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A65313
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Seven sermons on several select subjects preached by Mr. Tho. Watson ...
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Watson, Thomas, d. 1686.
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1689
(1689)
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Wing W1144; ESTC R38959
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64,277
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202
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great point of prudence highly to value and love to kiss and admire this blessed Son of God. First Iesus Christ is the Son of God Kiss the Son he is the Son of God not by creation as the Angels are said to be his Sons but he is his Son by eternal generation Heb. 1.3 Who being the brightness of his glory and the express Image of his person Observe Jesus Christ is the Son of God for he is the brightness of his Fathers glory You know that the brightness that isâ—ues from the Sun is of the same nature with the Sun in the Firmament So Jesus Christ he is the brightness of his Father he is of the same nature with his Father as the Beams they are of the same nature with the Sun Therefore Christ speaks thus Iohn 14.9 He that hath seen me hath seen my Father Again observe Christ he is called the brightness of his Fathers glory The glory of the Sun in the Firmament it lies in the brightness of it So the incomparable glory of the Father doth most shine in Jesus Christ he is the brightness of his Fathers glory And this is enough to demonstrate to us that Christ is the very Son of God. And as Christ is the Son of God so he is a Royal Son he is a Son as he is a King I have set my King upon my holy Hill of Zion Psal. 2. Jesus Christ he is said in Scripture to be the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 All Kings they hold their Crowns by immediate Tenour from Jesus Christ Prov. 8.15 By me Princes reign So that Christ he is a Royal Son he is so a Son that he is a King. Indeed he hath the Titles given to him of a King. 1. He is called high and mighty Isa. 9.6 the mighty God. 2. As he is a King he hath his Ensigns of Royalty he hath his Sword Psal. 49.3 He hath his Scepter in his hand Heb. 1.8 3. Again Christ as he is King he hath his Prerogative Royal. As for instance he hath power to make Laws he hath power to pardon offenders which are Jewels belonging to the Crowns of Princes 4. Again he hath his Subjects and they are the most noble and excellent Subjects in the world in a threefold respect First All Christs Subjects are made free Iohn 18.36 His Subjects do fear him from an ingenuous principle of Love they do not serve Christ out of constraint but out of choice they are of a free noble spirit Secondly Christs Subjects they have the spirit of the Living God in them they have the in-dwelling of the Holy Ghost 2 Tim. 1.14 Thirdly All Christs Subjects they are of the Blood Royal of Heaven they are Kings Rev. 1.8 Thus you see Christ he is a Son and he is a King he hath his Subjects 5. Again Christ as King he hath his dominions There are some Princes have titles but they have not dominions But Christ hath dominions as well as titles of honour He hath Lands belonging to his Crown Christs dominions are famous for three things First They are large dominions God hath given him as King the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession His Kingdom reaches all over the world Secondly Christs dominion is famous for its spirituality The Lord Jesus sets up his Throne and Kingdom where no other King can He rules the hearts of men he gives Laws in their Consciences he binds their Souls by his Laws Here 's the spirituality of his Kingdom Thirdly Here is the eternity of his Kingdom or Dominion Thy Throne O God! is for ever and ever Heb. 1.8 What King can say so It 's true he hath many Heirs for all Believers they are his Heirs yet he hath no Successors Earthly Crowns fade away tumble in the dirt and those that wear them Doth the Crown endure to all generations No there is a worm that feeds in this gold But Christs Throne it endures for ever As the Lord Jesus hath the largest possessions for so he hath and they shall endure for ever and ever And thus much for the Doctrinal part Jesus Christ he is the Son of God the brightness of his glory And he is a Royal Son he is so a Son as he is a King. Now to make some Application Use 1. First By way of Inference Is Jesus Christ the Son of God a King full of glory and majesty then it informs us thus much That all matters of fact must be brought before this Son of God. It is the Son of God his Royal Son by whom all Princes reign Learn from hence That all matter of fact must be brought before this Son. Christ he hath the power of life and death in his hand Iohn 5.22 Observe The Father hath committed all Iudgment all Government to the Son. That blessed Lord Jesus that once had a Reed put into his hand by way of scorn and contempt he shall shortly have a Royal Scepter put into his hand as some great King. That Jesus who once hung upon the Cross he shall shortly sit as Judge upon the Bench. God hath committed all Judgment to the Son. The whole world must shortly come before the Son. That 's the last and great Assize from whence there 's no Appeal This blessed Son of God is fitly qualified to be the Judge of the world in respect of these two things First Jesus Christ hath wisdom to understand all Causes he is the Son of God he is God therefore will search to the bottom of all Causes therefore he is described with seven Eyes to denote his Omnisciency to judge of things Jesus Christ he weighs the spirits of men as it were in a ballance Iob 16.2 He is said to weigh the spirit Christ doth not only judge matter of fact but he judges of mens hearts Many mens actions may seem in this world to be good but their hearts are not good 2 Chron. 25.2 Now Christ this great Judge he hath this Touchstone to try the heart Secondly Jesus Christ he hath not only wisdom but hath strength too whereby he is able to be revenged upon all his Enemies Therefore in Scripture it is remarkable that Christs seven Eyes they are said to be upon one Stone Seven Eyes upon one Stone to denote the infinite strength of Christ the power and mighty strength of Christ. As Christ hath his ballance so he hath his sword to cut off offenders He can easily strike through the Loins of his Enemies Psal. 110. Thus the Son of God this Royal Son he is to be Judge and all Causes and all Matters will be brought before his Judgment Seat. Christs Court is the highest Court of Judicature if men are once cast there there is no Appeal to any other Court. A second Use that I would make of this point is an Use of Exhortation and it hath three or four branches in it First If Jesus Christ be the Son of God so full of glory and majesty and shall
