A96093:1423
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.
7. Christs commands are sweetened with joy, and then they are not grievous. Cicero questions, whether that can properly be called a burden which is carried with joy and pleasure*? When the wheels of a Chariot are oiled, they run swiftly; when God pours in the oil of gladness, how fast doth the soul run in the ways of his commandments! Joy strengthens for duty. Nehem. 8.10. The joy of the Lord is your strength; and the more strength, the less weariness; God sometimes drops down comfort, and then a Christian can run in the yoke.
7. Christs commands are sweetned with joy, and then they are not grievous. Cicero questions, whether that can properly be called a burden which is carried with joy and pleasure*? When the wheeles of a Chariot are oyled, they run swiftly; when God poures in the oyle of gladnesse, how fast doth the soul run in the wayes of his commandments! Joy strengthens for duty. Nehem. 8.10. The joy of the Lord is your strength; and the more strength, the lesse wearinesse; God sometimes drops down comfort, and then a Christian can run in the yoake.
- *Utrum onus appellandum quod laetitiá fertur. Cicero.
8. Gospel-commands are finite, therefore not grievous. Christ will not always be laying his commands upon us; Christ will shortly take off the yoke from our neck, and set a Crown upon our head. There is time coming when we shall not only be free from our sins, but our duties too; prayer and fasting are irksome to the flesh; in heaven there will be no need of prayer or repentance; duties shall cease there: indeed in heaven the Saints shall love God, but love is no burden; God will shine forth in his beauty, and to fall in love with beauty