Religion Our True Interest, Title page – Errata
RELIGION OUR TRUE INTEREST: OR PRACTICAL NOTES UPON The Third Chapter of MALACHY, THE Sixteen, Seventeen and Eighteen VERSES.
Seasonable for the Times.
By THOMAS WATSON, sometimes Minister of Stephens Walbrook, Lond.
PROV. 14.27.
The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life.
LONDON, Printed by I. Astwood, for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheap-side, near Mercers-Chappel. 1682.
TO THE READER.
Christian Reader,
BOOKS are the Children of the Brain. In this Writing Age*Eccles. 12.12. (ferè ad nauseam) I intended my Pen should have been silent, but the variety and Weightiness of this Subject, as also the desire of some Friends did prevail with me to Publish it. The main design of this excellent Scripture, is to encourage Solid Piety, and confute the Atheists of the World, who imagine there is no gain in Godliness. It was the Speech of King Saul to his Servants, 1 Sam. 22.7. Will the Son of Iesse give every one of you Fields and Vineyards? Will the World or mens Lusts give them such noble Recompences of Reward, as God bestows upon his Followers? Surely, it is Holiness carries away the Garland. As for this Treatise, it comes abroad in a plain dress: Truth like a Diamond Shines brightest in its native Lustre; Saint Paul came not to the Corinthians foreign, with excellency of Speech *2 Cor. 1.1., or the Pride of Oratory †Mundi facundiam non venditavit. Vorstius.; His Study was not to Court, but Convert. It is an unhappiness that in these Luxuriant times, Religion should for the most part run either into Notion or Ceremony; The Spirits of Religion are evaporated. When Knowledge is turned into Taste, and digested into Practice, then it is Saving. That God would accompany these few impolite Lines, with the Operation and Benediction of his holy Spirit, and make them edifying, is the Prayer of him who is
Thine in all Christian Service, Thomas Watson. Dowgate, Nov. 22. 1681.
THE TABLE ALPHABETICAL.
A
ABusers of Gods Iewels Punished.
pag. 181.
Afflictions have their Consolations.
p. 227
Apostacy dangerous
p. 8
Appearance of sin to be shunned.
p. 47
Arguments to hold fast Integrity in evil times.
p. 7
Assurance and the Fear of God consistent.
p. 21
B
BEst need Sparing.
p. 202
Bodies of the Saints shall be perfect.
p. 192
C
CArnal Fear evil.
p. 14
Christians instead of speaking one to another, speak one of another.
p. 89
Comfort when God saith, Ye are mine.
p. 171
Covenant Vnion with God to be endeavoured.
p. 172
D
DAy of Iudgment, how far to be feared by a Child of God.
p. 71
Day of making up Gods Iewels.
p. 190
Death how far to be feared by a Child of God.
p. 67
Different carriage of God towards his Children and the Wicked.
p. 134
E
EVil Thoughts are Punishable in Gods Court.
p. 111
Excellency of the Fear of God.
p. 29
Eyes of Sinners at present shut.
p. 209
F
FEar of God Described.
p. 15
Fear of God is by a Trope put for all Religion.
ibid.
Fear of God makes us Fear Sin.
p. 45
Fearing God and keeping his Commandments Conjoyned.
p. 54
Fear of God, how to be attained.
p. 80
Fear of missing Heaven.
p. 78
Folly of Idolaters.
p. 136
Friends may be forgetful, but God will not.
p. 150
G
GOD deals with his Saints, as a Father with his Son.
p. 195
God deals well with his People when he Afflicts them.
p. 217
God takes notice of the Good in his Children.
p. 130
Gods hearkning to us should make us hearken to him.
p. 138
God hath a Book of Remembrance for his People.
p. 140
Gods owning of his People.
p. 161
Gods Sparing them.
p. 201
Good Conference to be used.
p. 82
Graces of the Saints shall be perfect.
p. 191
H
HAsty Words shew the Devil to be in the Tongue.
p. 87
Hearts Deceit.
p. 62
Heart not to be hardened against God.
p. 156
Helps to good Discourse.
p. 100
Helps to holy Thoughts.
p. 127
Hell, how far to be Feared by a Believer.
p. 73
Honour attends Holiness.
p. 174
I
IDle Talk Censured,
p. 85
Incitements to holy Thoughts.
p. 114
Ingredients into the Fear of God.
p. 16
Integrity to be preserved Inviolable.
p. 3
Iovial Sinners reproved.
p. 25
M
MAking up of Gods Iewels, what it implys.
p. 185
Maintain honourable Thoughts of God in Affliction.
p. 231
Matter of our Holy Musings.
p. 113
Means to be good in evil times.
p. 9
Mercies of God to be Recorded.
149
Murmuring a God-provoking Sin.
p. 87
N
NAme of God, what it signifies.
p. 103
O
OAths weigh heavy in Gods Balance.
p. 89
Omnisciency of God to be admired.
p. 132
P
PRiviledges of being in Covenant with God.
p. 165
R
REasons enforcing the Fear of God.
p. 19
S
SAints should be sparing in their Censures of others.
p. 205
Saints have Gods Ear.
p. 134
Saints Purgatory is in this Life.
p. 144
Saints Gods Iewels.
p. 175
Saints should shine as Iewels.
p. 183
Satans Snares
p. 59
Scoffers the vilest of Sinners.
p. 28
Secure Sinners Characterized.
p. 27
Serve God as a Son doth his Father.
p. 203
Signs of the Fear of God.
p. 45
Signs of such as shall goe to Hell.
p. 74
Silence in Religion a loud sin.
p. 85
Sinful compliance sordid.
p. 5
Sin worse than Affliction.
p. 46
Sin begins in the Thoughts.
p. 109
Sinners have not right thoughts of God.
p. 107
Sinners shall not be spared.
p. 203
Sins of the Wicked written down in Gods Book of Remembrance.
p. 146
Swasives to holy Conference.
p. 94
T
THinking of God in a right manner.
p. 125
Thoughts of God may be Peccant.
p. 124
Thoughts and good Speeches of the Godly are Written down.
p. 140
Time of Discerning between the Righteous and the Wicked.
p. 210
V
VAin Thoughts the froth of the Brain.
p. 108
Vain thoughts Pernitious.
p. 109
Vnion of the Saints at last.
p. 189
W
WAnt of the Fear of God the cause of all sin.
p. 22
Wicked men Vile in Gods account.
p. 178
Wisdom to engage the Lord of Hosts on our side.
p. 158
Works of Mercy.
p. 57
ERRATA.
PAge 85. line 26. for no, read not. Pag. 155. marg. 3 Vse, dele 3. Pag. 188. l. 15, for discords r. discord.
PRACTICAL NOTES UPON MALACH. III. Ver. 16, 17, &c.
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkned and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Name. And they shall be mine (saith the Lord of Hosts) in that day when I make up my Iewels, and I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him, &c.