not
|
||
|
|
therefore reject us, nor think himself dishonoured by our being forced
|
||
|
|
to him, but rather honoured by his being applied to in a desperate
|
||
|
|
case.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He considered how much better it might be made if he would but
|
||
|
|
return: <I>How many hired servants of my father's,</I> the meanest in
|
||
|
|
his family, the very day-labourers, <I>have bread enough, and to
|
||
|
|
spare,</I> such a good house does he keep! Note, <I>First,</I> In our
|
||
|
|
<I>Father's house</I> there is bread for all his family. This was
|
||
|
|
taught by the twelve loaves of <I>showbread,</I> that were constantly
|
||
|
|
upon the holy table in the sanctuary, a loaf for every tribe.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> There is <I>enough</I> and to <I>spare,</I> enough for
|
||
|
|
all, enough for each, enough to spare for such as will join themselves
|
||
|
|
to his domestics, enough and <I>to spare</I> for <I>charity. Yet there
|
||
|
|
is room;</I> there are <I>crumbs</I> that fall from his table, which
|
||
|
|
many would be glad of, and thankful for. <I>Thirdly,</I> Even the
|
||
|
|
<I>hired servants</I> in God's family are well provided for; the
|
||
|
|
meanest that will but hire themselves into his family, to <I>do</I> his
|
||
|
|
work, and <I>depend</I> upon his rewards, shall be well provided for.
|
||
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> The consideration of this should encourage sinners,
|
||
|
|
that have gone astray from God, to think of returning to him. Thus the
|
||
|
|
adulteress reasons with herself, when she is disappointed in her new
|
||
|
|
lovers: <I>I will go and return to my first husband, for then was it
|
||
|
|
better with me than now,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:7">Hos. ii. 7</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) What was the <I>purpose</I> of it. Since it is so, that his
|
||
|
|
condition is so bad, and may be bettered by returning to his father,
|
||
|
|
his consideration issues, at length, in this conclusion: <I>I will
|
||
|
|
arise, and go to my father.</I> Note, Good purposes are good things,
|
||
|
|
but still good performances are all in all.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He determined what to do: <I>I will arise and go to my father.</I>
|
||
|
|
He will not take any longer time to consider of it, but will
|
||
|
|
<I>forthwith</I> arise and go. Though he be in a <I>far country,</I> a
|
||
|
|
great way off from his father's house, yet, far as it is, he will
|
||
|
|
return; every step of backsliding from God must be a step back again in
|
||
|
|
return to him. Though he be <I>joined to a citizen of this country,</I>
|
||
|
|
he makes no difficulty of breaking his bargain with him. We <I>are not
|
||
|
|
debtors to the flesh;</I> we are under no obligation at all to our
|
||
|
|
Egyptian task-masters to give them warning, but are at liberty to quit
|
||
|
|
the service when we will. Observe with what resolution he speaks: "<I>I
|
||
|
|
will arise, and go to my father:</I> I am resolved I will, whatever the
|
||
|
|
issue be, rather than <I>stay</I> here and <I>starve.</I>"</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He determined what to say. True repentance is a <I>rising,</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>coming</I> to God: <I>Behold, we come unto thee.</I> But what words
|
||
|
|
shall we take with us? He here considers what to say. Note, In all our
|
||
|
|
addresses to God, it is good to deliberate with ourselves beforehand
|
||
|
|
what we shall say, that we may <I>order our cause before him,</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>fill our mouth with arguments.</I> We have <I>liberty of speech,</I>
|
||
|
|
and we ought to consider seriously with ourselves, how we may use that
|
||
|
|
liberty to the utmost, and yet not abuse it. Let us observe what he
|
||
|
|
purposed to say.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> He would confess his fault and folly: <I>I have
|
||
|
|
sinned.</I> Note, Forasmuch as we have all sinned, it behoves us, and
|
||
|
|
well becomes us, to own that we have sinned. The confession of sin is
|
||
|
|
required and insisted upon, as a necessary condition of peace and
|
||
|
|
pardon. If we plead <I>not guilty,</I> we put ourselves upon a trial by
|
||
|
|
the covenant of innocency, which will certainly condemn us. If
|
||
|
|
<I>guilty,</I> with a contrite, penitent, and obedient heart, we refer
|
||
|
|
ourselves to the covenant of grace, which offers forgiveness to those
|
||
|
|
that <I>confess their sins.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> He would aggravate it, and would be so far from
|
||
|
|
extenuating the matter that he would <I>lay a load</I> upon himself for
|
||
|
|
it: I have sinned <I>against Heaven,</I> and <I>before thee.</I> Let
|
||
|
|
those that are <I>undutiful</I> to their <I>earthly parents</I> think
|
||
|
|
of this; they sin <I>against heaven, and before God.</I> Offences
|
||
|
|
against them are offences against God. Let us all think of this, as
|
||
|
|
that which renders our <I>sin exceedingly sinful,</I> and should render
|
||
|
|
us exceedingly sorrowful for it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Sin is committed in contempt of God's authority over us: <I>We have
|
||
|
|
sinned against Heaven.</I> God is here called <I>Heaven,</I> to signify
|
||
|
|
how highly he is exalted above us, and the dominion he has over us, for
