A96109:91
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.
THE SAINTS SPIRITUAL DELIGHT. › Chapter 7: A suasive to this holy delight in Religion.
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.
Considerat. 3 3. Delight in spiritual things evidenceth grace; 'Tis a sign we have received the Spirit of adoption. An ingenuous child delights to obey his father; he that is born of God is ennobled by grace, and acts from a principle of ingenuity; grace alters the bias of the heart, and makes it of unwilling, willing. The Spirit of grace is called a free Spirit, Psal. 51. not only because it works freely, but because it makes the heart free and cheerful in obedience; a gracious heart doth not act by pure constraint, but free consent.
Considerat. 3 3. Delight in spiritual things evidenceth grace; 'Tis a signe we have received the Spirit of adoption. An ingenuous childe delights to obey his father; he that is born of God is enobled by grace, and acts from a principle of ingenuity; grace alters the byas of the heart, and makes it of unwilling, willing. The Spirit of grace is call'd a free Spirit, Psal. 51. not only because it works freely, but because it makes the heart free and cheerful in obedience; a gracious heart doth not act by pure constraint, but free consent.
Considerat. 4 4. Delight in Religion will make the business of Religion more facile to us. 1Delight makes every thing easy; there's nothing hard to a willing mind; Trahit sua quemque voluptas; ⟨p. 45⟩— delight turns Religion into recreation; 'tis like fire to the sacrifice, like oil to the wheels, like wind to the sails, it carries us full sail in duty; he that delights in Gods way, will never complain of the ruggedness of the way; a child that is going to his fathers house, doth not complain of bad way. A Christian is going to heaven in the way of duty; every prayer, every Sacrament, he is a step nearer his Fathers house; sure he is so full of joy he is going home, that he will not complain of bad way. Get then this holy delight. Beloved, we have not many miles to go, death will shorten our way, let delight sweeten it.