JOY of ANGELS.  
Delivered in a SERMON Before the HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF GRAYS-INN, On the last Day of JUNE, 1656.  
BY JA: RUTHERFORD D. D.  
LONDON: Printed by J.G. for Henry Seile, and are to be sold at his shop in the Bulwark near the Tower. MDCLVIII.   

 crown surmounting French fleur-de-lis with crown surmounting Tudor rose and Scottish thistle on either side  S. LUKE 15.10. 
Likewise I say unto you, There is Joy in the presence of the Angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth.  
Man's Life upon earth is a Compound of cross Ingredients, Gall and Honey, bitter and sweet, sorrow and joy. The adventurous Mariner is resisted with adverse Winds, assisted with prosperous Gales; the laborious Husbandman doth reap his Corn nipped with the austerity of a gloomy Winter, cherished with influences of the benign Sun: Nor indeed is there any man so abandoned unto storms, that hath not had some share or hopes of better times. Were the whole life of man a texture of never-intermitted woes, none would desire to live; and if it were a continued Festivity, none would wish to die.  
Whether our Adversities are more abated by others fellow-mourning, or our Felicities more improved by the co-rejoycing of others, is a question, yet without all question. The sympathy of others makes a sad estate less heavy, and a joyful more happy. Our Saviour prophetically proclaims his Solitude in the Garden, when his sweat was as drops of blood running down upon the earth, an aggravation of his grief. I have trod the wine-press alone, and of all the people there was none with me, Isa. 63.3. And the ministration of a strengthening Angel was forthwith ordered, to alleviate the apprehensions of his incumbent and impendent sufferings, S. Luke 22.43.  
At his death upon the Cross, ye know he cried out, to the astonishment of Heaven itself, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matth. 27.46. whilst men passed by, not considering the greatness of his grief, God afflicting him in the day of the fierceness of his wrath for the sins of Mankind; the Sun was eclipsed, the Earth trembled, the Rocks rend, the Graves opened, These were his Mourners; and so ferious Mourners, as never were, nor shall the like be any more. And having drank of the Brook in the way, the third day he lifted up the head victoriously; the joy whereof is not terminated in himself, or imparted to the Saints only, but 'tis proclaimed by Angels, exhilarated Angels, no small accession to our Saviour's glory. Add we his Ascension by the natural power of his Godhead, and supernatural power of his then-glorified Manhood, lifting up his Body from the Mount of olives far above all Heavens, to wit, aspectable Heavens, really, visibly, locally attended with rejoicing Angels, not as Partners, but Preachers of his Celestial Triumph, Act. 1.10.  
But as the misery of man stands principally in sin, so the war and opposition of the Creatures in the state of separation from his God, is no petit additional unto his wretched being; none of the creatures truly touched with a pity of him, that will have no pity towards his own Soul: But Repentance, the grace of Repentance, breaks down the partition wall, from whence ariseth not only a league betwixt the Creature and the Convert, but the Blessed Angels also, whose residence is mostly above, needless of Self-conversion, yet are they very liberal of their gratulations.  
A Gregarian or Common Soldier, who behaves himself in battle with prudent valour of signal eminency, receives not only a Guerdon from his Commander in Chief, but Laurels of Applauses from spectators of the fight. No otherwise man, coming home by true Repentance to his God, finds not only acceptation at his hand, who as he liveth doth desire a sinner should live; from whence resulteth joy, exceeding joy, but the Loyal Angels also break forth in sacred Jubilations, Likewise I say unto you, There is etc.  

CONNEXION.  
Our blessed Lord and Saviour having laid aside his Eternal Majesty, wherewith he was clothed as with a garment, and put on the sordid Rags of our Mortality, wherein he must satisfy the violated Justice of God, and purchase Eternal Redemption unto man, met with much opposition from Men and Devils. Whereof, though the whole Evangelical Compilement beareth ample record, yet shall it suffice to survey this Chapter, from whence the Text doth issue.  
Publicans and Sinners repair to Christ, Scribes and Pharisees repine at that; the first came to hear him, but when the other heard that, they murmured. And as the malignant Spider sucketh poison from the fragrant Rose; no otherwise, they start an accusation against Christ, being in the very act for which he came into the world: He receiveth sinners, and eateth with them, ver. 2. The Charge was grievous, for it comprehends Impiety and Intemperancy, Profaneness and Gluttony; the Accusers great, Scribes and Pharisees, the most admired for their Learning and Devotion, Knowledge and Practice. Though every false Report is not to be answered with too much diligence; yet Criminations of an high nature, darted from an high hand, are not to be neglected with a Stoical Apathy: The first being in itself not weighty, and supported with feeble Props, will quickly fall to the ground; but the other, when disregarded, is diffused even unto overflowing prejudice. Our Saviour therefore laboriously confutes their malicious slander, and defends his own act, To receive sinners, penitent sinners, is not sin.  
