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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:2083p. 295–296¶3

III. We take Gods Name in vain, when we use Gods Name in Idle Discourse. God is not to be spoken of, but with an Holy Awe upon our Hearts; and to bring Gods Name in at every turn, when we never think of God, to say, O God, or O Christ, or As God shall save my Soul, this is taking Gods Name in vain; and how many are guilty in this kind? Though they have God in ⟨p. 296⟩their Mouths, they have the Devil in their Hearts. 'Tis a wonder that Fire doth not come out from the Lord and consume them, as it did Nadab and Abihu, Lev. 10.2.

:2084p. 296¶4

IV. We take Gods Name in vain, when we worship him with our Lips, but not our Hearts; this is to abuse God. 'Tis the Heart which God calls for, Prov. 23.26. My Son give me thy Heart; the Heart is the chief thing in Religion, it draws the Will and Affections after it, as the Primum Mobile the other Orbs along with it. The Heart is the Incense that perfumes our Holy things; it is the Altar that sanctifies the Offering. Now when we seem to worship God, but withdraw our Heart from him, we take his Name in vain Isa. 29.13 This People draw near me with their Mouth, and with their Lips do honour me, but they have removed their Heart from me.

IV. We take Gods Name in vain, when we worship him with our Lips, but not our Hearts; this is to abuse God. 'Tis the Heart which God calls for, Prov. 23.26. My Son give me thy Heart; the Heart is the chief thing in Religion, it draws the Will and Affections after it, as the Primum M•bile the other Orbs along with it. The Heart is the Incense that perfumes our Holy things; it is the Altar that sanctifies the Offering. Now when we seem to worship God, but withdraw our Heart from him, we take his Name in vain

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