A Body of Practical Divinity

Name: A Body of Practical Divinity
Author: Thomas Watson

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 ...

Thomas Watson d. 1686London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692

[5], iv, 300, 331-544, 801-880, 965-1007, [7] p. · 512k words · Wing W1109 · ESTC R32148

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Of ASSURANCE.Of ASSVRANCE.

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.

Listen to this book 52 h 30 min

[ Earlier:1288–1303 of 4,926

:1288p. 204

Quest. How may we know we have the indwelling presence of the Spirit?

:1289p. 204

Resp. Not by having sometimes good Motions stirred up in us by the Spirit; it may work in us, yet not dwell; but by the Sanctifying Power of the Spirit on our Heart, the Spirit infuseth Divinam Indolem, a Divine Nature; it stamps its own impress and Effigies on the Soul, making the Complexion of it Holy. The Spirit ennobles and raiseth the Heart above the World; when Nebuchadnezzar had his Understanding given him, he grazed no longer amongst the Beasts, but returned to his Throne, and minded the Affairs of his Kingdom; when the Spirit of God dwells in a Man, it carries his Heart above the visible Orbs; it makes him Superna anhelare, thirst after Christ and Glory; if we can find this, then we have Grace, and so have a right to Assurance.

Resp. Not by having sometimes good Motions stir'd up in us by the Spirit; it may work in us, yet not dwell; but by the Sanctifying Power of the Spirit on our Heart, the Spirit infuseth Divinam Indolem, a Divine Nature; it stamps its own impress and Effigies on the Soul, making the Complexion of it Holy. The Spirit ennobles and raiseth the Heart above the World; when Nebuchadnezzar had his Understanding given him, he grazed no longer amongst the Beasts, but returned to his Throne, and minded the Affairs of his Kingdom; when the Spirit of God dwells in a Man, it carries his Heart above the visible Orbs; it makes him Superna anhelare, thirst after Christ and Glory; if we can find this, then we have Grace, and so have a right to Assurance.

:1290p. 204–205¶2

2. If you want Assurance wait for it; if the Figures are graven on the Dial, it is but waiting a while and the Sun shines: When Grace is engraven in the Heart, it is but waiting a while and we shall have the Sun-shine of Assurance. He that believes makes not haste,

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