A65285:2857
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.
5. End, the Augmentation and Increase of all the Graces, Hope, Zeal, Patience. The Word Preached begets Grace, the Lord's Supper nourisheth it: The Body by feeding increaseth Strength, so doth the Soul by feeding on Christ Sacramentally. Cum defecerit virtus mea calicem salutarem accipiam. Bern. When my spiritual strength begins to fail, I know a Remedy, (saith Bernard) I will go the Table of the Lord, there I will drink and recover my decayed strength. There is difference between Dead Stones and Living Plants. The Wicked who are Stones receive no spiritual Increase, but the Godly, who are Plants of Righteousness, being watered with Christ's Blood, grow more fruitful in Grace.
5. End, the Augmentation and Encrease of all the Graces, Hope, Zeal, Patience. The Word Preached begets Grace, the Lord's Supper nourisheth it: The Body by feeding encreaseth Strength, so doth the Soul by feeding on Christ Sacramentally. Cum defecerit virtus mea calicem salutarem accipiam. Bern. When my spiritual strength begins to fail, I know a Remedy, (saith Bernard) I will go the Table of the Lord, there I will drink and recover my decayed strength. There is difference between Dead Stones and Living Plants. The Wicked who are Stones receive no spiritual Encrease, but the Godly, who are Plants of Righteousness, being watered with Christ's Blood, grow more fruitful in Grace.
Quest. 4. Why are we to receive this Holy Supper?
Answ. Because it is a Duty incumbent, Take, Eat. And observe, it is a Command of Love. If Christ had commanded us some great matter, would not we have done it? 2 Kings 5.13. If the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? If Christ had enjoined us to have given him a Thousand of Rams, or to have parted with the Fruit of our Bodies, would we not have done it? Much more when he only saith, Take and Eat: Let my broken Body feed you, let my Blood poured out save you. Take and Eat: This is a Command of Love, and shall we not readily obey?