A65285:1280
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Effect 2. Assurance would drop Sweetness into all our Creature-Enjoyments; it would be as Sugar to Wine, an earnest of more; it gives a Blessing with the Venison; As Guilt embitters our Comforts, it is like drinking out of a Wormwood Cup; So Assurance would indulcorate and sweeten all. Health, and the Assurance of Gods Love are sweet Riches, with the Assurance of a Kingdom are delectable: Nay, a Dinner of Green Herbs, with the Assurance of Gods Love, is Princely Fare.
Effect 2. Assurance would drop Sweetness into all our Creature-Enjoyments; it would be as Sugar to Wine, an earnest of more; it gives a Blessing with the Venison; As Guilt imbitters our Comforts, it is like drinking out of a Wormwood Cup; So Assurance would indulcorate and sweeten all. Health, and the Assurance of Gods Love are sweet Riches, with the Assurance of a Kingdom are delectable: Nay, a Dinner of Green Herbs, with the Assurance of Gods Love, is Princely Fare.
Effect 3. Assurance would make us Active and Lively in Gods Service; it would excite Prayer, quicken Obedience; as Diligence begets Assurance, so Assurance begets Diligence. Assurance will not (as the Papists say) breed Security in the Soul, but Industry. Doubting does discourage us in Gods Service, but the Assurance of his Favour breeds Joy, And the Joy of the Lord is our strength, Nehem. 8.10. Assurance makes us mount up to Heaven as Eagles in Holy Duties; it is like the Spirit in Ezekiel's Wheels, that moved them and lifted them up. Faith would make us Walk, but Assurance would make us Run: We should never think we could do enough for God. Assurance would be as Wings to the Bird, as Weights to the Clock, to set all the Wheels of Obedience a running.
Effect 3. Assurance would make us Active and Lively in Gods Service; it would excite Prayer, quicken Obedience; as Diligence begets Assurance, so Assurance begets Diligence. Assurance will not (as the Papists say) breed Security in the Soul, but Industry. Doubting does discourage us in Gods Service, but the Assurance of his Favour breeds Joy, And the Ioy of the Lord is our strength,