Opening the text

The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)Watts, Isaac

Religion

The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)

Name: The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)
Author: Watts, Isaac

Watts, Isaac

Dissenters, Religious -- England; Sermons, English -- 18th century; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century

Shame is a very discouraging passion of the mind; it sinks the spirits
low, it enfeebles all the active powers, and forbids the vigorous
execution of any thing whereof we are ashamed. It was necessary
therefore, that St. Paul should be endued with sacred courage, and
raised above the power of shame, when he was sent to preach the gospel
of Christ among the Jews or the heathens, to face an infidel world, and
to break through all the reproaches and terrors of it. _I am a debtor_,
saith he, _verse 14_, _to the Greeks and to the Barbarians_; that is, to
the learned and the unlearned nations; _to the wise and to the unwise_:
I have a commission from Christ to publish his gospel among all the
nations of men, and I esteem myself their debtor, till I have delivered
my message: And though Rome be the seat of worldly power and policy, the
mistress of the nations, and sovereign of the earth, where I shall meet
with opposition and contempt in abundance, yet I have courage enough to
preach this doctrine at Rome also, _for I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ_.

My friends, this is an age wherein the gospel of our Redeemer meets with
much contempt and opposition. There are many in a baptized nation, and
who have been brought up in the christian belief and worship, that begin
to be weary of Christ and his religion; they are endeavouring to find
blemishes and defects in this sacred gospel, and in that blessed word of
God that reveals this grace to us. The divine truths, that belong to
this gospel, meet with mockery and profane reproach from deists and
unbelievers. I may call it therefore a day of rebuke and blasphemy. God
grant we may never become a land of heathens again! Those of us that
believe this gospel from the heart, have need of courage to maintain our
profession of it, especially in some companies and conversations. We
should prepare ourselves to encounter the false reasonings of
unbelievers, as well as harden our faces against their ridicule. Let us
therefore meditate this sacred text, that each of us may pronounce
boldly the words of this great apostle, _I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ_.

Now, that our meditations may proceed regularly on the present theme of
discourse, let us consider,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)Watts, Isaac

Religion

The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)

Watts, Isaac

Dissenters, Religious -- England; Sermons, English -- 18th century; Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 18th century

Shame is a very discouraging passion of the mind; it sinks the spirits
low, it enfeebles all the active powers, and forbids the vigorous
execution of any thing whereof we are ashamed. It was necessary
therefore, that St. Paul should be endued with sacred courage, and
raised above the power of shame, when he was sent to preach the gospel
of Christ among the Jews or the heathens, to face an infidel world, and
to break through all the reproaches and terrors of it. _I am a debtor_,
saith he, _verse 14_, _to the Greeks and to the Barbarians_; that is, to
the learned and the unlearned nations; _to the wise and to the unwise_:
I have a commission from Christ to publish his gospel among all the
nations of men, and I esteem myself their debtor, till I have delivered
my message: And though Rome be the seat of worldly power and policy, the
mistress of the nations, and sovereign of the earth, where I shall meet
with opposition and contempt in abundance, yet I have courage enough to
preach this doctrine at Rome also, _for I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ_.

My friends, this is an age wherein the gospel of our Redeemer meets with
much contempt and opposition. There are many in a baptized nation, and
who have been brought up in the christian belief and worship, that begin
to be weary of Christ and his religion; they are endeavouring to find
blemishes and defects in this sacred gospel, and in that blessed word of
God that reveals this grace to us. The divine truths, that belong to
this gospel, meet with mockery and profane reproach from deists and
unbelievers. I may call it therefore a day of rebuke and blasphemy. God
grant we may never become a land of heathens again! Those of us that
believe this gospel from the heart, have need of courage to maintain our
profession of it, especially in some companies and conversations. We
should prepare ourselves to encounter the false reasonings of
unbelievers, as well as harden our faces against their ridicule. Let us
therefore meditate this sacred text, that each of us may pronounce
boldly the words of this great apostle, _I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ_.

Now, that our meditations may proceed regularly on the present theme of
discourse, let us consider,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)

The works of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. in nine volumes (volume 1 of 9)

No reviews yet