|
||
|
|
the <I>Heavens do rule.</I> The malignity of sin aims high; it is
|
||
|
|
<I>against Heaven.</I> The daring sinner is said to have <I>set his
|
||
|
|
mouth against the heavens,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+63:9">Ps. lxiii. 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Yet it is <I>impotent</I> malice, for we cannot hurt the heavens. Nay,
|
||
|
|
it is foolish malice; what is shot <I>against the heavens</I> will
|
||
|
|
return upon the head of him that shoots it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+7:16">Ps. vii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sin is an affront to the <I>God of heaven,</I> it is a forfeiture of
|
||
|
|
the glories and joys of heaven, and a contradiction to the designs of
|
||
|
|
the kingdom of heaven.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. It is committed in contempt of God's eye upon us: "I have sinned
|
||
|
|
<I>against Heaven</I> and yet <I>before thee,</I> and under thine eye,"
|
||
|
|
than which there could not be a greater affront put upon him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> He would judge and condemn himself for it, and
|
||
|
|
acknowledge himself to have forfeited all the privileges of the family:
|
||
|
|
<I>I am no more worthy to be called thy son,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He does not deny the relation (for that was all he had to trust to),
|
||
|
|
but he owns that his father might justly deny the relation, and shut
|
||
|
|
his doors against him. He had, at his own demand, the portion of goods
|
||
|
|
that belonged to him, and had reason to expect no more. Note, It
|
||
|
|
becomes sinners to acknowledge themselves unworthy to receive any
|
||
|
|
favour from God, and to humble and abase themselves before him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Fourthly,</I> He would nevertheless sue for admission into the
|
||
|
|
family, though it were into the meanest post there: "<I>Make me as one
|
||
|
|
of thy hired servants:</I> that is good enough, and too good for me."
|
||
|
|
Note, True penitents have a high value for God's house, and the
|
||
|
|
privileges of it, and will be glad of any place, so they may but be in
|
||
|
|
it, though it be but as <I>door-keepers,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+84:10">Ps. lxxxiv. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If it be imposed on him as a mortification to sit with the servants, he
|
||
|
|
will not only submit to it, but count it a preferment, in comparison
|
||
|
|
with his present state. Those that return to God, from whom they have
|
||
|
|
revolted, cannot but be desirous some way or other to be employed for
|
||
|
|
him, and put into a capacity of serving and honouring him: "<I>Make me
|
||
|
|
as a hired servant,</I> that I may show I love my father's house as
|
||
|
|
much as ever I slighted it."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Fifthly,</I> In all this he would have an eye to his father as a
|
||
|
|
father: "<I>I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him,
|
||
|
|
Father.</I>" Note, Eyeing God as a Father, and our Father, will be of
|
||
|
|
great use in our repentance and return to him. It will make our sorrow
|
||
|
|
for sin genuine, our resolutions against it strong, and encourage us to
|
||
|
|
hope for pardon. God delights to be called <I>Father</I> both by
|
||
|
|
penitents and petitioners. <I>Is not Ephraim a dear son?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) What was the performance of this purpose: <I>He arose, and came to
|
||
|
|
his father.</I> His good resolve he put in execution without delay; he
|
||
|
|
struck while the iron was hot, and did not adjourn the thought to some
|
||
|
|
more convenient season. Note, It is our interest speedily to close with
|
||
|
|
our convictions. Have we said that we will arise and go? Let us
|
||
|
|
immediately arise and come. He did not come halfway, and then pretend
|
||
|
|
that he was tired and could get no further, but, weak and weary as he
|
||
|
|
was, he made a thorough business of it. <I>If thou wilt return, O
|
||
|
|
Israel, return unto me,</I> and <I>do thy first works.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. We have here his reception and entertainment with his father: <I>He
|
||
|
|
came to his father;</I> but was he welcome? Yes, heartily welcome. And,
|
||
|
|
by the way, it is an example to parents whose children have been
|
||
|
|
foolish and disobedient, if they repent, and submit themselves, not to
|
||
|
|
be harsh and severe with them, but to be governed in such a case by the
|
||
|
|
wisdom that is from above, which is <I>gentle and easy to be
|
||
|
|
entreated;</I> herein let them be followers of God, and merciful, as he
|
||
|
|
is. But it is chiefly designed to set forth the grace and mercy of God
|
||
|
|
to poor sinners that repent and return to him, and his readiness to
|
||
|
|
forgive them. Now here observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The great love and affection wherewith the father received the
|
||
|
|
son: <I>When he was yet a great way off his father saw him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He expressed his kindness before the son expressed his repentance; for
|
||
|
|
God prevents us with the blessings of his goodness. Even <I>before we
|
||
|
|
call he answers;</I> for he knows what is in our hearts. <I>I said, I
|
||
|
|
will confess, and thou forgavest.</I> How lively are the images
|
||
|
|
presented here!
