A96103:57
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.
3. Death will put an end to a believers fears. Fear is the souls palsy; there is torment in fear, 1 John 4. 18. Cicero calls fear one of the three plagues of Mankind; and the best of the Saints [Greek or Hebrew], are haunted with this evil spirit; they cannot rejoice without trembling; the believer fears lest his heart should put a cheat upon him, he fears God doth not love him he fears lest he should tire in his march to heaven; the best faith may sometimes have its fears,1 as the best stars have their twinkling. These fears (as Socrates saith) arm a man against ⟨p. 19⟩himself; they are very afflictive, leaving sad impressions of melancholy behind. No wonder then a believer longs to depart out of this life; why should he fear that which frees him from fear? the King of terror makes all fear vanish.
3. Death will put an end to a believers fears. Fear is the souls palsie; there is torment in feare, 1 John 4. 18. Cicero calls fear one of the three plagues of Mankinde; and the best of the Saints 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, are haunted with this evil spirit; they cannot rejoyce without trembling; the believer fears lest his heart should put a cheat upon him, he fears God doth not love him he fears lest he should tire in his march to heaven; the best faith may sometimes have its fears,1 as the best stars have their twinckling. These fears (as Socrates saith) arme a man against ⟨p. 19⟩himself; they are very afflictive, leaving sad impressions of melancholy behind. No wonder then a believer longs to depart out of this life; why should he fear that which frees him from fear? the King of terrour makes all fear vanish.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew]. Socr.