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.

Sermon

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.

Listen to this book 52 h 30 min

[ Earlier:2192–2207 of 4,926

:2192p. 340

Qu. Whence do these roving distracted Thoughts in hearing come?

:2193p. 340

Answ. 1. Partly from Satan. The Devil is no Recusant, he will be sure to be present in our Assemblies: If he cannot hinder us from hearing, he will hinder us in hearing. Job 1.6. When the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them. The Devil sets vain Objects before the Fancy to cause a Diversion. Satan's great Design is to render the Word we hear fruitless: As when one is writing, another jogs him that he cannot write even: So when we are hearing, the Devil will be jogging us with a Temptation, that we should not attend to the Word Preached. Zach. 3.1. He showed me Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his Right Hand to resist him.

Answ. 1. Partly from Satan. The Devil is no Recusant, he will be sure to be present in our Assemblies: If he cannot hinder us from hearing, he will hinder us in hearing. Iob 1.6. When the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan came also among them. The Devil sets vain Objects before the Fancy to cause a Diversion. Satan's great Design is to render the Word we hear fruitless: As when one is writing, another joggs him that he cannot write even: So when we are hearing, the Devil will be jogging us with a Temptation, that we should not attend to the Word Preached. Zach. 3.1. He showed me Ioshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his Right Hand to resist him.

:2194p. 341¶2

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