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 Commandments.

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:1794–1809 of 4,926

:1794p. 262

Quest. How are they happy?

:1795p. 262

Resp. 1. Because they are more Holy, Heb. 12.10. 2. Because they are more in Gods Favour, Prov 3.12. The Goldsmith loves his Gold, when in the Furnace. 3. Because they have more of Gods sweet Presence, Psal. 91.15. And they cannot be unhappy, that have Gods powerful Presence in supporting, his gracious Presence in Sanctifying their Affliction. 4. Because the more affliction they have, the more degrees of Glory they shall have. The lower they have been in the Iron Furnace, they shall sit upon the higher Throne of Glory. The heavier their Cross, the heavier shall be their Crown. So then if Affliction make a Christian happy, they cannot denominate him miserable.

:1796p. 262¶4

4. See the Merciful Providence of God to his Children, though they may be in the House of Bondage, and smart by Affliction, yet they shall not be hurt by Affliction. What hurt doth the Fan to the Corn? only separates the Chaff from it. Or the Lance to the Body, only let out the Impostume. The House of Bondage doth that which sometimes Ordinances will not do, it doth Humble and Reform, Job 36.8, 11. If they be held in Cords of Affliction, he openeth their Ear to Discipline, and commandeth that they return from Iniquity. O what a merciful Providence is this, though God bruise his People, yet while he is bruising them, he is doing them good. As if one should throw a Bag of Money at another, and a little bruise him, yet it doth enrich him. Affliction enricheth the Soul, and yields the sweet Fruits of Righteousness,

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Of the Commandments.