A65285:1687
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.
Use 2. Let us be persuaded to love God with all our Heart and Might; O let us take our Love off from other things, and place it upon God. Love is the Heart of Religion, the Fat of the Offering. 'Tis the Grace which Christ enquires most after, John 21.15. Peter, lovest thou me? Love makes all our Services Acceptable, it is the Musk that perfumes them. 'Tis not so much Duty, as Love to Duty God delights in; therefore Serving and Loving God are put together, Isa. 56.6. 'Tis better to Love him than to Serve him. Obedience without Love, is like Wine without the Spirits. O then be persuaded to love God with all your Heart and Might. To persuade to this Virgin Affection of Love,
Use 2. Let us be perswaded to love God with all our Heart and Might; O let us take our Love off from other things, and place it upon God. Love is the Heart of Religion, the Fat of the Offering. 'Tis the Grace which Christ enquires most after, Iohn 21.15. Peter, lovest thou me? Love makes all our Services Acceptable, it is the Musk that perfumes them. 'Tis not so much Duty, as Love to Duty God delights in; therefore Serving and Loving God are put together, Isa. 56.6. 'Tis better to Love him than to Serve him. Obedience without Love, is like Wine without the Spirits. O then be perswaded to love God with all your Heart and Might. To perswade to this Virgin Affection of Love,
1. 'Tis nothing but your Love God desires. The Lord might have demanded your Children to be offered in Sacrifice; he might have bid you Cut and Lance ⟨p. 248⟩your Selves, or lain in Hell a while; but he only desires your Love; he would only have this Flower. Is this an hard Request to Love God? Was ever any Debt easier paid than this? Is it any labour to the Wife to Love her Husband? Love is delightful. Non potest Amor esse, & dulcis non esse, Bern. What is there in our Love that God should desire it? Why should a King desire the Love of a Woman that is in Debt, and Diseased? God doth not want our Love. There are Angels enough in Heaven to Adore and Love him. What is God the better for our Love? It adds not the least Cubit to his Essential Blessedness. God doth not need our Love, yet seeks it. Why doth God desire us to give him our Heart?