A96103:54
The holy longing
The holy longing: or, The saints desire to be with Christ: delivered in a sermon at Al-hallows Lombard-street, Aug. 24. 1658. At the funeral of Mr. Jacob Stock. / By Thomas Watson minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London.The holy longing: or, The saints desire to be with Christ: delivered in a sermon at Al-hallows Lumbard-street, Aug. 24. 1658. At the funeral of Mr. Jacob Stock. / By Thomas Watson minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London.
London: printed by E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Sin is the sinners bond, Acts 8. 23. and the Saints burden, Psal. 38. 3. How is a believer tired out with his corruptions? I am weary of my life (saith Rebecca) because of the daughters of Heth, Gen. 27. 46. That which makes a child of God weary of his life, is his proud, unbelieving heart: Saint Paul could better carry his iron Chain, than his sins; O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom. 7. 24. When grace spurs the soul forward, the curb bit of sin checks it, and pulls it back again. There is much of the Old man in the new man;* There is a party in every regenerate heart that is true to the Devil; a party ⟨p. 16⟩that will not pray, that will not believe. A Christian is like a bowl with a double bias, he hath an earthly bias upon his will, and a spiritual bias, and these draw him several ways; the evil I would not, that do I, Rom. 7. 19. Sin mingles it self with our holy things; we cannot act either our duties or our graces without sin; we are like children who cannot write without blotting! the sweet Rose of grace doth not grow without its prickles?* No wonder then a believer desires to depart; death will free him from his spiritual distempers; when he hath done breathing, he shall have done sinning. [Greek or Hebrew].
Sinne is the sinners bond, Acts 8. 23. and the Saints burden, Psal. 38. 3. How is a believer tyred out with his corruptions? I am weary of my life (saith Rebecca) because of the daughters of Heth,