A65285:2054
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.
Exod. 20.6 And keep my Commandments.
Love and Obedience, like two Sisters, must go hand in hand: Indeed this is a good Evidence of our loving God, John 14.21. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis. The Son that loves his Father, will obey him; Obedience pleaseth God, 1 Sam. 15.22. To obey is better than Sacrifice. In Sacrifice only a dead Beast is offered, in Obedience a living Soul. In Sacrifice only a part of the Fruit is offered; in Obedience Fruit and Tree and all. A Man offers up himself to God. Keep my Commandments.] It is not said, God shows Mercy to Thousands of them that know his Commandments, but that keep them. The knowing Gods Commandments, without keeping them, doth not entitle any to Mercy. The Commandment is not only a Rule of Knowledge, but Duty. God gives us his Commandments, not only as a Landscape to look upon, but as his Will and Testament, which we are to perform. A good Christian is like the Sun, which doth not only send forth light, but goes its Circuit round the World. So he hath not only the light of Knowledge, but goes his Circuit too, and moves in the Sphere of Obedience.
LOve and Obedience, like two Sisters, must go hand in hand: Indeed this is a good Evidence of our loving God, Iohn 14.21. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis. The Son that loves his Father, will obey him; Obedience pleaseth God, 1 Sam. 15.22. To obey is better than Sacrifice. In Sacrifice only a dead Beast is offered, in Obedience a living Soul. In Sacrifice only a part of the Fruit is offered; in Obedience Fruit and Tree and all. A Man offers up himself to God. Keep my Commandments.] It is not said, God shews Mercy to Thousands of them that know his Commandments, but that keep them. The knowing Gods Commandments, without keeping them, doth not intitle any to Mercy. The Commandment is not only a Rule of Knowledge, but Duty. God gives us his Commandments, not only as a Lanskip to look upon, but as his Will and Testament, which we are to perform. A good Christian is like the Sun, which doth not only send forth light, but goes its Circuit round the World. So he hath not only the light of Knowledge, but goes his Circuit too, and moves in the Sphere of Obedience.