PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Select Works of Thomas Watson — Body of Divinity and Sermons
Thomas Watson, d. 1686 · 632,849 words · 737 reading sections
S€3
civious attire endeavour to draw others to lust, though no evil follow, yet these temp- ters shall be punished, because they offered poison to others though they would not drink. — 6. Take heed of evil company. Serpunt vitia et en proximian quemque transi- Hunt, Sen. Sin is a disease very catching ; one man tempts anot…
813 wordsSECTION 302OF THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.
ing a A^nfe, but the loving a wife, makes a man live chastely. He who loves his wife — whom Solomon calls his fountain — will not go abroad to drink of muddy, poisoned waters. Pure ctmjngal love is a gift of God, and comes from heaven ; this, like the ' vestal fire, must be cherished, that it do not go out. He who love…
839 wordsSECTION 303OF THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.
lovers as they come to her, but at last comes the frown and sting. " A dart strikes through their liver," Prov. vii. 23. " Her end is bitter." When a man hath been virtuous, the labour is gone, but the comfort remains ; but when he hath been vicious and unclean, the pleasure is gone, but the sting remains. Delectat in …
887 wordsSECTION 304OF THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.
Ans. 1st. The internal causes are : I. Unbelief. A man hath an high distrust of God's providence : " Can God furnish a ta- ble in the wilderness ?" Ps. Ixxviii. 19. So saith the unbeliever, " Can God spread a table for me? No, l>e cannot." Therefore he is resolved he will spread a table for himself, but it shall be at …
856 wordsSECTION 305OF THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.
6. The usurer who takes of others even to extortion ; he seems to help another by letting him have money in his necessity, but gets him into bonds, and sucks out h very blood and marrow. I read of a wo- man whom Satan had bound, Luke xiii. 16. And truly he is almost in as bad a con- dition whom the usurer hath bound : …
849 wordsSECTION 306329
A. 4. A man may be a thief to himself by suretiship, Prov. xxii. 26., " Be thou not one of them that are sureties for debt." The creditor comes upon the surety for debt, and so by paying another's debt he is a thief to himself, he undoes himself. Let not any man say, he should have been counted unkind if he had not ent…
941 wordsSECTION 307330
in tlie barrel. We shall not need these things long; we shall carry nothing out of the world with us but our winding-sheet ; if we have but enough to bear out our charges to heaven, it is sufficient. % ^^<^V% ^-^^^^ ^^V^^^^^^^^^^V^^'V*^^^^ >^.%%%%%^i%% • OF THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. ExoD. XX. 16. Thou shalt not hear f…
881 wordsSECTION 308331
(1.) A bearing false witness for another. Wlicn we do give our testimony for a per- son that is criminal and guilty, we justify him as if he were innocent, Isa. v. 23., " Which justify the wicked for a reward." He that goes to make a wicked man just, makes himself unjust. (2.) There is a bearing false witness a- gains…
669 wordsSECTION 309OF THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
present and slander others; know that this is to act the part of a devil. Clipping a man's credit to make it weigh lighter, is worse than clipj)ing of coin. The slanderer wounds three at once ; he wounds him that he slanders ; and he wounds him to whom he reports the slander, by causing unchari- table thoughts to arise…
866 wordsSECTION 310333
A good conscience is a wall of brass, that will be able to stand against a false witness. As no flattery can heal a bad conscience, so no slander can hurt a good. God will clear up the names of his people, Ps. xxxvii. 6., " He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light." God, as he will wipe away tears from the e…
897 wordsSECTION 311OF THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
But, for a more full answer to the ques- tion, " What is it to covet ?" I shall shew you in six particulars, when a man may be said to be given to covetousness. 1. When his thoughts are wholly taken up about the world. As a good man's thoughts are still in heaven; he is thinking of Christ's love and eternal recompense…
860 wordsSECTION 312335
(1.) It is a subtle sin, a sin that many do not so well discern in themselves : as some have the scurvy, yet do not know it. This sin can dress itself in the attire of vir- tue. It is called the ' cloak of covetous- ness,' 1 Thess. ii. 5. Covetousness is a sin that wears a cloak, it cloaks itself under the name of frug…
638 wordsSECTION 313OF THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
day to keep it lioly." A covetous man doth not keep the sabbath lioly ; lie will ride to fairs on a sabbath : instead of read- ing in the Bible, he will cast up his ac- counts.— 5. Covetousness is a breach of the fifth commandment, " Honour thy father and thy mother." A covetous person will not honour his father, if he…
884 wordsSECTION 314337
\st. Faith, 1 John v. 4., " This is the victory that overcometh the world, oven our faith." The root of covetousness is the distrust of God's providence ; faith believes God will provide, — God who feeds the birds, will feed his children, — he who clothes the lilies, will clothe his lambs, — and so faith overcomes the …
745 wordsSECTION 315OF THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
Sd. The third remedy : covet spiritual things more, and you will covet earthly things' less. Covet grace ; grace is the best blessing, it is the seed of God, 1 John iii. 9., the angels' glory. Covet heaven ; hea- ven is the region of happiness, it is the most pleas.int climate. Did we covet heaven more, we should covet…
879 wordsSECTION 316MAN'S INABILITY TO KEEP THE MORAL LAW.
