A96109:507
The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation
The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation. / By Thomas Watson, minister of Stephens Walbrook in the city of London. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy.
London: printed by T.R. & E.M. for Ralph Smith, 1657
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. It is a speculation without operation. The knowledge that hypocrites have of Christ hath no saving influence upon them, it doth not make them more holy; it is one thing to have a notion of Christ, another thing to fetch virtue from Christ. The knowledge of hypocrites ⟨p. 378⟩is scientia infrugifera, a dead, barren knowledge*; it brings not forth the child of obedience. There is a great deal of difference between a Scholar that studies physic for the theory and notion, that he may have the rules of it lying before him, and one that studies Physic to practise; hypocrites are not practitioners; they are all head, no feet, they walk not in Christ, Col. 2.6. Their knowledge is informing, but not transforming, it doth not make them a jot the better, it leaves not a spiritual tincture of holiness behind: The flux of blood runs still, and such a knowledge is no better than ignorance, 1 John 2.4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. A man may have a knowledge of speculation, and be no better than a Devil. And this is the reason why men do not embrace Christ who is infinitely lovely, because ⟨p. 379⟩they know not his worth; though they are not grossly ignorant of Christ, yet they are spiritually ignorant. To this day the veil is upon their heart.
3. It is a speculation without operation. The knowledge that hypocrites have of Christ hath no saving influence upon them, it doth not make them more holy; it is one thing to have a notion of Christ, another thing to fetch vertue from Christ. The knowledge of hypocrites ⟨p. 378⟩is scientia infrugifera, a dead, barren knowledge*; it brings not forth the childe of obedience. There is a great deal of difference between a Scholar that studies physick for the theory and notion, that he may have the rules of it lying before him, and one that studies Physick to practise; hypocrites are not practitioners; they are all head, no feet, they walk not in Christ,