A65285:2501
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. The External Cause of Theft, is, Satan's Solicitation: Judas was a Thief, John 12.6. How came he to be a Thief? Satan entered into him, John 13.27. The Devil is the great Master-Thief, he robbed us of our Coat of Innocency, and he persuades Men to take up his Trade: He tells Men how bravely they shall live by Thieving, and how they may catch an Estate. And as Eve listened to the Serpents Voice, so do they; and as Birds of Prey, live upon Spoil and Rapine.
2. The External Cause of Theft, is, Satan's Sollicitation: Iudas was a Thief, Iohn 12.6. How came he to be a Thief? Satan entred into him, John 13.27. The Devil is the great Master-Thief, he robbed us of our Coat of Innocency, and he perswades Men to take up his Trade: He tells Men how bravely they shall live by Thieving, and how they may catch an Estate. And as Eve listned to the Serpents Voice, so do they; and as Birds of Prey, live upon Spoil and Rapine.
Quest. 2. How many sorts of Theft are there?
Res. I. There is a stealing from God; and so they are Thieves who rob any part of God's Day from him. —Remember to keep holy the Sabbath-day—Not a pa•t of the Day only, but the Whole Day must be dedicated to God. And lest any should forget this, the Lord hath prefixed a Memento, Remember. Therefore to cut God short, and after Morning Sacrifice, to spend the other part of the Sabbath in Vanity and Pleasure; this is Spiritual Thievery, 'tis to rob God of his Due; and the very Heathens will rise up in Judgment against such Christians. For the Heathens (as Macrobius notes) did observe a whole Day to their False Gods.