enemies are laying snares for them God is pouring Wine and Oil into his peoples wounds and his adversaries they are a pouring in Vinegar into those wounds How contrary do these act those that are of the Romish Whore are at this day plotting to the ruine of Gods people and would have the Church of God lie in a field of blood The Lord he makes light to arise to the godly the wicked they labour to make darkness and sorrow to arise to them But such as lay snares for the righteous God will rain fire upon them Psa. 11.6 Upon the wicked God shall rain fire and brimstone The wicked they strike at Christ thorow his members sides but let them know if they kick against the Rock Christ the Lord will be too hard for them at last God ordains his Arrows against the Persecutors Psal. 7. v. 13. and God never misses his mark if he hath his Arrow upon the string he will certainly shoot and he never misses his mark That 's a second Inference 3. See here the difference betwixt the wicked and the godly in all their darkness they have some light some comfort arises to them The wicked in all their outward comforts they have some darkness arises up to them conscience chides them and troubles threaten them It is like the hand-writing upon the wall Psa. 68.31 God shall wound the heads of his enemies and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his trespasses The sinner in his light time condition in all his outward mirth he may see some clouds of darkness Gods threatning Arrows are against him and Gods Curse is against him and Gods Curse it blasts where-ever it comes An impenitent sinner he lives every day under the sentence of death and there remains for him saith the Apostle a fiery indignation Heb. 10.27 When the hardened sinner dies he will be but in a bad case he drops into the Grave and into Hell both at once God hath brewed for the impenitent sinner a deadly Cup Psal. 75.8 Observe that Scripture In the hand of the Lord there is a Cup the Wine is red it is full of mixture and the dregs thereof the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink them This red Wine it is the wrath of God and this Wine is full of mixture what 's that that 's the worm of Conscience and the fire of Hell Here is a mixed Cup and the wicked shall be ever drinking this Cup. God will never say Let this Cup pass away No they must be for ever drinking the dregs of this Cup of wrath My thinks this Scripture should be a damp to all their joy and mirth darkness is coming upon them 1 Sam. 28.19 It was sad news to Saul that the Devil brought saith he Tomorrow thou shalt be with me dreadful news Now men are sporting with their lusts and pleasures now they think they are in their gallantry and to morrow may be with the Devil A fourth branch of Inference Doth God cause light to spring up in his peoples darkness then see here the difference betwixt Earth and Heaven Here in this world there is a mixture of darkness with the Saints light in Heaven there shall be nothing but pure light no darkness there It is called an Inheritance of light Col. 1.12 As the Philosophers say Light is the very glory of the Creation it is the beauty of the world What was all the world without light but a dark prison Here 's the beauty of Heaven it is a place of light there is no eclipse nor dark shadows to be seen there Heaven is a bright body all over all over embroidered with light there is the Sun of Righteousness shining with the bright Orient beams of glory Rev. 21.23 the Lamb is the light thereof oh how should we long for that place of Paradice Use 2. is of Consolation For the Church and People of God. This Text is a pillar of light a breast of consolation To the upright ariseth light in darkness Doth God make light and joy and peace to arise to the righteous why then should we despair why should we despond when it is Gods great design to lighten his peoples darkness I confess things have but a bad aspect England is like the Ship in the Gospel almost covered with waves This may humble us and set our Eyes abroach with tears Yet let us not mourn as without hope This Text methinks le ts in some branches of light it gives some spark of comfort in our darkness Let me come as the Dove with an Olive branch of peace That it is some spark of light that there are many upright ones in the Land and the Text saith Light ariseth to the upright Indeed were the godly quite removed as it is the desire of some to destroy them God would soon make quick work with the Nation he would soon break up house here Gen. 19.22 Haste thee escape thither for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither The upright that my Text speaks of God will do much for their sakes The upright they are the excellent of the Earth they are the Chariots and Horse-men of Israel they are the very flower and cream of the Creation they are the glory of Christ 2 Cor. 8.23 and for their sakes God may yet cause light to arise and his Arm may bring salvation Secondly Another spark of light in our darkness that yet God is pleased to stir up in his people is a spirit of mighty prayer they cry mightily Certainly God will not say to this City and Nation Seek ye my face in vain Prayer is the Wall and Bulwarks of the Land. It is observable when the Lord intends to pour out the Vials of his Indignation he stops the sluces of prayer shuts up the spirit of prayer Ier. 7.16 Therefore pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear God hath not yet said so to us The Key of Prayer oiled with tears and turned with the hand of faith unlocks Gods bowels Prayer when it is important staves off wrath from the Nation Exod. 32.10 Saith God to Moses Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them And what did Moses do he only prayed Fervent prayer overcomes the Almighty Prayer finds God free but it leaves him bound it is as it was This his hand staves off Judgment this lets in some dawning light to this Land that God don 't wholly leave us especially remembring this that Christ Jesus praying over our prayers again presents them to his Father and perfumes them with his sweet odour which makes them go up as Incense Rev. 8.3 Thirdly Another spark arising is this when we consider Gods compassion and bowels of mercy Mercy it is Gods darling Attribute that he loves most of all to magnifie Micah 7.18 Mercy pleaseth