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Thomas Watson – Gospel Piety + Moral Equity

21 May

(c. 1620 – 1686) an English, Nonconformist, Puritan preacher and author.

A good Christian makes gospel piety and moral equity kiss each other. Herein some discover their hypocrisy: they will obey God in some things which are more facile, and may raise their repute; but other things they leave undone. “One thing is lacking,” Mark 20:21. Herod would hear John Baptist, but not leave his incest. Some will pray, but not give alms; others will give alms, but not pray. “Ye tithes of mint and annise, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith.” Matt. 22:23. The badger has one foot shorter than the other; so these are shorter in some duties than in others. God likes not such partial servants, who will do some part of the work he sets them about, and leave the other undone.

~Thomas Watson~

 



A Complete Body of Divinity (Vestavia Hills, AL; Solid Ground Christian Books; 2016), 222-223.

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Thomas Watson – Lovers of God Love His People

3 Jan

9. If we are lovers of God, we love what God loves….

(b) We love a saint, though he has many personal failings. There is no perfection here. In some, rash anger prevails; in some, inconstancy; in some, too much love of the world. A saint in this life is like gold in the ore, much dross of infirmity cleaves to him, yet we love him for the grace that is in him. A saint is like a fair face with a scar: we love the beautiful face of holiness, though there be a scar in it. The best emerald has its blemishes, the brightest stars their twinklings, and the best of the saints have their failings. You that cannot love another because of his infirmities, how would you have God love you?

~Thomas Watson~



The All Things for Good (Edinburgh, Scotland; Banner of Truth Trust; 1986) Chapter 5: The Tests of Love to God; 9. If we are lovers of God, we love what God loves

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Thomas Watson – The Wonder of Adoption

13 Nov

We have enough in us to move God to correct us, but nothing to move him to adopt us, therefore exalt free grace, begin the work of angels here; bless him with your praises who hath blessed you in making you his sons and daughters.

~Thomas Watson~






A Puritan Theology (Grand Rapids, MI; Reformation Heritage Books; 2012) p. 538

Quoted from: Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity in a Series of Sermons on the Shorter Catechism, p. 160.

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Thomas Watson – Help to See the Differences of Things

24 May

Oh, that the eyes of sinners may be speedily opened—that they may see the difference of things, the beauty which is in holiness, and the astonishing madness that is in sin!

~Thomas Watson~






The Great Gain of Godliness (Edinburgh, Scotland; The Banner of Truth Trust; 2006) Part 2: The Good Effects of Godliness;Section C: The Difference Between the Righteous and the Wicked.

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Thomas Watson – Will Man Strive Against God?

22 May

2. If God is the Lord Almighty—let us take heed of hardening our hearts against God.

It was the saying of Pompey that with one stamp of his foot—he could raise all Italy up in arms. God can with a word—raise all the militia of heaven and earth against us, and shall we dare affront him! “Who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?” (Job 9:4). Such as live in the open breach of God’s commandments, harden their hearts against God; they raise a war against heaven! “He has stretched out his hand against God and has arrogantly opposed the Almighty!” (Job 15:25). Like warriors who muster up all the forces they can, to fight with their antagonists, so the sinner hardens and strengthens himself against Jehovah: “He runs upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers” (verse 26). Bucklers anciently had one great boss in the middle with a sharp spike in it to wound the adversary. The grossly wicked sinner encounters the God of heaven—and runs upon the thick bosses of his fury, which will wound mortally. Who ever hardened himself against God—and prospered! Will men go to measure arms with God! Do you have an arm like God’s?” (Job 40:9).

~Thomas Watson~


The Great Gain of Godliness (Edinburgh, Scotland; The Banner of Truth Trust; 2006) Part 2: The Good Effects of Godliness;Section C: The third good effect of the saints piety—was that God REWARDED it.

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Thomas Watson – Are You a Fair-Weather Christian?

