A96103:63
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.
6. Death puts an end to a believers ⟨p. 22⟩cares. Care is vexatious and anxious, it eats out the comfort of life; the Greek word for care [Greek or Hebrew], comes from a primitive that signifies to cut the heart in pieces; care doth fret as a canker, it discruciates the mind, it breaks the sleep, it wastes the spirits, this is the wrack which the soul is stretched upon. 'Tis hard, I had almost said impossible, to shake off this viper of care while we live; all our comforts are careful comforts; care is to the mind, as a burden to the back, it loads the spirits, and with over-loading sinks them; care is a fruit of the curse; Adams want of care, hath brought us to care; have you not sometimes seen the briar growing by the honey-suckle, so that you cannot well gather the honey-suckle, but you are scratched with the briar? Thus in gathering riches, how is the head and heart pricked with care? and is ⟨p. 23⟩there not great reason why a child of God should desire to depart? is it good being among the briars? death is the cure of care; we are thoughtful and solicitous how to get such an estate, how to provide for such a child; now death comes to a believer as a friend, and saith, Never perplex and distract thy mind thus, I will free thee from all these heart-killing cares; I will strike but once, and that stroke shall relieve thee.
6. Death puts an end to a believers ⟨p. 22⟩cares. Care is vexatious and anxious, it eats out the comfort of life; the Greek word for care 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, comes from a primitive that signifies to cut the heart in pieces; care doth fret as a canker, it discruciates the minde, it breaks the sleep, it wasts the spirits, this is the wrack which the soul is stretched upon. 'Tis hard, I had almost said impossible, to shake off this viper of care while we live; all our comforts are careful comforts; care is to the minde, as a burden to the back, it loads the spirits, and with over-loading sinks them; care is a fruit of the curse; Adams want of care, hath brought us to care; have you not sometimes seen the bryar growing by the honey-suckle, so that you cannot well gather the honey-suckle, but you are scratched with the bryar? Thus in gathering riches, how is the head and heart prick'd with care? and is