A96093:2236
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. It appears by Reason; happiness is not attainable but in the use of means; now the use of means implies practice. Salvation must not only be sought out by knowledge, but wrought out by practice, Phil. 2.12. There can be no Crown without running, no recompense without diligence. If happiness comes only in the use of means, then it is neither imaginable, or feasible without practice.
2. It appears by Reason; happiness is not attainable but in the use of means; now the use of means implies practice. Salvation must not only be sought out by knowledge, but wrought out by practice, Phil. 2.12. There can be no Crown without running, no recompence without diligence. If happiness comes only in the use of means, then it is neither imaginable, or feasible without practice.
Use 1 1. If it be only the doing part of Religion makes men happy; Reproof. Then it sharply reproves them who know much, yet do nothing; they talk of God, but do not walk with God; men are all for knowledge, because it is counted an Ornament; they would be stuck with this gay flower, but one leaf of the tree of life is worthy all the tree of ⟨p. 641⟩knowledge. Tis better to practice one truth then to know all: herein most Christians are defective; they have with Rachel good eyes, but they are barren. Mephibosheth caught a fall and became lame, 2 Sam. 4.4. Since Adams fall men are lame on their feet; they walk not in the ways of obedience. Men know covetousness is a sin: The Greek word for covetousness [Greek or Hebrew] signifies an immoderate desire of getting*; like Midas who desired every thing he touched might be turned to gold; the several species of sin grow upon this root of covetousness.