A65285:664
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. Satan rules the Will: Though he cannot force the Will, yet he can by a Tentation draw it, Joh. 8.44. The lusts of your father ye will do. He hath got your hearts, and him you will obey, Jer. 44.17. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven. When the Devil spurs a Sinner by a Tentation, he will over Hedge and Ditch, break all God's Laws that he may obey Satan: Where then is Free-will? When Satan hath such power over the Will, his lusts ye will do. There's not any Member of the Body but is at the Devil's Service; the Head to plot Sin, the Hands to work it, the Feet to run on the Devil's Errand: Grave jugum servitutis, Cicero. Slavery is hateful to a Noble Spirit. Satan is the Worst Tyrant, the Cruelty of Cannibal or Nero is nothing to his; other Tyrants do but rule over the Bodies, he over the Conscience; other Tyrants have some Pity on their Slaves, though they work in the Galley, they give them Meat, let them have Hours for Rest: but Satan is a Merciless Tyrant, he •ets Men have no Rest. What pains did Judas take, the Devil would let him have no rest till he had betrayed Christ, and afterwards embrued his Hands in his own Blood.
2. Satan rules the Will: Though he cannot force the Will, yet he can by a Tentation draw it, Joh. 8.44. The lusts of your father ye will do. He hath got your hearts, and him you will obey, Jer. 44.17. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven. When the Devil spurs a Sinner by a Tentation, he will over Hedge and Ditch, break all God's Laws that he may obey Satan: Where then is Free-will? When Satan hath such power over the Will, his lusts ye will do. There's not any Member of the Body but is at the Devil's Service; the Head to plot Sin, the Hands to work it, the Feet to run on the Devil's Errand: Grave jugum servitutis, Cicero. Slavery is hateful to a Noble Spirit. Satan is the Worst Tyrant, the Cruelty of Cannibal or Nero is nothing to his; other Tyrants do but rule over the Bodies, he over the Conscience; other Tyrants have some Pity on their Slaves, though they work in the Gally, they give them Meat, let them have Hours for Rest: but Satan is a Merciless Tyrant, he •ets Men have no Rest. What pains did Iudas take, the Devil would let him have no rest till he had betrayed Christ, and afterwards embrued his Hands in his own Bloud.