A96103:67
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.
Socrates said on his death-bed, there were many things which he had yet to learn; our knowledge is like the twilight, dim and duskish: the greatest part of our knowledge, is not so much as the least part of ⟨p. 26⟩our ignorance, all which considered, no wonder to hear this language from a Saint, cupio dissolvi, I have a desire to depart; death crowns a Christian with fullness of knowledge; when he is snuffed by death, the candle of his understanding will burn brighter; at death a child of God doth perfectly recover the use of his reason.
Socrates said on his death-bed, there were many things which he had yet to learn; our knowledge is like the twilight, dim and duskish: the greatest part of our knowledge, is not so much as the least part of ⟨p. 26⟩our ignorance, all which considered, no wonder to hear this language from a Saint, cupio dissolvi, I have a desire to depart; death crowns a Christian with fulnesse of knowledge; when he is snuffed by death, the candle of his understanding will burn brighter; at death a child of God doth perfectly recover the use of his reason.
9. Death will put an end to the imperfections of grace; our graces are our best jewels, but here they are in their infancy and minority; therefore the Saints are said to receive but primitias Spiritus, the first fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. The best Christian is like a child put out to Nurse, he is very weak in grace, faith is feeble, love lukewarm; grace though it be not dead, it is sickly, Rev. 3. 2. Strengthen the things which are ready to dye; grace is like gold in the oar, drossy and impure; the most refined soul ⟨p. 27⟩