A65285:447
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. If there be but one God, who is above all, Ephes. 4.6. then he must be loved above all. 1. We must love him with a love of Appreciation; set the highest estimate on him who is the only Fountain of Being and Bliss. 2. We must love him with a love of Complacency. Amor est complacentia amantis in amato, Aquin. Our love to other things must be more indifferent; some drops of love may run beside to the Creature, but the full stream must run towards God; the Creature may have the Milk of our love, but we must keep the Cream of our love for God. God who is above all, must be loved above all; Psal. 73.25. There is none on earth whom I desire in comparison of thee.
Use 2. of Caution. If there be but one God, then let us take heed of setting up more Gods then one. Psal. 16.4. Their sorrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another God: their Drink-offerings of Blood will I not offer, nor take up their Names into my lips. God is a jealous God, and he will not endure that we should have other Gods. 'Tis easy to commit Idolatry with the Creature. 1. Some make a God of Pleasure, 2. Tim. 3.4. [Greek or Hebrew], Lovers of pleasure more then lovers of God. Whatever we love more then God, we make a God. 2. Others make Money their God. The Covetous Man worships the Image of Gold, therefore is called an Idolater, Eph. 5.5. that which a Man trusts to, he makes his God, but he makes the wedge of Gold his Hope. He makes Money his Creator, Redeemer, Comforter. 'Tis his Creator; if he hath Money, then he thinks he is made. It is his Redeemer; if he be in danger, he trusts in his Money to redeem him out. It is his Comforter; if at any time he be sad, the golden Harp drives away the Evil Spirit. So that Money is his God; God made Man of the Dust of the Earth, and Man makes a God of the Dust of the Earth. 3. Another makes a God of his Child, sets his Child in God's room, and so provokes God to take it away. If you lean too hard upon a Glass, it will break; many break their Children, by leaning too hard upon them. 4. Others make a God of their Belly,