A65285:2202
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.
Secondly, To give way to wandering Thoughts in Hearing, is Hypocrisy. We pretend to hear what God saith, and our Mind is quite upon another thing. We present God with our Bodies, but do not give him our Hearts, Hos. 7.11. This Hypocrisy God complains of, Isa. 29.13. This People draw near me with their Mouth, and with their Lips do honour me, but have removed their Heart far from me. This is to prevaricate, and deal falsely with God.
Secondly, To give way to wandring Thoughts in Hearing, is Hypocrisie. We pretend to hear what God saith, and our Mind is quite upon another thing. We present God with our Bodies, but do not give him our Hearts, Hos. 7.11. This Hypocrisie God complains of, Isa. 29.13. This People draw near me with their Mouth, and with their Lips do honour me, but have removed their Heart far from me. This is to prevaricate, and deal falsly with God.
Thirdly, Vain Thoughts in Hearing discover much want of Love to God. Did we love God, we should listen to his Words as Oracles, and bind them upon the Table of our Heart, Prov. 3.3. When a Friend whom we love speaks to us, and gives us Advice, we mind it with Seriousness, and suck in every Word. The giving our Thoughts leave to ramble in Holy Duties, shows the Defect of our Love to God.
Fourthly, Vain impertinent Thoughts in Hearing defile an Ordinance: They are as dead Flies in the Box of Ointment. When a String in the Lte is out of Tune, it spoils the Music. Distraction of Thoughts puts our Mind out of Tune, and makes our Services sound harsh and unpleasant. Wandering Thoughts poison a Duty, and turn it into sin.