17 Feb

To be holiest in evil times, is an indication of the truth of grace.
To profess religion when the times favor it, is no great matter. Almost all will court the Gospel Queen when she is hung with jewels. But to own the ways of God when they are decried and maligned, to love a persecuted truth–this evidences a vital principle of goodness. Dead fish swim down the stream–living fish swim against it. To swim against the common stream of evil, shows grace to be alive.

~Thomas Watson~



The Great Gain of Godliness (Edinburgh, Scotland; The Banner of Truth Trust; 2006) Introduction. eBook. http://www.monergismbooks.com

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Thomas Watson – God Can Fill the Hungry Soul

25 Jan

God can fill the hungry soul. He is called a fountain. ‘With thee is the fountain of life’ (Psalm 36:9). The cistern may be empty and cannot fill us. Creatures are often ‘broken cisterns’ (Jeremiah 2:13). But the fountain is filling. God is a fountain. If we bring the vessels of our desires to this fountain, he is able to fill them. The fullness in God is an infinite fullness. Though he fill us and the angels which have larger capacities to receive, yet he has never the less himself. As the sun, though it shines, has never the less light.

~Thomas Watson~



The Beatitudes (Edinburgh, Scotland; The Banner of Truth Trust; 1971) Chapter 14: Spiritual Hunger Will Be Satisfied

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Thomas Watson – Now is the Time

21 Nov

“Now is the accepted time” (2 Cor. 6:2); now God has a mind to show mercy to the penitent. He is on the giving hand. Kings set apart days for healing. Now is the healing day for our souls. Now God hangs forth the white flag and is willing to parley with sinners. A prince at his coronation, as an act of royalty–gives money, proclaims pardons, fills the conduits with wine. Now God promises pardons to penitent sinners. Now the conduit of the gospel runs wine. Now is the accepted time. Therefore come in now and make your peace with God. Break off your iniquities now by repentance. It is wisdom to take the season. The farmer takes the season for sowing his seed. Now is the seedtime for our souls.

~Thomas Watson~



The Doctrine of Repentance (Portland, Oregon; http://www.monergismbooks.com; 2010) eBook: The Works of Thomas Watson.

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Book of the Week

25 Oct


Thomas Watson’s: The Art of Divine Contentment


An incredible resource from a beloved puritan.

From the Publisher:

“Based on Philippians 4:11, “I have learned, in whatever state I am therewith to be content,” Watson considers the great dishonor done to almighty God by the sin of discontent. The doctrine of Christian contentment is clearly illustrated and profitably applied. The special cases where, through changes in providences, discontentment most commonly arises are examined and preservatives are applied to the soul.”

From CCEL.org:

” The Apostle Paul, in Phil. 4:11, says “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Thomas Watson, an English Puritan preacher, wants to teach readers how to gain the same contentment as Paul. Living in the 16th century, Watson believed that discontentment was a sin, and so wrote the book The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11. Watson spends the entire book on this one verse, and in doing so, presents Christians with a comprehensive method for becoming content. Centered on the idea that “A gracious spirit is a contented spirit,” Watson believes that Christians can be and should be content because of God’s wonderful promises to his people. “The way for a man to be contented,” Watson says, “is not by raising his estate higher, but by bringing his heart lower.” In our contemporary society where discontent is the norm, disillusioned readers will benefit from The Art of Divine Contentment. Watson’s content is God-centered rather than focused on material possessions as so many Christians are today, so it is sure to bring comfort to those who strive to be happy in Christ.”


Get the hardback volume at WTSBooks here.

View it on the web here.

Download a PDF Copy here.

Buy a Kindle copy here

Buy an ePub copy here

Buy The Works of Thomas Watson eBook here.


Thomas Watson – A Most Precious Compound

25 Oct

Contentment, though it be not properly a grace (it is rather a disposition of mind,) yet in it there is a happy mixture of all the graces: it is a most precious compound, which is made up of faith, patience, meekness, humility, etc. which are the ingredients put into it.

~Thomas Watson~



The Art of Divine Contentment (Portland, Oregon; MonergismBooks.com; 2010) eBook: The Works of Thomas Watson. Section: Divine MOTIVES to Contentment. I. Consider the EXCELLENCY of contentment.

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