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Here were <I>eyes of mercy,</I> and those eyes quick-sighted:
|
||
|
|
<I>When he was yet a great way off his father saw him,</I> before any
|
||
|
|
other of the family were aware of him, as if from the top of some high
|
||
|
|
tower he had been looking that way which his son was gone, with such a
|
||
|
|
thought as this, "O that I could see yonder wretched son of mine coming
|
||
|
|
home!" This intimates God's desire of the conversion of sinners, and
|
||
|
|
his readiness to meet them that are coming towards him. <I>He looketh
|
||
|
|
on men,</I> when they are gone astray from him, to see whether they
|
||
|
|
will return to him, and he is aware of the first inclination towards
|
||
|
|
him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Here were <I>bowels of mercy,</I> and those bowels turning within
|
||
|
|
him, and yearning at the sight of his son: <I>He had compassion.</I>
|
||
|
|
Misery is the object of pity, even the misery of a sinner; though he
|
||
|
|
has brought it upon himself, yet God compassionates. <I>His soul was
|
||
|
|
grieved for the misery of Israel,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:8,Jdg+10:16">Hos. xi. 8; Judg. x. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] Here were <I>feet of mercy,</I> and those feet quick-paced: <I>He
|
||
|
|
ran.</I> This denotes how swift God is to show mercy. The prodigal son
|
||
|
|
came slowly, under a burden of shame and fear; but the tender father
|
||
|
|
ran to meet him with his encouragements.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] Here were <I>arms of mercy,</I> and those arms stretched out to
|
||
|
|
embrace him: <I>He fell on his neck.</I> Though guilty and deserving to
|
||
|
|
be beaten, though dirty and newly come from feeding swine, so that any
|
||
|
|
one who had not the strongest and tenderest compassions of a father
|
||
|
|
would have loathed to touch him, yet he thus takes him in his arms, and
|
||
|
|
lays him in his bosom. Thus dear are true penitents to God, thus
|
||
|
|
welcome to the Lord Jesus.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[5.] Here were <I>lips of mercy,</I> and those lips dropping as a
|
||
|
|
honey-comb: <I>He kissed him.</I> This kiss not only <I>assured</I> him
|
||
|
|
of his <I>welcome,</I> but <I>sealed his pardon;</I> his former follies
|
||
|
|
shall be all forgiven, and not mentioned against him, nor is one word
|
||
|
|
said by way of upbraiding. This was like David's kissing Absalom,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+14:33">2 Sam. xiv. 33</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And this intimates how ready, and free, and forward the Lord Jesus is
|
||
|
|
to receive and entertain poor returning repenting sinners, according to
|
||
|
|
his Father's will.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The penitent submission which the poor prodigal made to his father
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He <I>said unto him, Father, I have sinned.</I> As it commends the good
|
||
|
|
father's kindness that he showed it before the prodigal expressed his
|
||
|
|
repentance, so it commends the prodigal's repentance that he expressed
|
||
|
|
it after his father had shown him so much kindness. When he had
|
||
|
|
received the kiss which sealed his pardon, yet he said, <I>Father, I
|
||
|
|
have sinned.</I> Note, Even those that have received the pardon of
|
||
|
|
their sins, and the comfortable sense of their pardon, must have in
|
||
|
|
their hearts a sincere contrition for it, and with their mouths must
|
||
|
|
make a penitent confession of it, even of those sins which they have
|
||
|
|
reason to hope are pardoned. David penned the
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+51:1-19">fifty-first psalm</A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
after Nathan had said, <I>The Lord has taken away thy sin, thou shall
|
||
|
|
not die.</I> Nay, the comfortable sense of the pardon of sin should
|
||
|
|
increase our sorrow for it; and that is ingenuous evangelical sorrow
|
||
|
|
which is increased by such a consideration. See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+16:63">Ezek. xvi. 63</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou shalt be ashamed and confounded, when I am pacified towards
|
||
|
|
thee.</I> The more we see of God's readiness to <I>forgive us,</I> the
|
||
|
|
more difficult it should be to us to <I>forgive ourselves.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The splendid provision which this kind father made for the
|
||
|
|
returning prodigal. He was going on in his submission, but one word we
|
||
|
|
find in his purpose to say
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
which we do not find that he did say
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and that was, <I>Make me as one of thy hired servants.</I> We cannot
|
||
|
|
think that he forgot it, much less that he changed his mind, and was
|
||
|
|
now either less desirous to be in the family or less willing to be a
|
||
|
|
hired servant there than when he made that purpose; but his father
|
||
|
|
interrupted him, prevented his saying it: "Hold, son, talk no more of
|
||
|
|
thy unworthiness, thou art heartily welcome, and, though not <I>worthy
|
||
|
|
to be called a son,</I> shalt be treated as a <I>dear son,</I> as a
|
||
|
|
<I>pleasant child.</I>" He who is thus entertained at first needs not
|
||
|
|