Shall the solicitous Shepherd, who with diligence hath sought, with patience found, and with great compassion brought home the stray sheep unto its fold, be rewarded with obloquy?  
Shall the frugal Housewife be rudely accused for her painful Exploration of her piece of Money that was lost, or for her joy, it being found?  
And who will blame a father for his transported joy at the hearty reformation of his Son, whom he had deemed to be incorrigible?  
Wolves they are, and not Sheep, who rejoice not at the reduction of the wand'ring Sheep.  
Neighbours they may be in place, but Strangers in affection, who are not gladsomely touched with the successful search of the thrifty woman for her amitted coin.  
And howsoever they pretend long and duteous attendances upon the just commands of their aged father, yet the truth is, they are children of Morosity, by peevish discontent to cloud the reviving joys of their tender Sire, at the true amendment of his debauched Son. Now look as Jonathan proclaimed the unjust wrath of his enraged father, and his own unchangeable love to Religious David, by shooting of three arrows, 1 Sam. 20. even so doth our Saviour vindicate his own Piety in receiving true Converts, and chargeth through and through the Impiety of those glorious Hypocrites, by those three Parables; the first, of the lost Sheep, from the third to the eighth Verse; of the lost Piece, from thence to the eleventh; from which Verse to the end of the Chapter, the Parable of the lost Son is most amply deduced. My Meditations are directed upon the second; wherein we have, as in the other two, two general parts, Protasis, and Antapodosis. First, we have the Parable propounded in the second Verse immediately preceding the Text, What woman having ten pieces of money, if she lose one piece, doth not light the candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? and when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece of money that was lost: And then we have it applied in the words of the Text itself, Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  
Which to take a pieces (and to take a pieces is an easy piece) we have three particulars: The duty of a sinner; The benignity of God's Angels; The certainty of both. The first, is to repent; the second, God's Angels rejoice at the conversion of a sinner; the certainty of both, Likewise I say unto you. The faithful witness in Heaven, then on Earth, hath spoken it: Contradiction must be silent, Hesitation must be satisfied.  
Thus the Text lies before you in its scattered pieces, which collected together, raise up this Frame or Proposition:  The unfeigned conversion of a sinner is the undoubted gratulation of God's Angels. 
In the handling whereof, this shall be our easy method. 1. We shall unfold the terms of the Proposition. Next, we shall assign the Reasons of the same. 3. We shall subjoin two Questions of tendency to the further clearing of the point in hand: (Which is not the Doctrine of Repentance, nor the nature of Angels, nor the infallibility of Christ's sayings; all these have their proper places elsewhere, the joint of this Text lies in the Joy of Angels at the conversion of a sinner.) And last of all, omitting many consectaries and inferences Incidental, we shall conclude this short Exercise with an Exhortation Intentional. I begin with the terms, and they are three, Conversion, Angels, Joy.   

CONVERSION.  
In general is a change or turning. Now all men know, that in all turn there is somewhat from whence we turn, and somewhat to which we turn ourselves. No otherwise in this conversion, Spiritual conversion: The Negative is the Kingdom of Sin and Satan; the Positive is the Kingdom of Christ, and his Righteousness. In regard of the first, a turning from the evil and error of our ways: In regard of the second, a turning to the God of Israel, in the language of the Old Testament, frequently: Both which our Saviour hath knit together in that of the New, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Act. 26.18. And though the whole nature of Conversion or Repentance (for I shall take the freedom to use them promiscuously; though I am not ignorant, that in exactness and accuracy of speech, there is some difference betwixt them) standeth principally in these two acts: yet more distinctly they must be attended with their several Properties. Sorrow for sin committed, is ever previous unto sin repent. This is that breaking up of the fallow ground, in the Old Testament; Compunction, in the New; and Contrition, in the language of the Schools. And Conversion unto God (even in its dawnings) is never without hope of pardon through Christ, that the destructive precipices of sin being abandoned, there is made some progress in the ways of New Obedience, which only lead unto eternal life: for, A true penitent mourneth for his sins, and rejoiceth for his mourning. So much for the first word, Conversion, unfeigned Conversion, unfeigned Conversion of a sinner; for sinners only are the subjects of Conversion.   

