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.

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Resp. 1. Love to God must be pure and genuine, he must be loved chiefly for himself, this the School-men call Amor amicitiae. We must love God not only for his Benefits, but those intrinsic Excellencies wherewith he is Crowned. We must love God not only for the good which flows from him but the good which is in him. True love is not Mercenary; a Soul that is deeply in love with God, needs not be hired with Rewards; he cannot but love God for the Beauty of his Holiness; not but that it is lawful to look at Gods Benefits. Moses had an Eye to the recompense of Reward, Heb. 11.26. But we must not love God only for his Benefits, for then it is not love of God, but Self-Love.

Resp. 1. Love to God must be pure and genuine, he must be loved chiefly for himself, this the School-men call Amor amicitiae. We must love God not only for his Benefits, but those intrinsick Excellencies wherewith he is Crowned. We must love God not only for the good which flows from him but the good which is in him. True love is not Mercenary; a Soul that is deeply in love with God, needs not be hired with Rewards; he cannot but love God for the Beauty of his Holiness; not but that it is lawful to look at Gods Benefits. Moses had an Eye to the recompence of Reward, Heb. 11.26. But we must not love God only for his Benefits, for then it is not love of God, but Self-Love.

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2. Love to God must be [Greek or Hebrew], with all the Heart, Mark 12.30. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart. We must not love God a little, give him a Drop or two of our Love; but the main Stream of our Love must run after him; the Mind must think of God, the Will choose him, the Affections pant after him. The true Mother would not have the Child divided, nor God will not have the Heart divided; we must love him with our whole Heart. Though we may love the Creature, yet it must be a subordinate Love. Love to God must be highest, as the Oil swims above the Water.

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