A65285:2040
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.
6. He that loves God, prefers him before Estate and Life. 1. Before Estate, Phil. 3.8. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. Who that loves a rich Jewel, would not part with a Flower for it? Galcanus Marquess of Vico, parted with a fair Estate to enjoy God in his pure Ordinances: When a Jesuit persuaded him to return to his Popish Religion in Italy, promising him an huge Sum of Money: Saith he, Let their Money perish with them, who esteem all the Gold in the World worth one days Communion with Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit. 2. Before Life, Rev. 12.11. They loved not their lives to the death. Love to God carries the Soul above the love of Life; and the fear of Death.
6. He that loves God, prefers him before Estate and Life. 1. Before Estate, Phil. 3.8. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. Who that loves a rich Jewel, would not part with a Flower for it? Galcanus Marquess of Vico, parted with a fair Estate to enjoy God in his pure Ordinances: When a Jesuit perswaded him to return to his Popish Religion in Italy, promising him an huge Summ of Mony: Saith he, Let their Mony perish with them, who esteem all the Gold in the World worth one days Communion with Iesus Christ and his Holy Spirit. 2. Before Life, Rev. 12.11. They loved not their lives to the death. Love to God carries the Soul above the love of Life; and the fear of Death.
7. He who loves God loves his Favourites, viz. the Saints, 1 John 5.1. Idem est motus animi in imaginem & rem. To love a Man for his Grace, and the more we see of God in him, the more we love him, is the infallible sign of love to God. The Wicked pretend to love God, but hate and persecute his Image. Doth he love his Prince, who abuseth his Statue, tears his Picture? Indeed they seem to show great Reverence to the Saints departed; they have a great Reverence for St. Paul, and St. Stephen, and St. Luke: They Canonize dead Saints, but persecute living Saints: And do these love God? Can it be imagined he should love God, who hates his Children because they are like him? If Christ were alive again, he would not escape a second Persecution.