ANGELS.  
Spiritual Subsistences, endued with sublime understanding, great freedom of will, and eximious strength above all creatures whatsoever; of which, some kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, and are now reserved under everlasting chains of darkness, until the judgement of the great Day, S. Judas ver. 6. Angels of Darkness, Evil Angels, Angels of Satan, in the Scripture. Others persisted in their primitive obedience, and are now confirmed in that estate (against the Scepticism of Arminius be it spoken) without any possibility of falling, either from their holiness or happiness. In Scripture, Angels of Light, Elect Angels, Holy Angels; and in the Text, Angels of God, whose affection is Joy, the last and darkest word to be explained.   

JOY.  
Amongst the sinful dotages of the Fathers in the second Council of Nice, we read, That in the fifth action thereof, John Bishop of Thessalonica maintained, That Angels were substantially corporeal: no wonder then, if they entertained rude and gross thoughts of their affections, and particularly of their Joy. But we have not so learned to speak of Angels, whose nature, as we conceive to be spiritual, so their joy Inorganical. We have inward and outward Organs or Instruments of letation; the like whereof to ascribe unto those high Spirits, were erroneous in itself, injurious unto them: yet are they perfused with such a Joy at the Repentance of a sinner, as doth not derogare from the sublimity of their Natures. The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it in the Text, and therefore I said in the Doctrine, their gratulation was undoubted; Undoubted in itself, though the manner is unknown to us, and so shall be until that time, that Time shall be no more with us, when we shall be translated from these Rudimental forms below, unto the highest form, than fellow-scholars with the Angels. Then we who in this estate believe the Jubilation of these Spirits at our unfeigned Repentance, shall distinctly know the manner thereof in the life to come, when their nature shall be unveiled to us: then the proposition of the Text, with all the Mysteries of that Kingdom, shall not escape our comprehension: The unfeigned conversion of a sinner, is the undoubted gratulation of Angels.   

REASONS.  
The Reasons whereof, are taken either from their relations to God or Man. In the Text, they are his Angels, not only by Creation, but Mission; for, Angel is not a Name of their Nature, but Employment, and signifies Messenger. Now 'tis the glory of a saithful Messenger, to give his own will to be swallowed up in the wise and powerful will of his Lord that sends him. And what Gods will is as to the Repentance of a sinner, we read in that eminent place, Ezek. 33.11. As I live, I desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent, and live. There's his Protestation. Cast away all your iniquities by which ye have transgressed, lest iniquity be your ruin: Why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek 18.30, 31. there's his Obtestation, Thus because God willeth, and so earnestly willeth the Repentance of a sinner, these Messengers, Nuncio's, Legates, Ambassadors, even Angels of God, rejoice over man converted.  
Nor doth their employment from God only, in a duteous compliance with his will, produce this joy in them, but their relations to Man also considered, do quicken them to this affection, demonstrable in four particulars; In Proximity of Kindred; Family-relations; School-acquaintance; and fourthly, in Society of Arms. The first I call Natural, the second, Oeconomical; the third, Paedagogical; and the last, Martial. Of which perspicuously and succinctly in their order; and first, of the first ground Natural, or Proximity of Kindred.  
Holy Angels are called The Sons of God, Job 1.6. and true Converts enrobed with the same Title. Now we are the Sons of God, 1 Joh. 3.2. they Sons, and we Sons of one God and Father; therefore Brethren, therefore near in Kindred. jacob's youngest Son was Benjamin, the son of his right hand; but the eldest was Reuben, unstable as water. But in the filiations now in hand, it is quite otherwise; the confirmed Angels are Gods Benjamins; and converted sinners, whilst they walk by faith, and not by sight, are as Reuben. And though they are the elder brethren, yet their Seniority is not such as Origen fancied, created long before this visible world; for by these words, Before the foundation of the world, Scripture denotes Eternity, Eph. 1.4. yea, Moses celebrates the Eternity of God, in that He was before the Mountains were brought forth, ere ever he form the earth and the world, Psal. 90.2. Nor yet with others, do we think they were created the sixth day, that is to make us Twins, even the productions of one birth: but we hold it most consentaneous unto truth, That together with the supreme Heavens, they were created the first day, so that they were five days elder than Adam, who is called the Son of God, S. Luk. 3. ult. To which filiation (having sinned) we are not restored but by Repentance, and then brethren of Angels, they by Creation, we by Conversion, both by Adoption.  
