A96093:2192
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.
Use 1. I might here take up a lamentation, and steep my Use 1 words in tears to consider the decay, I had almost said the funerals of this grace among Christians; — Terras Astraea reliquit— the fire of brotherly love is almost ready to go out; instead of the fire of love, the wildfire of passion. I have read of one Vitalis who hazarded his life to succour ⟨p. 626⟩his distressed friend; but sure such Vitals are dead in this age. —fratrum quoque gratia rara est — The Text saith, See that ye love one another; but our times have made a bad Comment upon this Text; how do Christians reproach, censure, malign one another! the Text saith, love fervently, but they hate fervently; instead of the bond of love, behold the apple of strife; we live in the frigid zone, the love of many waxeth cold. Many live as if they had been born upon the Mountains of Bether, the Mountains of division; and as if they had been baptized in the waters of Meribah, the waters of strife. Do the wicked unite? nay do the Devils unite? there was in one man a Legion, which is according to Varro, seven thousand six hundred twenty two: shall there be more harmony among Devils, than among Christians? For these divisions of the godly, there are great thoughts of heart. Oh Christians, turn your hot words into salt tears! how do the enemies of Religion insult to see not only Christs Coat, but his Body rent; for these things let our eyes run down.
Use 1. I might here take up a lamentation, and steep my Use 1 words in tears to consider the decay, I had almost said the funerals of this grace among Christians; — Terras Astraea reliquit— the fire of brotherly love is almost ready to go out; instead of the fire of love, the wildfire of passion. I have read of one Vitalis who hazarded his life to succour ⟨p. 626⟩his distressed friend; but sure such Vitales are dead in this age. —fratrum quoque gratia rara est — The Text saith, See that ye love one another; but our times have made a bad Comment upon this Text; how do Christians reproach, censure, maligne one another! the Text saith, love fervently, but they hate fervently; instead of the bond of love, behold the apple of strife; we live in the frigid zone, the love of many waxeth cold. Many live as if they had been born upon the Mountains of Bether, the Mountains of division; and as if they had been baptiz'd in the waters of Meribah, the waters of strife. Do the wicked unite? nay do the Divels unite? there was in one man a Legion, which is according to Varro, seven thousand six hundred twenty two: shall there be more harmony among Divels, than among Christians? For these divisions of the godly, there are great thoughts of heart. Oh Christians, turn your hot words into salt tears! how do the enemies of Religion insult to see not only Christs Coat, but his Body rent; for these things let our eyes run down.