ask to be made <I>as a hired servant.</I> Thus when <I>Ephraim bemoaned
|
||
|
|
himself</I> God comforted him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:18-20">Jer. xxxi. 18-20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is strange that here is not one word of rebuke: "Why did you not
|
||
|
|
stay with your harlots and your swine? You could never find the way
|
||
|
|
home till beaten hither with your own rod." No, here is nothing like
|
||
|
|
this; which intimates that, when God forgives the sins of true
|
||
|
|
penitents, he forgets them, he remembers them no more, they <I>shall
|
||
|
|
not be mentioned against them,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+18:22">Ezek. xviii. 22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But this is not all; here is rich and royal provision made for him,
|
||
|
|
according to his birth and quality, far beyond what he did or could
|
||
|
|
expect. He would have thought it sufficient, and been very thankful, if
|
||
|
|
his father had but taken notice of him, and bid him go to the kitchen,
|
||
|
|
and get his dinner with his servants; but God does for those who return
|
||
|
|
to their duty, and cast themselves upon his mercy, abundantly above
|
||
|
|
what they are able to ask or think. The prodigal came home between hope
|
||
|
|
and fear, fear of being rejected and hope of being received; but his
|
||
|
|
father was not only better to him than his fears, but better to him
|
||
|
|
than his hopes--not only <I>received</I> him, but received him with
|
||
|
|
respect.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] He came home <I>in rags,</I> and his father not only
|
||
|
|
<I>clothed</I> him, but <I>adorned</I> him. He <I>said to the
|
||
|
|
servants,</I> who all attended their master, upon notice that his son
|
||
|
|
was come, <I>Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him.</I> The
|
||
|
|
worst old clothes in the house might have served, and these had been
|
||
|
|
good enough for him; but the father calls not for a <I>coat,</I> but
|
||
|
|
for a <I>robe,</I> the garment of princes and great men, the <I>best
|
||
|
|
robe</I>--<B><I>ten stolen ten proten</I></B>. There is a double
|
||
|
|
emphasis: "<I>that robe, that principal robe,</I> you know which I
|
||
|
|
mean;" the <I>first robe</I> (so it may be read); the robe he wore
|
||
|
|
before he ran his ramble. When backsliders repent and do their <I>first
|
||
|
|
works,</I> they shall be received and dressed in their <I>first
|
||
|
|
robes.</I> "Bring hither that robe, and put it on him; he will be
|
||
|
|
ashamed to wear it, and think that it ill becomes him who comes home in
|
||
|
|
such a dirty pickle, but <I>put it on him,</I> and do not merely offer
|
||
|
|
it to him: and <I>put a ring on his hand,</I> a signet-ring, with the
|
||
|
|
arms of the family, in token of his being owned as a branch of the
|
||
|
|
family." Rich people wore rings, and his father hereby signified that
|
||
|
|
though he had spent one portion, yet, upon his repentance, he intended
|
||
|
|
him another. He came home barefoot, his feet perhaps sore with travel,
|
||
|
|
and therefore, "Put <I>shoes on his feet,</I> to make him easy." Thus
|
||
|
|
does the grace of God provide for true penitents. <I>First,</I> The
|
||
|
|
<I>righteousness of Christ</I> is the robe, that <I>principal robe,</I>
|
||
|
|
with which they are clothed; they <I>put on the Lord Jesus Christ,</I>
|
||
|
|
are <I>clothed</I> with that <I>Sun.</I> The <I>robe of
|
||
|
|
righteousness</I> is the <I>garment of salvation,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:10">Isa. lxi. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
A <I>new nature</I> is this <I>best robe;</I> true penitents are
|
||
|
|
clothed with this, being sanctified throughout. <I>Secondly,</I> The
|
||
|
|
<I>earnest</I> of the Spirit, by whom we are sealed to the day of
|
||
|
|
redemption, is the <I>ring on the hand.</I> After <I>you believed you
|
||
|
|
were sealed.</I> They that are sanctified are adorned and dignified,
|
||
|
|
are put in power, as Joseph was by Pharaoh's giving him a ring: "<I>Put
|
||
|
|
a ring on his hand,</I> to be before him a constant memorial of his
|
||
|
|
father's kindness, that he may never forget it." <I>Thirdly,</I> The
|
||
|
|
<I>preparation of the gospel of peace</I> is as <I>shoes for our
|
||
|
|
feet</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:15">Eph. vi. 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
so that, compared with this here, signifies (saith Grotius) that God,
|
||
|
|
when he receives true penitents into his favour, makes use of them for
|
||
|
|
the convincing and converting of others by their instructions, at least
|
||
|
|
by their examples. David, when pardoned, will teach transgressors God's
|
||
|
|
ways, and Peter, when converted, will strengthen his brethren. Or it
|
||
|
|
intimates that they shall go on cheerfully, and with resolution, in the
|
||
|
|
way of religion, as a man does when he has shoes on his feet, above
|
||
|
|
what he does when he is barefoot.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He came home <I>hungry,</I> and his father not only <I>fed
|
||
|
|
him,</I> but <I>feasted him</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Bring hither the fatted calf,</I> that has been stall-fed, and long
|
||
|
|
reserved for some special occasion, and <I>kill it,</I> that my son may
|
||
|
|
be satisfied with the best we have." Cold meat might have served, or
|
||
|
|
