The Beatitudes - Thomas Watson
Sundry sharp reproofs
This doctrine
draws up a charge against several sorts:
1. Those that
think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned
this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning `a rare herb'. Men have tears
to shed for other things, but have none to spare for
their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony
ground which `lacked moisture'. {Lu 8:6}
We have many
cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is
the worst temper of the body. Sure I am that to be hot in sin, and to be so dry
as to have no tears, is the worst temper of the soul. How many are like
Gideon's dry fleece, and like the mountains of Gilboa! There is no dew upon
them. Did Christ bleed for sin, and can you not weep? If God's bottle be not
filled with tears, his vial will be filled with wrath. We have many sinners in
Sion, but few mourners in Sion. It is with most people as with a man on the top
of a mast; the winds blow and the waves beat, and the
ship is in danger of ship wreck, and he is fast asleep. So when the waves of
sin have even covered men and the stormy wind of God's wrath blows, and is
ready to blow them into hell, yet they are asleep in security.
2. This
doctrine reproves them who instead of weeping for sin, spend their days in
mirth and jollity. Instead of mourners we have ranters.
`They take the timbrel and harp, they spend their
days in wealth'. {Job 21:12,Job
21:13} `They pursue the Sybarite life', says Luther. `They do not
give themselves to mourning, but follow after their
enjoyments'. They live epicures and die atheists. St James bids us `turn our
laughter to mourning'. {Jas 4:9} But they turn their mourning
to laughter. Samson was brought forth to make the Philistines sport. {Jude 1:16:Jude 1:25} The jovial sinner makes the devil sport. It is a
saying of Theophylact, `It is one of the worst sights
to see a sinner go laughing to hell.' How unseasonable is it to take the harp
and viol when God is taking the sword! `A sword, a sword is sharpened and also furbished; should we then make mirth?'. {Eze 21:9,Eze
21:10} This is a sin that enrages God. `In that day did the Lord of
hosts call to weeping and to mourning, and behold joy and gladness, slaying
oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine; and it was revealed in
mine ears by the Lord of hosts. Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from
you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts'. {Isa 22:12-14} That is, this your sin
shall not be done away by any expiatory sacrifice, but vengeance shall pursue
you for ever.
3. This
doctrine reproves those who, instead of mourning for sin, rejoice in sin; {Pr 2:14} `Who take pleasure in
iniquity'. {2Th 2:12} Wicked men in this sense are
worse than the damned in hell, for I dare say they take little pleasure in
their sins. There are some so impudently profane, that they will make
themselves and others merry with their sins. Sin is a soul sickness. {Lu 5:31} Will a man make merry with
his disease? Ah wretch, did Christ bleed for sin, and do you laugh at sin? Is
that your mirth which grieves the Spirit? Is it a time for a man to break jests
when he is upon the scaffold, and his head is to be stricken off? `You who
laugh at sin now, the time is coming when God will `laugh at your calamity'. {Pr 1:26}
4. This
doctrine reproves those that cry down mourning for sin. They are like the
Philistines who stopped the wells. {Ge 26:15}
These would stop the wells of godly sorrow. Antinomians say this is a legal
doctrine, but Christ here preaches it: `Blessed are they that mourn.' And the
apostles preached it, `And they went out and preached that men should repent'.
{Mr 6:12} Holy ingenuity will
put us upon mourning for sin. He that has the heart of a child cannot but weep
for his unkindness against God. Mourning for sin is the very fruit and product
of the Spirit of grace. {Zec
12:10} Such as cry down repentance, cry down the Spirit of
grace. Mourning for sin is the only way to keep off wrath from us. Such as with
Samson would break this pillar, go about to pull down the vengeance of God upon
the land. To all such I say, as Peter to Simon Magus, `Repent therefore of this
thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of shine heart may be forgiven thee', O sinner. {Ac
8:22