A96093:1039
The beatitudes
The beatitudes: or A discourse upon part of Christs famous Sermon on the Mount. Whereunto is added Christs various fullness. The preciousness of the soul. The souls malady and cure. The beauty of grace. The spiritual watch. The heavenly race. The sacred anchor. The trees of righteousness. The perfume of love. The good practitioner. By Thomas Watson, minister of the word at Stephens Walbrook in the city of London.The beatitudes: or A discourse upon part of Christs famous Sermon on the Mount. Wherunto is added Christs various fulnesse. The preciousnesse of the soul. The souls malady and cure. The beauty of grace. The spiritual watch. The heavenly race. The sacred anchor. The trees of righteousnesse. The perfume of love. The good practitioner. By Thomas Watson, minister of the word at Stephens Walbrook in the city of London.
London: printed for Ralph Smith, 1660
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.
Quest. But many of the children of God have not such abilities to express themselves in prayer; how then doth the Spirit help their infirmities.
Quest. But many of the children of God have not such abilities to expresse themselves in prayer; how then doth the Spirit help their infirmities.
Answ. Though they have not always the gifts of the Spirit in prayer, yet they have the groans of the Spirit, Rom. 8.26. Gifts are the Ornament of prayer, but not the life of prayer. A carcass may be hung with jewels. Though the Spirit may deny fluency of speech, yet it gives fervency of desire, and such prayers are most prevalent. The prayers which the Spirit indites in the hearts of Gods children, have these three-fold qualifications.
Answ. Though they have not alwayes the gifts of the Spirit in prayer, yet they have the groans of the Spirit, Rom. 8.26. Gifts are the Ornament of prayer, but not the life of prayer. A carcass may be hung with jewels. Though the Spirit may deny fluency of speech, yet it gives fervency of desire, and such prayers are most prevalent. The prayers which the Spirit indites in the hearts of Gods children, have these three-fold qualifications.
1. The prayers of Gods children are believing prayers: Prayer is the key, Faith is the hand that turns it; Faith feathers the Arrow of prayer, and makes it pierce ⟨p. 304⟩