A65285:1501
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.
3. They lose Heaven. Heaven is Sedes beatorum, the Royal Seat of the Blessed; it is the region of Happiness, the Map of Perfection. There is that Manna which is Angels Food; there is the Garden of Spices, the Bed of Perfumes, the Rivers of Pleasure. Sinners at Death lose all this.
4. They lose their Hopes. For though they lived wickedly, yet they hoped God was Merciful, and they hoped they should go to Heaven. Their Hope was not an Anchor, but a Spiders Web. Now at Death they lose their Hopes, they see they did but flatter themselves into Hell, Job. 8.14. Whose Hope shall be cut off. That is sad to have a Mans Life and his Hope cut off together.
4. They lose their Hopes. For though they lived wickedly, yet they hoped God was Merciful, and they hoped they should go to Heaven. Their Hope was not an Anchor, but a Spiders Web. Now at Death they lose their Hopes, they see they did but flatter themselves into Hell, Iob. 8.14. Whose Hope shall be cut off. That is sad to have a Mans Life and his Hope cut off together.
Use 2. If the Saints gain such glorious things at Death, then how may they desire Death? Doth not every one desire Preferment? nemo ante funera Felix—Faith gives a Title to Heaven, Death a Possession. Though we should be desirous of doing Service here, yet we should be ambitious to be with Christ, Phil. 1.23. We should be content to live, but willing to Dye. Is it not a blessed thing to be freed from Sin, and to lie for ever in the Bosom of Divine Love? Is it not a blessed thing to meet our Godly Relations in Heaven, and to be singing Divine Anthems of Praise among the Angels? Doth not the Bride desire the Marriage Day, especially if she were to be matched unto the Crown? What is the Place we now live in, but a Place of Banishment from God? We are in a Wilderness, while the Angels live at Court. Here we are combating with Satan, and should not we desire to be out of the Bloody Field where the Bullets of Tentation fly so fast, and to receive a Victorious Crown? Think what it will be to have always a smiling Aspect from Christs Face; to be brought into the Banqueting House, and have the Banner of his Love displayed over you. O ye Saints desire Death, it is your Ascension-day to Heaven. Egredere anima, egredere, said Hilarion on his Death-bed,