Ah silly Cosroes, though the great Monarch of Persia, it was thy debasement to instyle thyself Brother to the Sun and Moon!  
Ah ridiculous hypocrite, Francis of Assize, in calling the Wolf thy Brother, the Fire thy Brother! We need not emendicate thoughts of humility from such servile prostitutions of our Nature; nor need we court those great Luminaries of Heaven to own us in a Brotherhood: We are exalted unto a Fraternity with the Angels, by our Repentance from dead works, to serve the living God; the first Motive of their Joy, and that Natural.  
I add a second, taken from Family-relations; they servants, and we servants of the great King: I am thy fellow-servant, and of the Prophets thy brethren, and of them that keep the words of this book, saith the Angel, Rev. 22.9. 'Tis true, S. John was an Apostle of the greatest Magnitude; yet was it no small dignation in the Angel who was perfect, to call him Brother, tending to perfection. Sure I am, it was much greater when the Angel professed himself a fellow-servant to the Prophets, men separated to the Ministry, but not assumed to the height of Apostolical Function. And yet he doth not stick there, he comes lower, and of them that keep the say of this book, even the meanest of Christ's Menial servants.  
The difference betwixt a Subject and a Servant is known to every one. All the people of Spain are the Subjects of their King, but they only that are enroled in the Houshold-book are properly his Servants. Amongst whom, some are of his Bedchamber, others of his Presence-chamber, in near and dear relations above stairs, yet disdain they not to call them of the Household which are below stairs, their fellow-servants. Angels, Apostles, Evangelists, Prophets, Martyrs, Virgins, Confessors, even all the Saints departed, are Servants of the King of kings, and their attendance is above stairs, I mean, in Heaven (all in Heaven for quality, not equality of Glory) and yet the most immediate and eminent Officers, to wit, Angels, do not scorn to call us penitents below stairs, far removed from the Beatifical Presence of our God, their fellow-servants. 'Tis frequent in the Courts of Princes, some Servant to start up, and plausibly to persuade his Lord to retrench his family; yet such specious counsels are often forged upon the Anvil of Self-interest: but that Servant to whom the honour of his Lord is dear and sacred, delights to see him numerously attended. Good Angels (for of them only we speak all this while) are most zealous of God's glory, which is most sweetly manifested in the great Court of Converts, who being called out of the state of Subjects at large, to be properly of the Household of God, those ancient Courtiers, those prime Servants the Angels, are therewith gladsomely affected. Which is the second ground, viz. Occonomical.  
3. They instruct, and men do learn. The Angel Gabriel doth expound the vision of the four Beasts unto the Prophet Dan. 6.16. informs him of the 70 weeks, cap. 9 ver. 21. unto the end; yea, reveals many other great mysteries unto him, in the 10, 11 & 12 Chapters of that book. So in the Old. In the New Testament, the very same Angel doth annunciate to the holy Virgin the Incarnation of the Son of God, in her, of her, Luke 1.26. Angels acquaint the Shepherds with the joyful news of his Nativity; the Resurrection of Christ declared by an Angel to the women, Matth. 28.5. the Apostles themselves are instructed in his Ascension, and his return to Judgement, by two Angels, Act. 1.11. yea, the future estate of the Church, until the day of the restitution of all things, is revealed by an Angel, I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testify these things unto you in the Churches, Rev. 22.16.  
Some Arminians do teach, That at this day God useth the visible Ministry of Angels for the conversion of Pagans, to whom Christian Pastors are totally wanting: Of which I will say no more, than what Gabriel Biel hath long ago (following S. Hierom) concluded of such speculations, Whatsoever is not founded upon sacred Scripture, either expressly, or by just consequence, (and neither way, in my opinion, is this opinion) is with the same facility rejected as affirmed. When the Gospel of Christ lay hid in a Mystery, when the foundations of the Christian Church were not laid, when the Canon of the sacred Oracles was not completed, it seemed good to the wisdom of God, to relieve the infirmity of man, by sensible and exterior Revelations of Angels. But now that the light of the Gospel is so clear in itself, and so clearly sealed up and confirmed, such vocal and outward Ministrations under sensible and assumed shapes are not to be expected; and yet well are not they, who deny all power to the holy Angels to act upon the inward senses of man. For my part, (with the good leave of my Religious and Learned Brethren be it spoken) I doubt not but good Angels suggest good counsels, tender holy motions, offer pious thoughts, yea refresh the often parched spirits of gracious men with inward joy. Shall wicked Angels steal the Word that was sown in the hearts of men, lest they should believe and be saved, Luke 8.12? Shall the Devil work in the children of disobedience, Eph 2.2? Enormously disquiet the affections, 1 Sam. 16.15? yea, inject wicked thoughts with success in godly men, 1 Chron. 21.1? Tell me, if any man can tell me, with what shadow of truth can the Angels of God be excluded from all actings and operations upon the inward senses of man. To conclude this third Incentive: If Aristotle broke forth in joy, when he did read the learned Epistles of his Scholar Alexander; If it be a Crown of rejoicing to the man of God, to see the people of his charge not children, but men in understanding: How enlarged are the gratulations of Angels, when their motions are attended, and their monitions obeyed, to our further progress in the School of Grace, in which we are admitted, and matriculated by Repentance? This ground is Paedagogical. There remaineth one, and but one, taken from Society of Arms, which I called Martial.  