the leavings of the last meal; but he shall have fresh meat and hot
|
||
|
|
meat, and the fatted calf can never be better bestowed. Note, There is
|
||
|
|
excellent food provided by our heavenly Father for all those that
|
||
|
|
<I>arise</I> and <I>come to him.</I> Christ himself is the Bread of
|
||
|
|
Life; his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; in him
|
||
|
|
there is a feast for souls, a feast for fat things. It was a great
|
||
|
|
change with the prodigal, who just before <I>would fain have filled his
|
||
|
|
belly with husks.</I> How sweet will the supplies of the new covenant
|
||
|
|
be, and the relishes of its comforts, to those who have been
|
||
|
|
<I>labouring in vain</I> for satisfaction in the creature! Now he found
|
||
|
|
his own words made good, <I>In my father's house there is bread enough
|
||
|
|
and to spare.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) The great joy and rejoicing occasioned by his return. The bringing
|
||
|
|
of the fatted calf was designed to be not only a <I>feast</I> for him,
|
||
|
|
but a <I>festival</I> for the family: "<I>Let us all eat, and be
|
||
|
|
merry,</I> for it is a good day; for <I>this my son was dead,</I> when
|
||
|
|
he was in his ramble, but his return is as <I>life from the dead,</I>
|
||
|
|
he <I>is alive again;</I> we thought that he was dead, having heard
|
||
|
|
nothing from him of a long time, but behold <I>he lives;</I> he <I>was
|
||
|
|
lost,</I> we gave him up for lost, we despaired of hearing of him, but
|
||
|
|
he <I>is found.</I>" Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] The conversion of a soul from sin to God is the raising of that
|
||
|
|
soul from death to life, and the finding of that which seemed to be
|
||
|
|
lost: it is a great, and wonderful, and happy change. What was in
|
||
|
|
itself <I>dead</I> is made <I>alive,</I> what was <I>lost</I> to God
|
||
|
|
and his church is <I>found,</I> and what was <I>unprofitable</I>
|
||
|
|
becomes <I>profitable,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Philem+1:11">
|
||
|
|
Philem. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is such a change as that upon the face of the earth when the spring
|
||
|
|
returns.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The conversion of sinners is greatly pleasing to the God of
|
||
|
|
heaven, and all that belong to his family ought to rejoice in it; those
|
||
|
|
in heaven <I>do,</I> and those on earth <I>should.</I> Observe, It was
|
||
|
|
<I>the father</I> that began the joy, and set all the rest on
|
||
|
|
rejoicing. <I>Therefore</I> we should be glad of the repentance of
|
||
|
|
sinners, because it accomplishes God's design; it is the bringing of
|
||
|
|
those to Christ whom the Father had given him, and in whom he will be
|
||
|
|
for ever glorified. <I>We joy for your sakes before our God,</I> with
|
||
|
|
an eye to him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:9">1 Thess. iii. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and <I>ye are our rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus
|
||
|
|
Christ,</I> who is the Master of the family,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+2:19">1 Thess. ii. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The family complied with the master: <I>They began to be merry.</I>
|
||
|
|
Note, God's children and servants ought to be affected with things as
|
||
|
|
he is.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. We have here the <I>repining and envying of the elder brother,</I>
|
||
|
|
which is described by way of reproof to the scribes and Pharisees, to
|
||
|
|
show them the folly and wickedness of their discontent at the
|
||
|
|
repentance and conversion of the publicans and sinners, and the favour
|
||
|
|
Christ showed them; and he represents it so as not to aggravate the
|
||
|
|
matter, but as allowing them still the privileges of elder brethren:
|
||
|
|
the Jews had those privileges (though the Gentiles were favoured), for
|
||
|
|
the preaching of the gospel must begin at Jerusalem. Christ, when he
|
||
|
|
reproved them for their faults, yet accosted them mildly, to smooth
|
||
|
|
them into a good temper towards the poor publicans. But by the <I>elder
|
||
|
|
brother</I> here we may understand those who are really good, and have
|
||
|
|
been so from their youth up, and never went astray into any vicious
|
||
|
|
course of living, who <I>comparatively</I> need no repentance; and to
|
||
|
|
such these words in the close, <I>Son, thou art ever with me,</I> are
|
||
|
|
applicable without any difficulty, but not to the scribes and
|
||
|
|
Pharisees. Now concerning the elder brother, observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) How <I>foolish</I> and <I>fretful</I> he was upon occasion of his
|
||
|
|
brother's reception, and how he was disgusted at it. It seems he was
|
||
|
|
abroad <I>in the field,</I> in the country, when his brother came, and
|
||
|
|
by the time he had returned home the <I>mirth</I> was <I>begun; When he
|
||
|
|
drew nigh to the house he heard music and dancing,</I> either while the
|
||
|
|
dinner was getting ready, or rather after they had eaten and were full,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He enquired <I>what these things meant</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and was informed that his brother was come, and his father had made him
|
||
|
|
a feast for his <I>welcome home,</I> and great joy there was because he
|
||
|
|
