A65285:2935
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. A melting Prayer; Psal. 51.17. The sacrifices of God are a broken heart: The incense was to be beaten, to typify the breaking of the heart in prayer. O saith a Christian, I cannot pray with such gifts and elocution as others; as Moses said, I am not eloquent: But canst thou weep? Doth thy Heart melt in Prayer? Weeping prayer prevails. Tears drop as pearls from the eye. Jacob wept and made supplication, and had power over the Angel. Hos. 12.4.
2. A melting Prayer; Psal. 51.17. The sacrifices of God are a broken heart: The incense was to be beaten, to typifie the breaking of the heart in prayer. O saith a Christian, I cannot pray with such gifts and elocution as others; as Moses said, I am not eloquent: But canst thou weep? Doth thy Heart melt in Prayer? Weeping prayer prevails. Tears drop as pearls from the eye. Iacob wept and made supplication, and had power over the Angel. Hos. 12.4.
3. Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervency: Jam. 5.16. Effectual fervent Prayer prevails much. Cold Prayers like cold Suitors never speed. Prayer without fervency, is like a Sacrifice without Fire. Prayer is called a pouring out of the Soul, 1 Sam. 1.15. to signify vehemency. Formality starves prayer. Prayer is compared to Incense; Psal. 141.2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense. Hot Coals were to be put to the Incense to make it odoriferous and fragrant; fervency of Affection is like Coals put to the Incense, it makes prayer ascend as a sweet perfume. Christ prayed with strong cries;