A96093:1184
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.
Answ. Why dost thou love God? perhaps because God gives thee corn and wine; this is a mercenary love, a love to thy self more than to God; you may lead a sheep all the field over with a bottle of Hay in your hand; but throw away the Hay, now the sheep will follow you no longer: So the squint-eyed hypocrite loves God only for the Provender; when this fails, his affection fails too.
Answ. Why dost thou love God? perhaps because God gives thee corn and wine; this is a mercenary love, a love to thy self more than to God; you may lead a sheep all the field over with a bottle of Hay in your hand; but throw away the Hay, now the sheep will follow you no longer: So the squint-ey'd hypocrite loves God only for the Provender; when this fails, his affection fails too.
But leaving these vain and false evidences of Adoption, let us enquire for a sound evidence; the main evidence of Adoption is Sanctification: Search (O Christian) whether the work of Sanctification hath passed upon thy soul! Is thy understanding sanctified to discern the things which are excellent? Is thy will sanctified to embrace heavenly objects? Dost thou love where God loveth, and hate where God hateth? Art thou a consecrated person? This argues the heart of a child; God will never reject those who have his image and superscription upon them.
But leaving these vain and false evidences of Adoption, let us enquire for a sound evidence; the main evidence of Adoption is Sanctification: Search (O Christian) whether the work of Sanctification hath passed upon thy soul! Is thy understanding sanctified to discern the things which are excellent? Is thy will sanctified to embrace heavenly objects? Dost thou love where God loveth, and hate where God hateth? Art thou a consecrated person? This argues the heart of a childe; God will never reject those who have his image and superscription upon them.