A65285:241
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.
2. Is God's Knowledge infinite, study sincerity, be what you seem; 1 Sam. 16.7. The Lord looketh upon the heart. Men judge of the Heart by the Actions, God judgeth of the Actions by the Heart. If the Heart be sincere, God will see the Faith, and wink at the failing. Asa had his [Greek or Hebrew], his Blemishes, but his Heart was right with God, 2 Chron. 15.17. God saw his Sincerity, and pardoned his Infirmity. Sincerity in a Christian is like Chastity in a Wise, which doth excuse many Failings. Sincerity makes our Duties acceptable, like Musk among Linen, that perfumes it. As Jehu said to Jehonadab, 2 Kings 10.15. Is thy heart right with me? and he said it is: if it be (saith he) give me thy hand; and he took him up into the Chariot. So if God sees our heart is right, that we love him, and design his glory, now, saith he, give me your Prayers and Tears, now you shall come up with me into the triumphant Chariot of Glory. Sincerity makes our Services to be golden, and God will not cast away this Gold, though it may want some weight. Is God Omniscient, and his Eye chiefly upon the Heart, wear this Girdle of Truth about you, and never leave it off.
2. Is God's Knowledge infinite, study sincerity, be what you seem; 1 Sam. 16.7. The Lord looketh upon the heart. Men judge of the Heart by the Actions, God judgeth of the Actions by the Heart. If the Heart be sincere, God will see the Faith, and wink at the failing. Asa had his 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, his Blemishes, but his Heart was right with God, 2 Chron. 15.17. God saw his Sincerity, and pardoned his Infirmity. Sincerity in a Christian is like Chastity in a Wise, which doth excuse many Failings. Sincerity makes our Duties acceptable, like Musk among Linen, that perfumes it. As Iehu said to Iehonadab, 2 Kings 10.15. Is thy heart right with me? and he said it is: if it be (saith he) give me thy hand; and he took him up into the Chariot. So if God sees our heart is right, that we love him, and design his glory, now, saith he, give me your Prayers and Tears, now you shall come up with me into the triumphant Chariot of Glory. Sincerity makes our Services to be golden, and God will not cast away this Gold, though it may want some weight. Is God Omniscient, and his Eye chiefly upon the Heart, wear this Girdle of Truth about you, and never leave it off.