A96093:421
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.
Answ. 2. Suppose a mans credit should suffer an impair with those whose censure is not to be valued; yet think, which is worse, shame or sin? Wilt thou sin against God to save thy credit? surely it is little wisdom for a man to adventure his blood, that he may fetch back his Reputation, and to run into hell to be counted valorous.
1. Not but that a man may stand up in defence of himself Caution 1 when his life is endangered. Some of the Anabaptists hold it unlawful to take up the sword upon any occasion, (though when they get the Power, I would be loth to trust them, their river-water often turning to blood) but questionless a man may take up the sword for self-preservation; else he comes under the breach of the sixth Commandment, he is guilty of self-murder; in taking up the sword he doth not so much seek another's death, as the safe-guard of his own life; his intention is not to do hurt, but prevent it; ⟨p. 136⟩self-defence is consistent with Christian meekness; the Law of Nature and Religion justify it; that God who bids us put up our sword, Matth. 26.51. yet will allow us a buckler in our own defence; and he that will have us innocent as Doves, not to offend others, will have us wise as serpents in preserving our selves.
1. Not but that a man may stand up in defence of himself Caution 1 when his life is endangered. Some of the Anabaptists hold it unlawful to take up the sword upon any occasion, (though when they get the Power, I would be loth to trust them, their river-water often turning to blood) but questionless a man may take up the sword for self-preservation; else he comes under the breach of the sixth Commandment, he is guilty of self-murder; in taking up the sword he doth not so much seek anothers death, as the safe-guard of his own life; his intention is not to do hurt, but prevent it; ⟨p. 136⟩