1. Then, " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house." How depraved is man since the fall ! man knows not how to keep within bounds, but is coveting more than his own. Ahab, one would think, had e- nough ; he was a king, and one would sup- pose liis crown-revenues should have con- tented him : but still he VA'as covet…
927 wordsSECTION 317MAN'S INABILITY TO KEEP THE MORAL LAW.
James iii. 2., " In many things we of- fend ail." Man in his primitive state of innocency "'hs endowed with ability to keep the wlioie moral law; Adam had rectitude of mind, sanctity of will, perfection of power ; Adam had the copy of God's law written on his heart ; no sooner did God command, but he did obey ; as the …
917 wordsSECTION 318341
Quest. 1. But if a man hath no power fo keep the whole moral lair, that why doth God require that of man which he is not able to perform ? How .doth this stand with his justice ? Ans, Though man liath lof;t his power of obeying, God hath not lost his right of com- manding. If a master intrusts a servant with money to…
891 wordsSECTION 319ALL SINS NOT EQUALLY HEINOUS.
need not confess sin. David confessed sin, Ps. xxxii. 5., and Paul confessed sin, Rom. vii. 25. ; but they are got beyond David and Paul ; they are perfect, — they never transgress, — -"nnd where there is no trans- gression, what needs confession ? — 2c//y, If they are perfect they need not ask pardon ; they can pay Go…
836 wordsSECTION 320343
John xix. 11., "He that delivered me unto thee, hath the greater sin." The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal : but this scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin ; some are greater than others ; some are ' mighty gins,' Amos. v. 12., and 'crying sins,' Gen. xviii. 21. Every …
897 wordsSECTION 321ALL SINS NOT EQUALLY HEINOUS.
A. 4. When a man sins after counsels, admonitions, warning, he cannot plead ig- norance; the trumpet of the gospel hath been blown in his ears, and sounded a re- treat to call him off from his sins ; he hath been told of his injustice, living in malice, keeping bad company, yet he would ven- ture upon sin ; this is to …
859 wordsSECTION 322345
A, 9. Those sins arc greater which pro- ceed from a spirit of malignity. To malign holiness is diabolical. 'Tis a sin to want grace, 'tis worse to hate it. In nature there are antipathies, as between the vine and laurel. Some have an antipathy against God, because of his purity, Isa. xxx. 11., " Cause the Holy One of I…
921 wordsSECTION 323S47
A. 15. To sin maliciously makes sin greater. Aquinas and other of the school- men place the sin against the Holy Ghost in malice. The sinner doth all he can to vex God, and despite the Spirit of grace, Heb. X. 29. Thus Julian, who threw up his dagger in the air, as if he would have been revenged upon God. This swells s…
812 wordsSECTION 324WHAT SIN DESERVETH.
gall, and * writes bitter things ;' now his poisoned arrows stick fast in tlie heart, Ps. Ixxxviii. 15, 16., " While I suffer thy ter- rors, I am distracted ; thy fierce wrath go- eth over me." Lutlier, in desertion, was in such horror of mind, that Nee color, nee sanguis super esset, — he had no blood seen in his face…
910 wordsSECTION 325349
3. God's wrath is just. The Greek word for vengeance signifies justice. The wicked shall drink a sea of wrath, hut not one drop of injustice. 'Tis just God's honour be re- paired, and how can that, bo but by pnnisb- ing offenders ? Having shewn you what this wrath of God is, I shall show you, 2. That we have deserved t…
865 wordsSECTION 326OF FAITH.