Humane Stories tell us, That the scarce numerable Army of Xerxes, conducted against Greece, was so defeated by Sea and Land, that very few of them returned home: but that was a continued overthrow of many days. Aetius the Proconsul, that prodigy of valour, killed 20000 Barbarians, led by Attilas the scourge of God, in one day. The like destruction is reported to have fallen upon the Moors and Saracens, by the wise Conduct of Charles Martel, in one day. Yet more, five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell by the sword of Abijah and his loyal Subjects, in one day. But thousands of thousands, millions of millions, myriads of myriads of Angels fell in one hour. When a battle proves more than desperate, by the taking of the Royal Standard, the surprisal of the Canons and Magazine, the destruction of a great part of their Army, yea the death of the General added, What joy is it to the broken limb of that dispersed Army, to see itself vigorously recruited? God hath numbered unto himself an Army, like unto the Army that he had lost, (or rather and indeed only so, that had wilfully lost itself) hoses for horses, chariots for chariots; The Ranks and Files of lapsed Angels, are filled up with new Recruits, men and women penitent for their sins; matter of joy, ecstatical joy unto the holy Angels. And thus they who own us in the womb of the Church Brethren, in the house of God Fellow-servants, in the school of Christ our Monitors, in the field of the Church perform many Military services for us. I will name but two:  
1. They are watchful Sentinels, in destroying the devices of the enemy, and giving a timely alarm to the happy frustration of the same; Arise and take the babe and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the babe to destroy him, S. Mat. 2.13.  
2. They are faithful Life-guards: He shall give his Angels charge over thee in all thy ways, Psal. 91.11. Jacob had experience hereof, whose Convoy they were into the Land of Canaan; This is God's Host, Gen. 32.2. Such was their diligent custody of Elisha, when the Syrian Army came to take him, who in contemplation of his guard, broke forth into that expression of high confidence, They that are with us, are more than they that are with them, 2 Kings 6.16. And hitherto of the Reasons, the two Reasons of this Proposition, The unfeigned conversion of a sinner, is the undoubted rejoicing of Angels; to wit, their relations unto God, whose Angels they are, and their relations unto Man, discoursed unto you to be Natural, Paedagogical, Oeconomical, and Martial. It remaineth we come to the Questions, which are two.  
The former, How come the Angels of Heaven to know the conversion of a sinner upon earth?  
I answer, Conversion is either passive or active. This distinction is necessarily to be maintained against the Flatterers of Nature, Enemies of Grace: The former I call Conversion in the heart, the latter Conversion of the heart. The first is the immediate act of God, hid from the Lyncean eyes of those Spirits, but hide a very little while, God's act being infrustrably followed with our actings, which makes conversion of the heart; from which effect the Eaglesighted Angel concludes the antecedent cause, to wit, Conversion in the heart.  
2 Quest. Is the conversion of every particular sinner made known unto all the Angels of God?  
I answer, Whatsoever is of the essential beatitude of Angels, is known unto them all: Now their knowledge of thy repentance, or my conversion, is accidental, not essential to their bliss. It is enough that some Angels do know it, and rejoice therein: As for other Angels far removed, at least not definitively present in that Ubi, where the new convert is, when they come to know this holy change, it is either by revelation from God, or he approving it, by communication of the circumstant or concerned Angel, one or more.  
