A65294:35
The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the…
The duty of self-denial briefly opened and urged. By Thomas Watson, minister of the Gospel
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1675
THE DUTY OF SELF-DENIAL. › Chapter 2: The Explaining of the Proposition.
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 Duty, but trust to Christs Righteousness for Salvation. Noah's Dove made use of her wings to fly, but trusted to the Ark for safety.
And if we must deny our holy things in point of Justification, then much more our Civilities. A Stake may be finely painted, but it hath no root. A Man may be painted with Civility, yet have no root of Grace; a moral person is washed, not changed. The life may be Civil, when the heart is Wicked; as the Sea may be Calm, when the Water of it is Salt. The Pharisee could say he was no Adulterer, Luke 18.11. But could he say, ⟨p. 13⟩he was not proud? The civilized person may have a secret antipathy against goodness, he may hate Grace as much as Vice. Civility is but a cracked Title to Heaven. A piece of Brass may shine, but wanting the Kings image it will not go currant. A man may shine with moral Virtues, but wanting the Image of God consisting in holiness, he will not pass currant at the day of judgment. Morality is good, but God will say, Yet lackest thou one thing, Mark 10.31. Civility is a good Jacobs staff to walk with among men, but it is a bad Jacobs ladder to climb up to Heaven.
And if we must deny our holy things in point of Justification, then much more our Civilities. A Stake may be finely painted, but it hath no root. A Man may be painted with Civility, yet have no root of Grace; a moral person is washed, not changed. The life may be Civil, when the heart is Wicked; as the Sea may be Calm, when the Water of it is Salt. The Pharisee could say he was no Adulterer, Luke 18.11. But could he say, ⟨p. 13⟩he was not proud? The civiliz'd person may have a secret antipathy against goodness, he may hate Grace as much as Vice. Civility is but a crack'd Title to Heaven. A piece of Brass may shine, but wanting the Kings image it will not go currant. A man may shine with moral Virtues, but wanting the Image of God consisting in holiness, he will not pass currant at the day of judgment. Morality is good, but God will say, Yet lackest thou one thing,