had received him <I>safe and sound,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is but one word in the original, he had <I>received</I> him
|
||
|
|
<B><I>hygiainonta</I></B>--<I>in health,</I> well both in body and
|
||
|
|
mind. He received him not only well in body, but a penitent, returned
|
||
|
|
to his <I>right mind,</I> and well reconciled to his father's house,
|
||
|
|
cured of his vices and his rakish disposition, else he had not been
|
||
|
|
received <I>safe</I> and <I>sound.</I> Now this offended him to the
|
||
|
|
highest degree: <I>He was angry, and would not go in</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
not only because he was resolved he would not himself join in the
|
||
|
|
mirth, but because he would show his displeasure at it, and would
|
||
|
|
intimate to his father that he should have kept out his younger
|
||
|
|
brother. This shows what is a common fault,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] In men's families. Those who have always been a comfort to their
|
||
|
|
parents think they should have the monopoly of their parents' favours,
|
||
|
|
and are apt to be <I>too sharp</I> upon those who have transgressed,
|
||
|
|
and to grudge their parents' kindness to them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] In God's family. Those who are comparatively <I>innocents</I>
|
||
|
|
seldom know how to be compassionate towards those who are manifestly
|
||
|
|
<I>penitents.</I> The language of such we have here, in what the
|
||
|
|
<I>elder brother</I> said
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:29,30"><I>v.</I> 29, 30</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and it is written for warning to those who by the grace of God are kept
|
||
|
|
from scandalous sin, and kept in the way of virtue and sobriety, that
|
||
|
|
they sin not after the similitude of this transgression. Let us observe
|
||
|
|
the particulars of it. <I>First,</I> He <I>boasted</I> of
|
||
|
|
<I>himself</I> and <I>his own virtue</I> and <I>obedience.</I> He had
|
||
|
|
not only not run from his father's house, as his brother did, but had
|
||
|
|
made himself as a <I>servant</I> in it, and had long done so: <I>Lo,
|
||
|
|
these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time
|
||
|
|
thy commandment.</I> Note, It is too common for those that are better
|
||
|
|
than their neighbours to boast of it, yea, and to make their boast of
|
||
|
|
it before God himself, as if he were indebted to them for it. I am apt
|
||
|
|
to think that this elder brother said more than was true, when he
|
||
|
|
gloried that he had never <I>transgressed his father's commands,</I>
|
||
|
|
for them I believe he would not have been so obstinate as now he was to
|
||
|
|
<I>his father's entreaties.</I> However, we will admit it
|
||
|
|
comparatively; he had not been so disobedient as his brother had been.
|
||
|
|
O what need have good men to take heed of pride, a corruption that
|
||
|
|
arises out of the ashes of other corruptions! Those that have long
|
||
|
|
served God, and been kept from gross sins, have a great deal to be
|
||
|
|
humbly thankful for, but nothing proudly to boast of. <I>Secondly,</I>
|
||
|
|
He <I>complained of his father,</I> as if he had not been so kind as he
|
||
|
|
ought to have been to him, who had been so dutiful: <I>Thou never
|
||
|
|
gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.</I> He was
|
||
|
|
out of humour now, else he would not have made this complaint; for, no
|
||
|
|
questions, if he had asked such a thing at any time, he might have had
|
||
|
|
it at the first word; and we have reason to think that he did not
|
||
|
|
desire it, but the <I>killing of the fatted calf</I> put him upon
|
||
|
|
making this peevish reflection. When men are <I>in a passion</I> they
|
||
|
|
are apt to reflect in a way they would not if they were in their right
|
||
|
|
mind. He had been fed at his father's table, and had many a time been
|
||
|
|
merry with him and the family; but his father had never given him so
|
||
|
|
much as a kid, which was but a small token of love compared with the
|
||
|
|
<I>fatted calf.</I> Note, Those that think <I>highly</I> of themselves
|
||
|
|
and their services are apt to think <I>hardly</I> of their master and
|
||
|
|
meanly of his favours. We ought to own ourselves utterly unworthy of
|
||
|
|
those mercies which God has thought fit to give us, much more of those
|
||
|
|
that he has not thought fit to give us, and therefore we must not
|
||
|
|
<I>complain.</I> He would have had a kid, to <I>make merry with his
|
||
|
|
friends</I> abroad, whereas the <I>fatted calf</I> he grudged so much
|
||
|
|
was given to his brother, not to <I>make merry with his friends</I>
|
||
|
|
abroad, but <I>with the family</I> at home: the mirth of God's children
|
||
|
|
should be with their father and his family, in communion with God and
|
||
|
|
his saints, and not with any <I>other friends. Thirdly,</I> He was very
|
||
|
|
<I>ill-humoured</I> towards his younger brother, and harsh in what he
|
||
|
|
thought and said concerning him. Some good people are apt to be
|
||
|
|
overtaken in this fault, nay, and to indulge themselves too much in it,
|
||
|
|
to look with disdain upon those who have not preserved their reputation
|
||
|
|
so clean as they have done, and to be sour and morose towards them,
|
||
|
|
yea, though they have given very good evidence of their repentance and
|
||
|
|
reformation. This is not the Spirit of Christ, but of the Pharisees.
