A01550:169
The spiritual watchThe spirituall vvatch
The spiritual watch, or Christs general watch-word A meditation on Mark. 13. 37. By Thomas Gataker B. of D. and pastor of Rotherhith.The spirituall vvatch, or Christs generall watch-word A meditation on Mark. 13. 37. By Thomas Gataker B. of D. and pastor of Rotherhith.
London: printed by Edward Griffin for William Bladen, 1619
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And for this end no doubt hath the Holy Ghost left upon record the foul slips and falls of many of Gods worthy Saints and Servants, not that any should thereby be encouraged or emboldened unto sin; but nthat the ruin of such great ones might make weaker ones more wary; that where we have seen them slip for want of watchfulness, there might we be more watchful: that when we see others foiled far stronger then our selves, it might make us the more to distrust our own strength: Which the more we distrust, the less shall we presume on it, and the more careful shall we be to use all good means, whereby true strength may be achieved of us and increased in us.
And for this end no doubt hath the Holy Ghost left vpon record the foule slips and fals of many of Gods worthy Saints and Seruants, not that any should thereby bee incouraged or emboldned vnto sin; but nthat the ruine of such great ones might make weaker ones more wary; that where we haue seene them slip for want of watchfulnesse, there might we be more watchfull: that when we see others foiled farre stronger then our selues, it might make vs the more to distrust our owne strength: Which the more we distrust, the lesse shall we presume on it, and the more carefull shall wee be to vse all good meanes, whereby true strength may be atchieued of vs and increased in vs.
- nUt cautela minorum sit ruinae maiorū. Greg. mor. lib. 33. c. 15. Scriptae sunt ruinae priorum ad cautelam posteriorum. Stultus quippe est, qui praecedentem cadere videt & ipse non cavet. Rad. Ardent post Trinit. 9. Cautum itaque debet reddere, non sequacem, error alienus. Cassiod. l. 7. ep. 2. Cum magnos cecidisse attendunt, parui timeant. Augustin. in Psalm. 50. Nimium praceps est, qui tranfire contendit, ubi alium conspexerit cecidisse: & vehementer infraenis est, cui non incutitur timor alio pereunte. Amator verò est salutis suae, qui evitat alienae mortis incursum: & ipse est providus, qui sollicitus fit cladibus caeterorum. Autor de fingul. cleric. Vita itaque f•ueam in quam alium vides cecidisse: aliena pericula in te pertimesce: alterius perditio tua sit cautio. Isidor. soliloq. l. 1.