A65304:105
The one thing necessary Preached in a sermon at Pauls, before the Right Honourable…
The one thing necessary Preached in a sermon at Pauls, before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and the aldermen of the City of London, Aug. 31. 1656. By Thomas Watson, minister of Stephens Walbrook, London.
London: printed by E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1658
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.
Fourthly, Work low▪ be humble, think not to merit by your working. Either Satan would keep us from working, or else he would make us proud of our working. God must pardon our works before he crowns them. If we could pray as Angels, shed rivers of tears, build Churches, erect Hospitals, and should have a conceit that we merited by this, it would be as a dead fly in the box of perfume, it would stain and eclipse the glory of the work.1 Our duties like good wine relish of a bad cask, They are but glittering sins. Let not pride poison our holy things; when we have been working for Heaven, we should say as good Nehemiah, Remember me O my God, concerning this, & spare me ⟨p. 71⟩according to the greatness of thy mercy*.
Fourthly, Work low▪ be humble, think not to merit by your working. Either Satan would keep us from working, or else he would make us proud of our working. God must pardon our works before he crowns them. If we could pray as Angels, shed rivers of tears, build Churches, erect Hospitals, and should have a conceit that we merited by this, it would be as a dead flie in the box of perfume, it would stain and ecclipse the glory of the work.1 Our duties like good wine relish of a bad cask, They are but glittering sins. Let not pride poison our holy things; when we have been working for Heaven, we should say as good Nehemiah, Remember me O my God, concerning this, & spare me ⟨p. 71⟩according to the greatness of thy mercy*.
- 1* Vaelandabili vitae hominum si remota misericordia cam Trutina discuties. Aug.
- *