A65285:2041
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.
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.
7. He who loves God loves his Favourites, viz. the Saints, 1 Iohn 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 shew 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 per•ecute 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.
8. If we love God, as we cannot but be fearful of dishonouring him (the more a Child loves his Father, the more he is afraid to displease him) so we weep and mourn when we have offended him. Peter went out and wept bitterly, Matt. 26.75. When Peter thought how dearly Christ loved him, he took him up to the Mount, where he was Transfigured: Christ showed him the Glory of Heaven in a Vision. Now that he should deny Christ, after he had received such signal Tokens of Christs Love, this broke his Heart with grief, He wept bitterly. Are our Eyes Limbecks, dropping Tears of grief for Sin against God? A blessed Evidence of our love to God; and such shall find Mercy. He shows Mercy to Thousands of them that love him.