A96093:1369
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.
1. Consider who we suffer for; it is for Christ, and §1we cannot suffer for a better friend; there is many a man will suffer shame and death for his lusts; he will suffer disgrace for a drunken lust, he will suffer death for a revengeful lust. Shall others dye for their lusts, and shall not we dye for Christ? Will a man suffer for that lust which damns him, and shall not we suffer for that Christ which saves us? Oh remember, we espouse Gods own quarrel, and he will not suffer us to be losers; if no man shall kindle a fire on Gods Altar for nought, Mal. 1.10. then surely no man shall sacrifice himself for God in the fire for nought.
2. It is a great honour to suffer persecution. Ambrose §2speaking in the encomium of his sister, said, appellabo Martyrem, I will say this of her, she was a Martyr; it is a great honour to be singled out to bear witness to the truth. Acts 5.41. They departed from the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his Name; 'tis a title that hath been given to Kings, Defenders of the Faith; a Martyr is in a special manner, a ⟨p. 392⟩Defender of the Faith; Kings are defenders of the faith by their Swords, Martyrs by their blood*. Gregory Nazianzene calls Athanasius, [Greek or Hebrew], the Bulwark of truth; 'tis a credit to appear for God. Martyrs are not only Christs Followers, but his Ensign-bearers: The Romans had their Camilli and Fabricii, brave Warriors which graced the field; God calls out none but his Champions to fight his battles; we read Abraham called forth his trained soldiers,