Transcribed from the R. Weston edition [circa 1811–1826],
THE
Elder Son explained,
AND THE
ROMISH CHURCH EXPOSED.
Eight reasons why I believe thathe was not a saved Character,
Various have been the opinions ofgood men concerning the elder son: some suppose it must mean theelect angels, who, though holy beings, yet were envious of thehigh honors conferred on man who was so far beneath them. He took not on him the nature of angels, but, as the son of God,he took on him the seed of Abraham; and being found in fashion asa man, he humbled himself to the death of the cross. But toform such an opinion of the holy angels is quite absurd, seeing,that so far from envying what grace has done for fallen man, theyare represented as filled with joy. Hence the prophet callsupon them to rejoice—“Sing, O ye heavens! the Lordhath redeemed his people”—and in their death and safearrival to glory, the promise runs—“For ye shall goout with joy and be led forth with peace, the mountains and thehills shall break forth into singing, (the elect angels and thespirits of just men made perfect) and all the trees shall claptheir hands for joy”—God’s called people uponthe conversion and happy death of others—how vast their joyat the incarnation of p. 2Christ, when they brought glad tidingsof great joy; and after delivering the glorious message, theyreturned singing glory to God in the highest. Our dear Lordalso assures us there is joy in the presence of the angels whensinners on earth repent. And why? As Mr. Topladysays, “Tell me ye seraphs of light, tell me ye souls ofjust men made perfect, why this exuberance of holy rapture on thereal recovery of a single sinner to God?” Because yeknow, assuredly, that every true conversion is, first, a certainproof that the person converted is one of your own elect number;and secondly, that he shall infallibly persevere and be broughtto heaven. Many more reasons might be assigned why theelect angels rejoice in the conversion of a sinner to God. Other writers have supposed that our Lord did not mean anyparticular person or character, or order of beings, by the elderbrother in this parable; but this is most absurd, to suppose thatour Lord should utter so many words, including eight verses,about nobody. If the younger brother alludes to someorder of beings, surely the description of the elder brothercannot be without meaning. This however was the opinion ofthe late worthy John Bradford; but he is the only writer I hopethat ever held such a weak idea. Others have supposed, thatthe elder brother signifies a believer truly converted, but verylegal in mind—one that has been kept from outwardsin—very precise and moral—virtuous and consistent,yet envious at the conduct of God our heavenly Father towards amost desperate backslider. This I acknowledge was myopinion for some years; but in time I was led to see that thisopinion was wrong, and that the prodigal son refers to the stateof God’s elect as fallen in Adam the first, and called,convinced, and effectually converted in Adam the second, by theHoly Spirit; and that the elder brother is an exhibition of thewhole group of pharisees in every age and of everydenomination. For however moral a believer may be kept allhis days, yet was