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 JOY.Of IOY.

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:1361–1376 of 4,926

:1361p. 212

Resp. The Gleanings of the one are better than the Vintage of the other.

:1362p. 212¶1

1. Spiritual Joys help to make us better, Worldly Joys do often make us worse, Jer. 22.21. I spake to thee in thy Prosperity, and thou saidst, I will not hear. Pride and Luxury are the two Worms bred of Worldly Pleasure, Hos. 4.11. Wine takes away the Heart. 'Tis fomentum libidinis, Aug. The Inflamer of Lust. As Satan entered in the Sop, so often in the C•p. But Spiritual Joy makes one better; it is like Cordial Water, which (as Physicians say) doth not only cheer the Heart, but Purges out the noxious Humours; so Divine Joy is Cordial Water, which doth not only Comfort, but Cleanse; it makes a Christian more Holy; it causeth an Antipathy against Sin; it infuseth strength to do and suffer, Neh. 8.10. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. As some Colours do not only delight the Eye, but strengthen the Sight; so the Joys of God do not only refresh the Soul, but strengthen it, The Joy of the Lord is your strength.

1. Spiritual Joys help to make us better, Worldly Joys do often make us worse, Ier. 22.21. I spake to thee in thy Prosperity, and thou saidst, I will not hear. Pride and Luxury are the two Worms bred of Worldly Pleasure, Hos. 4.11. Wine takes away the Heart. 'Tis fomentum libidinis, Aug. The Inflamer of Lust. As Satan entred in the Sop, so often in the C•p. But Spiritual Joy makes one better; it is like Cordial Water, which (as Physicians say) doth not only cheer the Heart, but Purges out the noxious Humours; so Divine Joy is Cordial Water, which doth not only Comfort, but Cleanse; it makes a Christian more Holy; it causeth an Antipathy against Sin; it infuseth strength to do and suffer,

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36