Briefly, though the wisdom of Angels is exceeding great, yet it is finite; very large, yet limited: for neither by their Matutine or Vespertine knowledge in the language of the Schools, borrowed from S. Austin; neither by their natural or experimental, infused or acquired knowledge in the expression of Moderns, have they a distinct and intuitive inspection of future contingencies, depending upon the singular providence of God, or mutability and indeterminateness of man's will, without particular revelation from God; and consequently, read not the inmost thoughts of men, but when they are rendered legible by omanations and signs; for, God only knows the thoughts of the hearts of all the children of men, as it is in the dedication-prayer of Solomon, 1 King. 8.39. In a word, God sees our thoughts afar off, even before they are form; Angels, near at hand, when they are performed, which is abundant matter of their joy at the conversion of a sinner: Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in the presence, etc. And now suffer the word of Exhortation.  
Man is a Creature, not more remarkable for Invention, than Imitation; of things worthy, very seldom; but of things to be abhorred, too often. Natural deformities in the body, have been copied out as singular beauties, and Moral infirmities of the soul of some, have past into vices, National and Epidemical. Have we not read and seen unsound Opinions only sipped by great ones, taken down in great draughts by the injudicious multitude? The calumniating superciliousness of those Demagogues, Scribes and Pharisees, had empoisoned the fillier people, had not our Saviour prepared this Antidote; and the iron-like austerity of the Novatians denying Repentance to such as sinned after Baptism, and excluding all relapsers, how penitent soever, from Church-Communion, had overspread the Primitive Church, even unto precipitating desperation, had not the holy Fathers, burning with the zeal of Christ's truth, maturely and vigorously opposed the same. These certainly are not for us to imitate, unless we choose rather to contesserate with Heretics, than Orthodox Professors: All the Reformed Churches, and that of Rome also, condemning, as those painted Perfectionists of old, so them likewise who tread in their steps at this day. What, did I mention the Reformed, the Roman Churches? To congratulate the salvation of the Gentiles, was the practice of the Christian Church of the Jews; for when they heard Peter's Apology, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also given unto the Gentiles repentance unto life, Act. 11.18. 'Tis the peculiar character of good Angels in the Text.  
Nay, yet higher, this sacred affection is in God the Father, under the tegument of the Prodigals father; in God the Son, under the emblem of a Shepherd; and who can doubt at the delight of the holy Ghost herein, since Repentance of a sinner is signally his work?  
But will not you, the Angels of the Churches, lawful Ministers of the Word and Sacraments, upbraid us with our aberration, if we return unto the Truth, from whence in wand'ring we have even wearied ourselves? Far be it from us: fear it not, that meek man having found the lost Sheep, doth not spurn it with his disdainful foot, nor bruise it with his weighty staff, nor rend it with his cruel dogs, but lays it upon his shoulders with rejoicing. This affection is in us, the Angels of the Churches. The compassionate father hearing of his Prodigals return, doth not permit the surly Porter for to shut the gate against him, nor the hired Servants to arm themselves, opposing his admittance; but he comes forth and meets his Son, whom he observed to be reformed; he runs to him, falls upon his neck, and kisseth him; Necessaries, shoes for his feet, clothes for his back; Ornaments, the best Robe, and a Gold Ring, frankly, freely bestowed; yea, the fatted Calf is killed; and the harmonious Music proclaims aloud his hearty welcome to his father's house: No objecting his former ways, no twitting him by his father with his foregoing courses. This affection is in us, the Angels of the Churches. The diligent woman, who having lighted a candle, and swept the house, and gave not over seeking, till she had found the piece of Money which was lost, doth not discharge her inflamed choler upon it; nor doth she take it up with wrathful chafing, saying, Thou art an unfortunate piece, which hath brought me more trouble in thy quest, than I shall have comfort in thy use: No, but having found it, she calleth her neighbours and friends together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece of money that was lost. Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  
FINIS.    

These Books following, are Printed for Francis Smith, and are to be sold at his Shop, in Flying-Horse-Court, in Fleetstreet, near Chancery Lane end ..  
Christianismus Redivivus, Christendom both Unchristened, and new Christened; or that good old way of Dipping & Inchurching of Men and Women after Faith and Repentance, vindicated; Also the Writings of Mr. Baxter, Dr. Featley, Dr. Holms, Mr. Martial, Mr. Blake, Mr. Cook, Mr. Cotton, Answered; with a Vindication of Ordinances till Christ's personal Coming, against Ranters and Quakers, proved, in Follio.  
Truth prevailing against the fieircest Opposition, or an answer to Mr. John goodwin's Water Dipping, no firm footing for Church-Communion, in quàrto.  
The Damnable Heresies, horrid Blasphemies, Mockings, Rail, Deceit and Dishonesty of the Quaker laid open, in 4to.  
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