Vol. 2

CHAPTER XV. 587forbear calling him Father: it is a contest betwixtconfidence and humility; the former restores whatthe latter takes away." 22. But the father said to his servants, Bringforth the best robe, and put it on him ; and put aring on his hand, and shoes on his feet :"In the tenth place, the more a penitent humbleshimself, and the more unworthy he thinks himself ofevery thing, the higher does God raise him, and heapupon him the greater benefits. He treats him as hisson, so far is he from depriving him of the name, andgiving him time to take that of a servant. In theeleventh place, to the grace of reconciliation, Godadds abundance of other graces, with which hecovers the nakedness of a converted sinner, clothinghim with Jesus Christ, his righteousness, his merits,his virtues, &c. In the twelfth, he seals this newcovenant with a lively impression of his Spirit, whichis the seal of adoption, a pledge of the inheritancein heaven, and an earnest of the eternal promises.In the thirteenth place, he gives him such graces andassistances as enable him to walk in the way of hiscommandments, and in the practice of good works,to secure himself from serpents, and to tread uponscorpions, which are the devil and his temptations." 23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and killit ; and let us eat, and be merry :"The fourteenth degree of the conversion of a sinneris, that, being reconciled, he has a right to bepresent at the Christian sacrifice:and, in the fifteenthplace, to be fed with the flesh of Christ, which is theseal of reconciliation on the part of the church.My God, what joy must necessarily arise in a soul