Ver. 1, both as to his Sin and his Mifery. A cer12,13,14, tain Man, tain Man, fays our Lord, had two Sons. 15, 16. And the younger of them faid to his Father, Father, give me the Portion of Goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them bis Living. And not many Days after, the younger Son gathered all together, and took bis Journey into a far Country, and there wafted his Subftance with riotous Living. And when he had spent all, there arofe a mighty Famine in that Land; and he began to be in Want. And he went and joined himself to a Citizen of that Country, and he fent him into his Fields to feed Swine. And he would fain have filled his Belly with the Husks that the Swine did eat, and no Man gave unto him. And when he came to himfelf, &c.

By the Father here, who had two Sons, to whom he gave Portions out of his Estate, we are to understand God Almighty the great Father and Lord of the World, who, out of his Abundance, doth bestow upon Mankind, who are his Offspring, their feveral Portions. There is not one of his Children but has a plentiful Provision made for him, and Variety of Talents committed to him; which if he do but carefully manage and improve to the Ufes they were given for, he will for ever preferve to himfelf the Love, and Favour, and Kindness of his heavenly Father, and fhall not fail both of living happily and comfortably

here,

here, and arriving alfo to a glorious State of Immortality hereafter.

By the two Sons here mentioned, between whom the Father did divide the Inheritance, we are to understand the two different Sorts of Men in the World. In the Character of the eldest Son are represented those Men, who being bleffed with a good Temper and virtuous Inclinations, and lighting under a careful Education, have in a great measure preferved their Innocency all their Lives; have never wander'd away from their Father's Houfe; never gone aftray in the Paths of Vice and Wickednefs; but, as the elder Son faith of himfelf, have for many Years ferved their hea- Ver. 29. venly Father without any wilful or habitual Tranfgreffion of his Commandment.

In the Character of the younger Son, who is the Prodigal, are represented all those Men who abuse the Talents he hath committed to them, the Benefits, and Helps, and Powers which he has bestowed upon them, to evil and mischievous Purposes; who forfake the Guidance and Conduct of their heavenly Father, and betake themfelves to a Courfe of Vice and Senfuality: In a word, all forts of Men that have ever lived loosely and wickedly, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. Thefe are the Prodigals here mentioned; and it was for their Encouragement to repent, and for E 4

their

Ch.21.14.

their Comfort if they do so, that this Parable was framed by our Saviour.

Now in this Account which is here given us of the Prodigal's evil Courses, and the Confequences of them, we have a lively Defcription of the State of Sinners; the Methods and Steps by which they proceed in Sin, and the wretched Condition they are thereby brought into; as will appear by comparing one with the other in the following Particulars.

1. In the first Place, The younger Son having got his Portion into his own Hands, cares no longer to be in his Father's House, thinking that there his Liberty is too much abridged But that he might the more effectually free himself from all forts of Check or Reftraint, that the Awe of his Father might put upon him, he gets him into a foreign Country. And thus doth it fare with Sinners: The firft Step of their Mifcarriage is their eft ranging themselves from their heavenly Father. They think it too fevere a Difcipline to live always. under the Apprehenfions and Awe of an. invifible Being. And therefore they put the Thoughts of God out of their Heads as much as they can. They fay unto him with the profane People in Job, Depart from us, for we defire not the Knowledge of thy Ways. It is true, where-ever they are, or whatever they do, God is present with them, whether they will or no; for there

is no going from his Spirit, no flying from P.139.6" bis Prefence: But they may be properly enough faid to depart from God, or to go afar off from him, while they do not confider or regard him; while they ceafe to maintain a conftant Senfe of his Juftice, and Goodness, and Providence in their own Minds; while they lay afide the Care of his Worship, and neglect their Prayers and other holy Exercises; and, in a word, live at that rate, as if they were not apprehenfive that there is an intelligent, omnipotent Being, who governs the World, and to whom they are accountable.

2. But to go on. The Prodigal having got into another Country, and fo far enough from the Sight of his Father, allows himfelf all the Liberties that his Heart can defire; lives viciously and profufely, and fo in a little Time fpends that Stock which his Father had given him. And fo it is likewife with the Sinner (who anfwers to him) when once he has caft off the Fear of God, and cashiered the Senfe of Religion out of his Mind, (which is the best Security of Mens Innocency, and the most effectual Curb to keep them from going aftray) he presently flies out into all forts of Extravagancy and Debauchery, as his Temper and Inclination does prompt him. He gives the Reins to every Appetite and to every Paffion, and takes his full Swing of unlawful Liberties and Gratifications, according

as

as his Humour ftands, or Temptations do prefent themselves. And by this Means he does in a little Time wafte thofe Talents which God had committed to him. He befots his Understanding, he depraves and corrupts his Will, he weakens all his fpiritual Powers, he hardens his Confcience, and thereby lofes that quick Apprehenfion and Senfe of Good and Evil that was put into his Mind; he fquanders away his Time and Opportunities, he renders himself incapable of the Benefits and Advantages, which, if he be a Perfon above the common Rank, his Birth, and Education, and Circumstances in the World gave him for the Purposes of Virtue. He lofes the prefent Affiftances of the Divine Grace, and forfeits his Title to it for the future: In a word, he embezzles and confumes all that Stock, of what Nature foever it was, which God beftowed upon him for the living reasonably, and piously, and happily either in this World or in the other.

3. But further; The Prodigal having thus fpent his Portion by his profufe Way of Living, is now, by reafon of the Extre mity of Want that is fallen upon him, forced to become a Servant. And this is the true Condition of a Sinner. The Man who lives in the conftant Gratification of his Lufts and Appetites, of what Nature foever they be, how free foever God made him, yet by thus weakening and abufing his