A65285:1375
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.
2. Because Spiritual Joy carries the Soul through Duty cheerfully; the Sabbath is a Delight, Religion is a Recreation. Fear and Sorrow hinder us in the Discharge of Duty: But a Christian serves God with Activity, when he serves him with Joy. The Oil of Joy makes the Wheels of Obedience move faster. How fervently did they Pray, whom God made joyful in the House of Prayer, Isa. 56.7.
2. Because Spiritual Joy carries the Soul through Duty chearfully; the Sabbath is a Delight, Religion is a Recreation. Fear and Sorrow hinder us in the Discharge of Duty: But a Christian serves God with Activity, when he serves him with Joy. The Oyl of Joy makes the Wheels of Obedience move faster. How fervently did they Pray, whom God made joyful in the House of Prayer, Isa. 56.7.
3. Joy is the beginning of Heaven here; it is called the Kingdom of God, Rom. 14.17. because it is a Taste of that which the Saints have in the Kingdom of God. What is the Heaven of the Angels, but the Smiles of Gods Face, the ⟨p. 214⟩sensible Perception and Feeling of those Joys which are infinitely ravishing and full of Glory? And to encourage and quicken us in seeking after them, consider, that Christ died to purchase this Joy for his Saints: He was a Man of Sorrows, that we may be full of Joy; he Prays that the Saints may have this Divine Joy, John 17.13. And now I come to thee, that they may have my Joy fulfilled in themselves. And this Prayer he now Prays over in Heaven; he knows we never love him so, as when we feel his Love; which may encourage us to seek after this Joy; we Pray for that which Christ himself is Praying for, that his Joy may be fulfilled in us.