Ana. \. By getting an interest in Jesus Christ. Christ is the only screen to stand betwixt us and the wrath of God ; he did feel God's wrath, that they who believe in him should never feel it, 1 Tlicss. i. 10., " Jesus wliich delivered us from the wrath to come." Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace was a type of God's wrath…
679 wordsSECTION 327351
I. I begin with the first, " Faith in Jesus Christ," Rom. iii. 22, 25., " Whom God hath sot forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood." The great privilege in the text is to have Christ for a propitiation ; which is not only to free us from God's wrath, but to ingratiate us into God's love and favour. And t…
926 wordsSECTION 328OF FAITH.
(3.) Unbelief is a leading sin. It is the breeder of sin. Qualitas malce vitcB inithnn sumit ab hijidelilate. Unbelief is a root-sin, and the dcA-il labours to water this root, that the branches may be fruitful. (1.) Unbelief breeds haidness of heart ; there- fore they are put together, Mark xvi. 14., Christ upbraideth…
914 wordsSECTION 329353
(2.) Faith lives in a broken heart, Mark ix. 21., " He cried out with tears, Lord, I believe." True faith is always in an heart bruised for sin : such therefore, whose hearts were never touched for sin, have no faith. If a physician should tell us, there were an herb would help us against all in- fections, but it alway…
832 wordsSECTION 330OF REPENTANCE.
promise doth not say, lie who hath a giant faith, who can believe God's love ihroujrh a frown, — Avho can rejoice in aftliclion, — who can work wonders, remove mountains, stop the mouth of lions, — shall be saved ; but, whosoever believes, be his faith never so small. A reed is but weak, especially when it is bruised, …
852 wordsSECTION 331355
3. Counterfeit, a slight superficial sor- row. When God's hand lies heavy upon a man, (he is sick or lame) he may A'ent a sigh or tear, and say, ' Lord, have mercy ;' yet this is no true repentance. Ahab did more than all this, I Kings xxi. 27., " He rent his clothes, and fasted, and lay in sack- cloth, and went softly…
804 wordsSECTION 332OF REPENTANCE.
(1.) The terminus n quo, — a breaking off sin, Dan. iv. 27., " Break oft' thy sins by righteousness." And this breaking oft" sin must have three qualifications, 1. It must be universal, a ])reaking off all sin. One disease may kill as well as more; one sin lived in may damn as well as more. The real penitent breaks off…
813 wordsSECTION 333THE WORD READ AND PREACHED, HOW EFFECTUAL.
sauce that makes all other mercies relish the sweeter ; it sweetens our health, riches, honour. David had a crown of pure gold set upon his head, Ps. xxi. 3. But that which David did most bless God for was, not that God had set a crown of gold upon his head, but that God set a crown of mer- cy upon his head : Ps. ciii.…
922 wordsSECTION 334THE WORD READ AND PREACHED HOW EFFECTUAL.
Anx. Tlic word of God is said to work effectually, when it hath that good effect iij>on us for which it was aj)pointed of God; namely, when the word works powerful illumination, and thorough reformation ; Acts xxvi. 18., "To open their eyes, and turn lliem from the power of Satan to God." The * opening their eyes,' den…
796 wordsSECTION 335THE WORD READ AND PREACHED, HOW EFFECTUAL.
4. If we would have the word written effectual to salvation, we must delight in it as our spiritual cordial, Jer. xv. 16., " Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and the word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart." All true solid comfort is fetched out of the word. The word (as Chrysostom saith) is a spiri…
708 wordsSECTION 336THE WORD READ AND PREACHED. HOW EFFECTUAL.
which were spoken of Paul." Give atten- tion to the word, as to a matter of life and death. And, to that purjio^e have a care, (1.) To banish vain impertinent thoughts, which will distract yon, and tak(; you off from the work in hand, 'flits- fouls will be coming to the saeiiliee, (iti.. xv. 11., therefore we must driv…
896 wordsSECTION 337OF BAPTISM.
