A65285:944
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.
Use 2. of Exhortation. Branch 1. Seeing Christ took our Flesh, and was born of a Virgin, let us labour that he may be spiritually born in our hearts. What will it profit us, that Christ was born into the World, unless he be born in our hearts? that he was united to our Nature, unless he be united to our Persons? Marvel not that I say unto you, Christ must be born again, viz. in our hearts, Gal. 4.19. till Christ be formed in you. Now then try if Christ be born in your hearts.
Quest. How shall we know that?
Resp. 1. There are Pangs before the Birth; so before Christ be born in the Heart, there are Spiritual Pangs. Some Pangs of Conscience, Deep convictions, Acts 2.37. [Greek or Hebrew], they were pricked at their heart. I grant, the New-birth doth Recipere magis & minus—all have not the same Pangs of Sorrow and Humiliation, yet all have Pangs. If Christ be born in thy heart, thou hast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is never born in the heart without Pangs—Many thank God they never had any Trouble of Spirit, they were always quiet; a sign Christ is not yet formed in them.
Resp. 1. There are Pangs before the Birth; so before Christ be born in the Heart, there are Spiritual Pangs. Some Pangs of Conscience, Deep convictions, Acts 2.37. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, they were pricked at their heart. I grant, the New-birth doth Recipere magis & minus—all have not the same Pangs of Sorrow and Humiliation, yet all have Pangs. If Christ be born in thy heart, thou hast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is never born in the heart without Pangs—Many thank God they never had any Trouble of Spirit, they were always quiet; a sign Christ is not yet formed in them.