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 PERSEVERANCE.

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:1470–1485 of 4,926

:1470p. 224

Thirdly, If you would Persevere, be very Sincere. Perseverance grows only upon the Root of Sincerity, Psal. 25.21. Let Integrity and Uprightness preserve me. The Breast-Plate of Sincerity can never be shot thorough. How many Storms was Job in? The Devil sets against him, his Wife tempted him to Curse God, his Friends accused him for an Hypocrite; here was enough one would think to have made him desist from Religion: Yet for all this he perseveres. What preserved him? it was his Sincerity, Job 27.6. My Righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my Heart shall not Reproach me so long as I live.

Thirdly, If you would Persevere, be very Sincere. Perseverance grows only upon the Root of Sincerity, Psal. 25.21. Let Integrity and Uprightness preserve me. The Breast-Plate of Sincerity can never be shot thorough. How many Storms was Iob in? The Devil sets against him, his Wife tempted him to Curse God, his Friends accused him for an Hypocrite; here was enough one would think to have made him desist from Religion: Yet for all this he perseveres. What preserved him? it was his Sincerity, Iob 27.6. My Righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my Heart shall not Reproach me so long as I live.

:1471p. 224

Fourthly, If Persevere, be Humble. St. Chrysostom calls it the Mother of all the Graces. God lets a poor Humble Christian stand, when others of Higher Parts, and who have higher Thoughts of themselves, fall off by Apostasy. They are likest to Persevere, who God will give most Grace to; But he gives Grace to the Humble, 1 Pet. 5.5. They are likest to persevere, who have God dwelling in them; But God dwells in the Humble Soul,

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

A Believers Privilege at Death.