A. 6. Be not only attentive in hearing but retentive after hearing: Heb. ii. 1., "We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest at any tin)e Ave let them slip." Lest we should let thenj run out, as water out of a sieve ; if the ground doth not retain the seed sown into it, there can be no goo…
916 wordsSECTION 338OF BAPTISM.
Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore^ and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father y and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; teaching them WE are still upon that question in the catechism. What are the outtvard means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption ? Ans. Tliey are hi…
722 wordsSECTION 339363
Ans. Children are paities of the covenant of grace. The covenant was made with them. Gen. xvii 7,, " I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and thy seed after thee." And Acts ii. 39., " The promise is unto you and to your children."…
861 wordsSECTION 340OF BAPTISM.
\st Argument. If children during their inlancy are caj)able of grace, then they are capable (d' baptism ; but children in their infancy are capable of grace, therefore they are capable of baj)tism. I prove the minor, that they are capable of grace, thus : if children in their infancv mav be saved, then they are capable…
797 wordsSECTION 341OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Use 3d. Of exhortation. (1.) We that are baptized, let us labour to find the bless- ed fruits of baptism in our own souls : let us labour not only to have the signs of the covenant, but the gi'ace of the covenant- Many glory in this, that they are baptized. The Jews gloried in their circumcision, be- cause of their roy…
883 wordsSECTION 342SG7
ever was instituted : here we have to do more immediately with the person of Christ. In ])ray<'r, we draw nigli to God; in the sa- crament we become one with him. In prayer we look up to Christ; in the sacra- ment, by faith, we touch him. In the word preached, we hear Christ's voice ; in the sa- crament we feed on him.…
922 wordsSECTION 343OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
3. " And blessed it." This is another Tyart of the consecration of the element, Christ blessed it ; he blesseth, audit shall be blessed, viz. he looked up to heaven for a benediction upon this ordinance newly founded. 4. " And brake it." The bread broken, and the wine poured out, was to signify to us the agony and ign…
823 wordsSECTION 344OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
11. He gave the cup to them. Why then dare any withhold the cup ? This is to jxdlute and curUiil the ordinance, and alter it from its primitive institution. Christ and his ajjostles administered the sacrament in. both kinds, — the bread and the cup, 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25. And the cup was re- ceived ill the ancient church f…
800 wordsSECTION 345OF THE LORDS SUPPER.
(2.) IT must be a joyful remembrance, John vlli. 5G., " Abraham rejoiced to see my day." When a Christian sees a sacra- ment-day approach, he should rej<iice. This ordinance of the supper is an earnest of heaven ; 'tis the glass in which we see Iiim whom our souls love; It is the chariot by which we are carried up to C…
857 wordsSECTION 346371
Ans. Yes : 1 Cor. xi. 26., " As (ft as ye eat of this bread." The ordinance ■« not to be celebrated once in a year, or onte in our lives, but often. A Christian's owt necessities may make him come often hi-'^ ther. His corruptions are strong, there- fore he had need come often hither for an antidote to expel the poison…
805 wordsSECTION 347OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Quest. 2. What is self-examination ? Ans. It is a setting up a court of con- science and keeping a register there, that by a strict scrutiny a man may see how matters stand between God and his soul. Self-examination is a spiritual inquisition, an heart-anatomy, Avhereby a man takes his heart, as a watch, all in jneces,…
909 wordsSECTION 348373
4. Self-examining is needful, because of that secret corru])tion in the heart, which will not be fimnd out without searching. There are in the heart jihivgendcc tenebrcB, Aug., hidden pollutions. It is with a Chris- tian, as with Josejih's brethren : when the steward accused them of having tlio cup, thev were veadv to …
720 wordsSECTION 349OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
A. 4. We must examine ourselves before the sacrament, in respect of the difficulty of self-examining work. Difficulty raiseth a noble spirit. Self-examining is difficult, \st. Because it is an inward work, it lies most with the heart. External acts of de- votion are easy ; to lift up the eye, — to bow the knee. — to ro…
789 wordsSECTION 350375
First, We are to examine whether we have knowledge, else we cannot give God a reasonable service, Rom. xiii. L Know- ledge is a necessary requisite in a commu- nicant; without knowledge there can be no fitness for the sacrament ; a pei'son cannot be fit to come to the Lord's table who hath no goodness, but without know…
830 wordsSECTION 351375
Tliirdly, This solemn preparing for the sacrament is in begging a blessing upon the ordinance. Tlie sacrament is not like phy- sic, uliieh hath an inherent ojtcrative vir- tue : no : but the efticacv of the sacrament depends upon the co-operation of the Spirit, and a word of blessing. In the institution, Christ blessed…
762 wordsSECTION 352OF PRAYER.