|
||
|
|
Let us observe the instances of it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He <I>would not go in,</I> except his brother were <I>turned
|
||
|
|
out;</I> one house shall not hold him and his own brother, no, not his
|
||
|
|
<I>father's house.</I> The language of this was that of the Pharisee
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+65:5">Isa. lxv. 5</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than
|
||
|
|
thou;</I> and
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:11"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 11</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I am not as other men are, nor even as this publican.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
Though we are to shun the society of those sinners by whom we are in
|
||
|
|
danger of being infected, yet we must not be shy of the company of
|
||
|
|
penitent sinners, by whom we may get good. He saw that his father had
|
||
|
|
<I>taken him in,</I> and yet he would not <I>go in</I> to him. Note, We
|
||
|
|
think too well of ourselves, if we cannot find in our hearts to
|
||
|
|
<I>receive</I> those whom God <I>hath received,</I> and to admit those
|
||
|
|
into favour, and friendship, and fellowship with us, whom we have
|
||
|
|
reason to think God has a favour for, and who are taken into friendship
|
||
|
|
and fellowship with him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He would not call him <I>brother;</I> but <I>this thy son,</I> which
|
||
|
|
sounds arrogantly, and not without reflection upon his father, as if
|
||
|
|
his indulgence had made him a prodigal: "He is <I>thy son,</I> thy
|
||
|
|
darling." Note, Forgetting the relation we stand in to our brethren, as
|
||
|
|
brethren, and disowning that, are at the bottom of all our neglects of
|
||
|
|
our duty to them and our contradictions to that duty. Let us give our
|
||
|
|
relations, both in the flesh and in the Lord, the titles that belong to
|
||
|
|
them. Let the rich call the poor <I>brethren,</I> and let the innocents
|
||
|
|
call the penitents so.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He <I>aggravated his brother's faults,</I> and made the worst of
|
||
|
|
them, endeavouring to incense his father against him: He <I>is thy son,
|
||
|
|
who hath devoured thy living with harlots.</I> It is true, he had spent
|
||
|
|
his own portion foolishly enough (whether <I>upon harlots</I> or no we
|
||
|
|
are not told before, perhaps that was only the language of the elder
|
||
|
|
brother's jealousy and ill will), but that he had devoured <I>all his
|
||
|
|
father's living</I> was false; the father had still a good estate. Now
|
||
|
|
this shows how apt we are, in censuring our brethren, to <I>make the
|
||
|
|
worst</I> of every thing, and to set it out in the blackest colours,
|
||
|
|
which is not doing as we would be done by, nor as our heavenly Father
|
||
|
|
does by us, who is not extreme to mark iniquities.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. He <I>grudged</I> him the <I>kindness</I> that his father <I>showed
|
||
|
|
him: Thou hast killed for him the fatted calf,</I> as if he were such a
|
||
|
|
son as he should be. Note, It is a wrong thing to <I>envy</I>
|
||
|
|
penitents the grace of God, and to have our eye evil because he is
|
||
|
|
good. As we must not envy those that <I>are</I> the worst of sinners
|
||
|
|
the gifts of common providence (<I>Let not thine heart envy
|
||
|
|
sinners</I>), so we must not envy those that <I>have been</I> the worst
|
||
|
|
of sinners the gifts of covenant love upon their repentance; we must
|
||
|
|
not envy them their pardon, and peace, and comfort, no, nor any
|
||
|
|
extraordinary gift which God bestows upon them, which makes them
|
||
|
|
eminently acceptable or useful. Paul, before his conversion, had been
|
||
|
|
a prodigal, had <I>devoured</I> his heavenly Father's <I>living</I> by
|
||
|
|
the <I>havoc</I> he made of the <I>church;</I> yet when after his
|
||
|
|
conversion he had greater measures of grace given him, and more honour
|
||
|
|
put upon him, than the other apostles, they who were the elder
|
||
|
|
brethren, who had been <I>serving Christ</I> when he was persecuting
|
||
|
|
him, and had not transgressed at any time his commandment, did not envy
|
||
|
|
him his visions and revelations, nor his more extensive usefulness, but
|
||
|
|
<I>glorified God in him,</I> which ought to be an example to us, as the
|
||
|
|
reverse of this elder brother.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Let us now see how <I>favourable</I> and <I>friendly</I> his
|
||
|
|
father was in <I>his carriage towards him</I> when he was thus sour and
|
||
|
|
ill-humoured. This is as surprising as the former. Methinks the mercy
|
||
|
|
and grace of our God in Christ shine almost as brightly in his tender
|
||
|
|
and gentle bearing with <I>peevish saints,</I> represented by the elder
|
||
|
