A96093:1964
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.
Branch. 4 4. It reproves those who begin the race of Christianity, but do not persevere to the end of the race, they faint by the way: Ye did run well, who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Gal. 5.7. the Crown is set upon the head of perseverance, he that runs half the way, and then faints, loseth the Garland. 'Tis sad for a man to come near to heaven, and then tyre in the race; as it is to see a ship cast away in sight of the shore.
Nay, what shall we say to them who do worse than tire in the race, they run backward into the way of profaneness, as Julian, Gardner and others; there is no going to heaven backward; such do cast reproaches upon the ways of God; better never begin the race, than run back: 2 Pet. 2.21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment. A ⟨p. 567⟩Soldier that runs from his Colours, and lists himself in the enemies Regiment, if he be taken, must expect Martial Law. Heb. 10.38. If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him; God will bear with infirmity, but he will punish treachery; wrath shall smoke against the Apostate; fury will display itself in its bloody colours; indeed in War there is a retreating sometimes, which if it be done politicly, and to the enemies disadvantage, it is called an honourable retreat; but in a race to heaven there must be no retreats, these are not honourable retreats, but damnable retreats; whosoever draws back, it is [Greek or Hebrew] to perdition, Heb. 10. ult.
Nay, what shall we say to them who do worse than tire in the race, they run backward into the way of profanesse, as Julian, Gardner and others; there is no going to heaven backward; such do cast reproaches upon the wayes of God; better never begin the race, than run back: