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A Body of DivinityThomas Watsonpleasantly enough amid the growing respect of all who knew him. Calamy, in his NonconformistMemorial, says of him: - ‘He was so well known in the city for his piety and usefulness, that thoughhe was singled out by the Friendly Debate, he yet carried a general respect from all sober personsalong with him to his grave. He was a man of considerable reaming, a popular, but judicious preacher(if one may judge from his writings), and eminent in the gift of prayer. Of this, the followinganecdote is a sufficient proof. Once on a lecture day, before the Bartholomew Act took place, thelearned Bishop Richardson came to hear him at St Stephen’s, who was much pleased with hissermon, but especially with his prayer after it, so that he followed him home to give him thanks,and earnestly desired a copy of his prayer. “Alas!” (said Mr Watson) “that is what I cannot give,for I do not use to pen my prayers; it was no studied thing, but uttered, pro re nata, as God enabledme, from the abundance of my heart and affections.” Upon which the good Bishop went awaywondering that any man could pray in that manner extempore.But the hand which of old had oppressed the church was again stretched forth to vex certain ofthe saints. The most learned, holy, and zealous of the clergy of the Church of England found thatthe Act of Uniformity would not allow them to preserve a clean conscience and retain their livings,and therefore they submitted to the loss of all things for Christ’s sake. Thomas Watson did nothesitate as to the course he should pursue. He was not a factious hater of royalty, a red republican,or fifth monarchy-man; in fact, he had in Cromwell’s day been all too loyal to the house of Stuart;he had protested against the execution of the King, and had joined in Love’s plot for the bringingin of Charles II; yet all this availed nothing, he was a Puritan, and therefore must not be toleratedby the bitter spirits then dominant in the Establishment. What seeds of discord were sown on thatblack Bartholomew history has not had space to record; yet the ultimate results have been fraughtwith results scarcely then imaginable. Comprehension might have hindered truth; the crown rightsof King Jesus might have lacked advocates had monarchs and priests been more tolerant; as it wasgood men were forced into a truer position than they would otherwise have occupied, and thebeginning of a real reformation was inaugurated. From that commencement in suffering whatprogress has been made! Every day the cause of the ejected gathers force and pushes on its adversarytowards the brink of the precipice, a down which all establishments must fall.With many tears and lamentations the congregation of St Stephen’s saw their shepherd aboutto be removed from his flock, and with aching hearts they listened to his parting words. He himselfspeaking as one bereaved of his dearest delight, and yet suffering joyfully the loss of all things,bade them adieu, and went forth ‘not knowing whither he went.’In the collection of Farewell Sermons there are three by Mr Watson, viz.: two delivered August17th, and the third on the Tuesday following. The first, preached in the forenoon, is on John 13:34.‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.’ It discovers much of the spiritof the gospel, particularly in recommending love to enemies and persecutors. The second, preachedin the afternoon, is on 2 Corinthians 7:7. ‘Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let uscleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.’In the former part of it, he insists largely on ‘the ardent affections of a right gospel minister towardshis people.’ This head he closes thus: ‘I have now exercised my ministry among you for almostsixteen years; and I rejoice and bless God that I cannot say, the more I love you, the less I am loved:I have received many signal demonstrations of love from you. Though other parishes have exceededyou in number of houses, yet, I think, none for strength of affection. I have with much comfortobserved your reverent attention to the word preached; you rejoice in this light, not for a season,5

A Body of DivinityThomas Watsonbut to this day. I have observed your zeal against error in a critical time, your unity and amity. Thisis your honour. If there should be any interruption in my ministry among you, though I should notbe permitted to preach to you again, yet I shall not cease to love you, and to pray for you. But whyshould there be any interruption made? Where is the crime? Some, indeed, say that we are disloyaland seditious. Beloved, what my actions and sufferings for his Majesty have been is known to nota few of you. However, we must go to heaven through good report and bad report; and it is well ifwe can get to glory, though we press through the pikes. I shall endeavour that I may still approvethe sincerity of my love to you. I will not promise that I shall still preach among you, nor will I saythat I shall not. I desire to be guided by the silver thread of God’s word and providence. My heartis towards you. There is, you know, an expression in the late Act, “that we shall now shortly be asif we were naturally dead;’’ and if I must die, let me leave some legacy with you. Then followtwenty admirable directions, well worthy the fervent perusal of every Christian. He closes themthus: ‘I beseech you treasure them up as so many jewels in the cabinet of your breasts. Did youcarry them about you, they would be an antidote to keep you from sin, and a means to preserve thezeal of piety flaming upon the altar of your hearts. I have many things yet to say to you, but I knownot whether God will give another opportunity. My strength is now almost gone. I beseech you,let these things make deep impressions on all your souls. Consider what has been said, and the Lordgive you understanding in all things.’The last discourse, August 19th, is on Isaiah 3:30, 11. ‘Say ye t0 the righteous, that it shall bewell with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill withhim, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.’After his ejectment, Watson preached occasionally whenever he could do so with safety. Finesand imprisonments were insufficient to close the mouths of the witnesses of Jesus. In barns, kitchens,outhouses, or dells and woods, the faithful few gathered to hear the message of eternal life. Thoselittle secret assemblies were doubtless charming occasions for devout minds: the word of the Lordwas precious in those days. Bread eaten in secret is proverbially sweet, and the word of God inpersecution is peculiarly delightful. Little can we realise the joyful anticipation which preceded theappointed meetings, or the lingering memories which clung to them long after they were over. Afterthe great fire in 1666, when the churches were burned, Mr Watson and several other Nonconformistsfitted up large rooms for those who had an inclination to attend. Upon the Indulgence, in 1672, helicensed the great hall in Crosby House, on the east side of Bishopsgatestreet, then belonging toSir John Langham (a Nonconformist). It was a happy circumstance that the worthy baronet favouredthe cause of Nonconformity, and that so noble a chamber was at his disposal. Here Watson preachedfor several years. Rev Stephen Charnock, B.D.’ became joint pastor with him at Crosby Hall in1675, and continued so till his death in 1680. What two shepherds for the flock! Men of such mostextraordinary gifts and graces were seldom if ever united in one pastorate. They both attempted aBody of Divinity, and the goodly volume on the Divine Attributes was Charnock’s first stone of acolossal structure which he was not spared to complete. Our author was more modest in his attemptand the present volume shows how he succeeded.Mr Watson at length returned to Essex, where he died suddenly, in his closet at prayer, as issupposed, about 1689 or 1690. The time either of his birth or death is nowhere mentioned.In the life of Colonel James Gardiner, there is this remarkable account: ‘In July, 1719, he hadspent the evening, which was the Sabbath, in some gay company, and had an unhappy assignationwith a married lady, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve. The company broke up about eleven,6

A Body of DivinityThomas Watsonand he went into his chamber to kill the tedious hour. It happened that he took up a religious book,which his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his portmanteau, called,“The Christian Soldier,” written by Mr Watson. Guessing by the title that he should find somephrases of his own profession spiritualised in a manner which might afford him some diversion,he resolved to dip into it: while this book was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind,which drew after it a train of the most important consequences. Suddenly he thought he saw anunusual blaze of light fall on the book while he was reading, and lifting up his eyes, he apprehended,to his extreme amazement, that there was before him, as it were suspended in the air, a visiblerepresentation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, surrounded with a glory, and was impressedas if a voice had come to him, to this effect: “O sinner, did I suffer this for thee, and are these thyreturns?” He sunk down in his chair, and continued for some time insensible. He then arose in atumult of passions, and walked to and fro in his chamber, till he was ready to drop, in unutterableastonishment and agony of heart, which continued until the October following, when his terrorswere turned into unutterable joy.’Mr Watson published a variety of books upon practical subjects, and of a useful nature, for thetitles of which, see foot-note.* But his principal work was a body of divinity, in one hundred andseventy-six sermons, upon the Assembly’s Catechism, which did not appear till after his death. Itwas published in one volume folio, in 1692, and accompanied with a portrait of the author, by Sturt;together with a recommendatory preface by the Rev William Lorimer, and the attestation oftwenty-five other ministers of principal note in that day. For many a year this volume continued totrain the common people in theology, and it may still tee found very commonly in the cottages ofthe Scottish peasantry. Rev George Rogers, Principal of the Pastors, College, has carefullysuperintended the issue of this present edition, and in a note to us he writes: ‘I know of no workwith so much sermon matter within the same compass. In Howe, and Charnock, and Owen, wemust often read much before we are tempted to close the book and think out a whole sermon, butWatson teaches us to make short work of it. The whole may be utilised. On this account it wouldbe, I think, of great value to all our students who have pastorates. It is for their benefit, I suppose,you wished the reprint. As several select sermons, which are usually bound up with this work, willappear with his whole works, after a time, in Nichol’s series, they are not included here. This is adistinct work by itself and complete. All editions extant which we have seen, abound in errors andimperfections. These have been rectified, not entirely we fear, but in a degree as nearly approachingto accuracy as in revision of another’s composition could be expected. No alteration of sentimenthas been made, but every shade of the author’s meaning has been scrupulously retained. The stylehas been modernised, so far as could be done without detracting from its own peculiar characteristics.Long sentences have been divided into two or three, where it could be done without injury to theclearness or force of the signification. Modern words have been substituted for such as had becomeobsolete; Latin quotations restored to their correct form, as far as their sources could be ascertained;and divisions of subjects more perspicuously arranged. The whole, in fact, has been rendered morereadable, and consequently more attractive and intelligible, which in our estimation far outweighsall the supposed advantages that could arise from perpetuating the crudities and vulgarities, as theynow appear to us, of former times. By popularising ancient works, their readers are multiplied andtheir meaning may often be more readily apprehended’.* The following are the tides of the principal works of Thomas Watson: viz. Three treatises: 1.‘The Christian’s Charter.’ 2. ‘The Art of Divine Contentment.’ 3. ‘A Discourse of Meditation,’ to7