|
brother here, as before in his reception of prodigal sinners upon their
|
||
|
|
repentance, represented by the younger brother. The disciples of Christ
|
||
|
|
themselves had many infirmities, and were men subject to like passions
|
||
|
|
as others, yet Christ bore with them, as a nurse with her children. See
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+2:7">1 Thess. ii. 7</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] When he would not come in, his <I>father came out, and entreated
|
||
|
|
him,</I> accosted him mildly, gave him good words, and desired him to
|
||
|
|
come in. He might justly have said, "If he will not come in, let him
|
||
|
|
stay out, shut the doors against him, and send him to seek a lodging
|
||
|
|
where he can find it. Is not the house my own? and may I not do what I
|
||
|
|
please in it? Is not the fatted calf my own? and may I not do what I
|
||
|
|
please with it?" No, as he to meet the younger son, so now he goes to
|
||
|
|
court the elder, did not send a servant out with a kind message to him,
|
||
|
|
but went himself. Now, <I>First,</I> This is designed to represent to
|
||
|
|
us the goodness of God; how strangely gentle and winning he has been
|
||
|
|
towards those that were strangely froward and provoking. He reasoned
|
||
|
|
with Cain: <I>Why art thou wroth?</I> He <I>bore Israel's manners in
|
||
|
|
the wilderness,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:18">Acts xiii. 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
How mildly did God reason with Elijah, when he was upon the fret
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+19:46">1 Kings xix. 46</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and especially with Jonah, whose case was very parallel with this here,
|
||
|
|
for he was there disquieted at the repentance of Nineveh, and the mercy
|
||
|
|
shown to it, as the elder brother here; and those questions, <I>Dost
|
||
|
|
thou well to be angry?</I> and, <I>Should not I spare Nineveh?</I> are
|
||
|
|
not unlike these expostulations of the father with the elder brother
|
||
|
|
here. <I>Secondly,</I> It is to teach all superiors to be mild and
|
||
|
|
gentle with their inferiors, even when they are in a fault and
|
||
|
|
passionately justify themselves in it, than which nothing can be more
|
||
|
|
provoking; and yet even in that case let fathers <I>not provoke their
|
||
|
|
children to more wrath,</I> and let <I>masters forbear threatening,</I>
|
||
|
|
and both show all <I>meekness.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] His father assured him that the kind entertainment he gave his
|
||
|
|
younger brother was neither any reflection upon him nor should be any
|
||
|
|
prejudice to him
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"Thou shalt fare never the worse for it, nor have ever the less for it.
|
||
|
|
<I>Son, thou art ever with me;</I> the reception of him is no rejection
|
||
|
|
of thee, nor what is laid out on him any sensible diminution of what I
|
||
|
|
design for thee; thou shalt still remain entitled to the <I>pars
|
||
|
|
enitia</I> (so our law calls it), the <I>double portion</I> (so the
|
||
|
|
Jewish law called it); thou shalt be <I>hæres ex asse</I> (so the
|
||
|
|
Roman law called it): <I>all that I have is thine,</I> by an
|
||
|
|
indefeasible title." If he had not <I>given him a kid to make merry
|
||
|
|
with his friends,</I> he had allowed him to eat bread at his table
|
||
|
|
continually; and it is better to be <I>happy with our Father</I> in
|
||
|
|
heaven than <I>merry</I> with any <I>friend</I> we have in this world.
|
||
|
|
Note, <I>First,</I> It is the unspeakable happiness of all the children
|
||
|
|
of God, who keep close to their Father's house, that they are, and
|
||
|
|
shall be, ever with him. They are so in this world by faith; they shall
|
||
|
|
be so in the other world by fruition; and all that he has is theirs;
|
||
|
|
for, <I>if children, then heirs,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:17">Rom. viii. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly, Therefore</I> we ought not to envy others God's grace to
|
||
|
|
them because we shall have never the less for their sharing in it. If
|
||
|
|
we be true believers, all that God is, all that he has, is <I>ours;</I>
|
||
|
|
and, if others come to be true believers, all that he is, and all that
|
||
|
|
he has, is theirs too, and yet we have not the less, as they that walk
|
||
|
|
in the light and warmth of the sun have all the benefit they can have
|
||
|
|
by it, and yet not the less for others having as much; for Christ in
|
||
|
|
his church is like what is said of the soul in the body: it is <I>tota
|
||
|
|
in toto</I>--<I>the whole in the whole,</I> and yet <I>tota in qualibet
|
||
|
|
parte</I>--<I>the whole in each part.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
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