A96093:1271
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.
SECT. 7.
Containing a sharp reproof.
Use 2 1. IT reproves such as would be thought good Christians, Reproof. Branch 1 but will not suffer persecution for Christs sake; their care is not to take up the Cross, but to avoid the ⟨p. 365⟩Cross: Matth. 13.21. When persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended. There are many professors who speak Christ fair, but will suffer nothing for him; these may be compared to the crystal which looks like pearl, till it comes to the hammering, then it breaks; many when they see the Palm-branches and garments spread, cry Hosanna to Christ; but if the Swords and Staves appear, then they slink away; as King Henry the fourth, then of Navarre, told Beza, who urging him to engage himself in the Protestant Religion, said, he would not launch out too far into the deep, but that if a storm should arise, he might retreat back to shore: 'Tis to be feared there are some among us, who if persecutions should come, would rather make Demas his choice, than Moses his choice; and would study rather to keep their skin whole, than their conscience pure. Erasmus highly extolled Luther's Doctrine; but when the Emperor threatened all that should favour Luther's cause, he unworthily deserted it. Hypocrites will sooner renounce their Baptism, than take up the Cross; if ever we would show our selves Christians to purpose, we must with Peter, throw our selves upon the water to come to Christ. He that refuseth to suffer, let him read over that sad Scripture, Matth. 10.33. Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.