A65285:2126
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.
Quest. Why God hath appointed a Sabbath?
Ans. 1. In respect of Himself; it is requisite that God should reserve one Day in Seven for his own immediate Service, that hereby he might be acknowledged to be the great Plenipotentiary or Sovereign Lord, who hath Power over us both to command Worship, and appoint the Time when he will be worshipped.
2. In respect of Us. The Sabbath-day makes for our Interest, it promotes Holiness in us. The business on the Week-Day makes us too forgetful of God and our Souls; the Sabbath brings God into our Remembrance. When the Dust of the World falling hath clogged the Wheels of our Affections, that they would scarce move towards God, the Sabbath comes and oils the Wheels of our Affections, and now they move swiftly in Religion: Therefore God hath appointed a Sabbath to ripen our Holiness. On this Day the Thoughts contemplate Heaven, the Tongue speaks of God, and is as the Pen of a ready Writer; now the Eyes drop Tears, now the Soul burns in Love. When the Heart was all the Week frozen, now on the Sabbath it is melted with the Word. The Sabbath is a Friend to Religion, it files off the Rust of our Graces, it is a Spiritual Jubilee wherein the Soul is set to converse with its Maker.
2. In respect of Vs. The Sabbath-day makes for our Interest, it promotes Holiness in us. The business on the Week-Day makes us too forgetful of God and our Souls; the Sabbath brings God into our Remembrance. When the Dust of the World falling hath clogg'd the Wheels of our Affections, that they would scarce move towards God, the Sabbath comes and oyls the Wheels of our Affections, and now they move swiftly in Religion: Therefore God hath appointed a Sabbath to ripen our Holiness. On this Day the Thoughts contemplate Heaven, the Tongue speaks of God, and is as the Pen of a ready Writer; now the Eyes drop Tears, now the Soul burns in Love. When the Heart was all the Week frozen, now on the Sabbath it is melted with the Word. The Sabbath is a Friend to Religion, it files off the Rust of our Graces, it is a Spiritual Jubilee wherein the Soul is set to converse with its Maker.