A01550:87
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.
§. 24. Is it a corruption of thy nature? or is it a sin incident to thy calling, or to thy course of life and condition? Then it is that sin that God specially calleth thee to keep watch and ward against. For what need or use is there of watching there, where there is no fear or danger of assault? Were it not a wise watching, for men to keep watch and ward against such enemies as are many hundred miles off them, and neglect those the mean while that are nearer at hand with them, ready every hour almost to be setting upon them? If there were (as oft there hath been) hostility between France and us; were it a wise part, or would it deserve the name of watching, to set some about the Cinque-ports to keep out Turkish men of war, but to let French-bottoms ⟨p. 39⟩pass freely in and out to land forces at their pleasure? mThey are thine own corruptions, not other mens, that wage war against thy soul: those it standeth thee therefore in hand to keep watch and ward against; because those they are that thou standest most in danger of; and nthose they are that the Devil is readiest to assault thee withal: such as are the sins either of thy birth and constitution, or of thy breed and education, or of thy course of life and conversation, or of thy state and condition, or of the times thou livest in, or of the places thou abidest in; which because3 they be nearest or deerest unto thee, thou mayest soonest therefore be drawn away by them, and canst hardliest in that regard be withdrawn away from them.
§. 24. Is it a corruption of thy nature? or is it a sinne incident to thy calling, or to thy course of life and condition? Then it is that sinne that God specially calleth thee to keepe watch and ward against. For what neede or vse is there of watching there, where there is no feare or danger of assault? Were it not a wise watching, for men to keepe watch and ward against such enemies as are many hundred miles off them, and neglect those the meane while that are neerer at hand with them, ready euery houre almost to be setting vpon them? If there were (as oft there hath beene) hostilitie betweene France and vs; were it a wise part, or would it deserue the name of watching, to set some about the Cinque-ports to keepe out Turkish men of warre, but to let French-bottomes