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 the SCRIPTURES.Of the SCRIPTVRES.

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.

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Answ. 1. Read the Bible with Reverence; think every Line you read God is speaking to you. The Ark wherein the Law was put was over-laid with pure Gold, and was carried on Bars that the Levites might not touch it, Exod. 25.14. And why was this? but to breed in the People Reverence to the Law. 2. Read with Seriousness. 'Tis Matter of Life and Death: By this Word you must be tried; Conscience and Scripture are the Jury God will proceed by in Judging of you. 3. Read the Word with Affection. Get your Hearts quickened with the Word; go to it to fetch fire. Luke 24.31. Did not our hearts burn within us. Labour that the Word may not only be a Lamp to direct, but a Fire to warm. Read the Scripture not only as an History, but as a Love-Letter sent to you from God, which may affect your Hearts. 4. Pray that the same Spirit that wrote the Word may assist you in the reading of it; that God's Spirit would show you the wonderful Things of his Law. Go near, saith God to Philip, join thy self to this Chariot, Acts 8.29. So when God's Spirit joins himself with this Chariot of the Word, then it becomes effectual.

Answ. 1. Read the Bible with Reverence; think every Line you read God is speaking to you. The Ark wherein the Law was put was over-laid with pure Gold, and was carried on Barrs that the Levites might not touch it, Exod. 25.14. And why was this? but to breed in the People Reverence to the Law. 2. Read with Seriousness. 'Tis Matter of Life and Death: By this Word you must be tried; Conscience and Scripture are the Jury God will proceed by in Judging of you. 3. Read the Word with Affection. Get your Hearts quickned with the Word; go to it to fetch fire. Luke 24.31. Did not our hearts burn within us. Labour that the Word may not only be a Lamp to direct, but a Fire to warm. Read the Scripture not only as an History, but as a Love-Letter sent to you from God, which may affect your Hearts. 4. Pray that the same Spirit that wrote the Word may assist you in the reading of it; that God's Spirit would show you the wonderful Things of his Law. Go near, saith God to Philip, joyn thy self to this Chariot,

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