A96093:1863
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.
4. The heart will quote Scripture to justify sin. 1 Cor. 9.20, 22. To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews, I am made all things to all men, &c. This Text the heart will bring for sinful compliance. O subtle heart that canst find out Scripture to damn thy self! though Saint Paul in things indifferent would conform to others, that he might save their souls, yet he would not to gratify them violate a Law, or deny an Article of his Greed; and if the heart is so treacherous, (being always more ready to excuse sin than examine it) what care and circumspection should we use in keeping our hearts, that they do not decoy us into sin before we are aware.
4. The heart will quote Scripture to justifie sin. 1 Cor. 9.20, 22. To the Jewes I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jewes, I am made all things to all men, &c. This Text the heart will bring for sinful compliance. O subtile heart that canst finde out Scripture to damn thy self! though Saint Paul in things indifferent would conform to others, that he might save their souls, yet he would not to gratifie them violate a Law, or deny an Article of his Greed; and if the heart is so treacherous, (being alwayes more ready to excuse sin than examine it) what care and circumspection should we use in keeping our hearts, that they do not decoy us into sinne before we are aware.
2. The heart will deceive us about things lawful in two cases.
1. It is lawful to endeavour to preserve our credit. A good name is a precious ointment; but under a pretence of preserving the name, the heart is ready to tempt a man to self-seeking, and make him do all to get a name.