2. Love to the saints. This is a love- feast : though we must eat this supper with the bitter herbs of repentance, yet not with the bitter herbs of malice. Were it not sad, if all the meat one eats should turn to bad humours ? He who comes in malice to the Lord's table, all he eats is to his hurt : ** He eats and drink…
959 wordsSECTION 353OF PRAYER
Ans. 1. Because he only hears prayer, Ps. Ixv. 2., " O thou that hearest prayer !" Hereby God is known to be the true God, in that he hears prayer, I Kings xviii. 37., " Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God !" A. 2. Because God only can help. We may look to second causes, and …
911 wordsSECTION 354379
fection is like coals put to the incense ; it makes prayer ascend as a sweet perfume. Christ prayed with strong cries, Heb. v. 7. Clamor iste penetrat nubes, Luther. Fer- vent prayer, like a petard set against hea- ven's gates, makes them fly open. To cause holy fervour and ardour of soul in prayer, consider, 1. Prayer…
923 wordsSECTION 355OF PRAYER.
A. 6. If you would keep your mind fixed on God, watch your hearts ; not only watch them after prayer, but in prayer. The heart will be apt to give you the slip, and have a thousand vagaries in prayer. We read of angels ascending and descending on Jacob's ladder : so in prayer you shall find your hearts ascending to hea…
933 wordsSECTION 356OF THE PREFACE TO THE LORD'S PRAYER.
A. 2. God may delay prayer, when he will not deny, that he may humble us ; perhaps God hath spoken to us a long time in his word to leave such sins, but we would not hear him ; therefore he lets us speak to him in prayer and seems not to hear us. A. 3. God may delay pra}er when he will not deny, because he sees we are…
871 wordsSECTION 357383
easily err, having our pattem before us 2d. Hereby mercies requested are obtained, for the apostle assures us, God will hear us, when we j)ray " according to his will," 1 John y. 14. And sure we pray accord- ing to his will, when we pray according to the ])attern he hath set us. So nnuih for the introduction to the Lor…
868 wordsSECTION 358OF THE FREFACE TO THE LORD'S PRAYER.
A. 2. God is the best Father, because he is perfect, Mat. v. 48., "Your Father which is in heaven is perfect;" lie is perfectly ^ood. Earthly fathers are subject to in- firmities: Elias (though a prophet) "was a mail subject to like passions," James v. 17., but God is perfectly good. All the perfection we can arrive at…
953 wordsSECTION 359385
A. 2. God confers honourable titles upon his children : he calls them the excellent of the earth, Ps. xvi. 3., or the mognificent, as Junius renders it. They must needs be ex- cellent, who are e regio savguiue nail, — of the blood royal of heaven ; they are the spi- ritual j)!iaMiixes of the world, the glory of the cre…
758 wordsSECTION 360OF THE PREFACE TO THE LORDS PRAYER.
Ans. 1. By having a filial disposition : this is seen in four tilings, 1. To melt in tears foi* sin : a cliild weeps for offending his father. When Christ looked on Peter, and he remembered his sin in denying Clnist, he fell a-weeping. Clemens Alcx- andrinns reports of Peter he never heard a cock crow, but he wej)t. Th…
796 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical work by Thomas Watson, d. 1686. OCR from an original historical scan hosted by Internet Archive; OCR may contain recognition errors.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.