A96093:2179
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.
2. Faith is more excellent than charity Ratione beneficij; Faith is a more beneficial grace to us; for by faith we are engrafted into Christ, and partake of the fatness of the Olive. Faith fetcheth in all the strength and riches of Christ into the soul; Faith puts upon the soul the embroidered Robe of Christs Righteousness in which it shines brighter than the Angels; but in another sense love is greater than faith,
2. Faith is more excellent than charity Ratione beneficij; Faith is a more beneficial grace to us; for by faith we are ingraffed into Christ, and partake of the fatness of the Olive. Faith fetcheth in all the strength and riches of Christ into the soul; Faith puts upon the soul the embroidered Robe of Christs Righteousness in which it shines brighter than the Angels; but in another sence love is greater than faith,
1. Respectu visibilitatis, because Love is a more visible grace then Faith; Faith lies hid in the heart; Rom. 10.9. Love is more conspicuous, and shines forth more in the life. Love discovers the soundness of Faith, as the even beating of the pulse shows the healthful temper of the body. Faith bows the knee to Christ and worships him, love opens its treasures and presents unto Christ gifts, Gold, and Frankincense, &c.
2. Love is greater than Faith Respectu durationis, in regard of continuance; 1 Cor. 13.8. Charity never faileth; we shall lay down our body of flesh, and see God face to face; faith and hope shall be no more, but love shall remain: While we live here we have need of Faith, this is our Jacobs staff to walk with;