A Body of DivinityThomas Watsonwhich is added several sermons, 1660. This volume contains, besides the three treatises, thefollowing, viz.: ‘God’s Anatomy upon Man’s Heart,’ ‘The Saint’s Delight,’ ‘A Christian on Earthstill in Heaven,’ ‘Christ’s Loveliness,’ ‘The Upright Man’s Character and Crown,’ ‘The One ThingNecessary,’ ‘The Holy Longing; or, the Saint’s Desire to be with Christ,’ ‘Beatitudes; or, a Discourseupon part of Christ’s Famous Sermon upon the Mount,’ 1660, ‘A Body of Practical Divinity,’ etc.’with a supplement of some sermons, ‘A Divine Cordial,” The Holy Eucharist,’ ‘Heaven taken byStorm,’ etc.’ etc.8

A Body of DivinityThomas Watson1. A Preliminary Discourse To Catechising’If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.’ - Col 1:13.Intending next Lord’s day to enter upon the work of catechising, it will not be amiss to giveyou a preliminary discourse, to show you how needful it is for Christians to be well instructed inthe grounds of religion. ‘If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.’I. It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith.II. The best way for Christians to be settled is to be well grounded.I. It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith. It is the apostle’s prayer, I Pet5:50, ’The God of all grace stablish, strengthen, settle you.’ That is, that they might not be meteorsin the air, but fixed stars. The apostle Jude speaks of ‘wandering stars, in verse 13. They are calledwandering stars, because, as Aristotle says, ‘They do leap up and down, and wander into severalparts of the heaven; and being but dry exhalations, not made of that pure celestial matter as thefixed stars are, they often fall to the earth.’ Now, such as are not settled in religion, will, at onetime or other, prove wandering stars; they will lose their former steadfastness, and wander fromone opinion to another. Such as are unsettled are of the tribe of Reuben, ‘unstable as water,’ Gen49:9; like a ship without ballast, overturned with every wind of doctrine. Beza writes of oneBelfectius, that his religion changed as the moon. The Arians had every year a new faith. Theseare not pillars in the temple of God, but reeds shaken every way. The apostle calls them ‘damnableheresies.’ 2 Pet 2:2. A man may go to hell as well for heresy as adultery. To be unsettled in religion,argues want of judgement. If their heads were not giddy, men would not reel so fast from oneopinion to another. It argues lightness. As feathers will be blown every way, so will featheryChristians. Triticum non rapit ventus inanes palae jactantur. Cyprian. Therefore such are comparedto children. Eph 4:44. ‘That we be no more children, tossed to and fro.’ Children are fickle sometimesof one mind sometimes of another, nothing pleases them long; so unsettled Christians are childish;the truths they embrace at one time, they reject at another; sometimes they like the Protestantreligion, and soon after they have a good mind to turn Papists.[I] It is the great end of the word preached, to bring us to a settlement in religion. Eph 4:41, 12,14. ‘And he gave some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the edifying of the bodyof Christ; that we henceforth be no more children.’ The word is called a hammer. Jer 23:39. Everyblow of the hammer is to fasten the nails of the building; so the preacher’s words are to fasten youthe more to Christ; they weaken themselves to strengthen and settle you. This is the grand designof preaching, not only for the enlightening, but for the establishing of souls; not only to guide themin the right way, but to keep them in it. Now, if you be not settled, you do not answer God’s endin giving you the ministry.[2] To be settled in religion is both a Christian’s excellence and honour. It is his excellence.When the milk is settled it turns to cream; now he will be zealous for the truth, and walk in closecommunion with God. And his honour. Prov 16:61. ‘The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it befound in the way of righteousness.’ It is one of the best sights to see an old disciple; to see silverhairs adorned with golden virtues.[3] Such as are not settled in the faith can never suffer for it. Sceptics in religion hardly everprove martyrs. They that are not settled hang in suspense; when they think of the joys of heaventhey will espouse the gospel, but when they think of persecution they desert it. Unsettled Christians9

A Body of DivinityThomas Watsondo not consult what is best, but what is safest. ‘The apostate (says Tertullian) seems to put God andSatan in balance, and having weighed both their services, prefers the devil’s service, and proclaimshim to be the best master: and, in this sense, may be said to put Christ to open shame.’ Heb 6:6.He will never suffer for the truth, but be as a soldier that leaves his colours, and runs over to theenemy’s side; he will fight on the devil’s side for pay.[4] Not to be settled in the faith is provoking to God. To espouse the truth, and then to fall away,brings an ill report upon the gospel, which will not go unpunished. Psa 78:87, 59. ‘They turnedback, and dealt unfaithfully. When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel.’ Theapostate drops as a wind-fall into the devil’s mouth.[5] If ye are not settled in religion, you will never grow. We are commanded ‘to grow up intothe head, even Christ.’ Eph 4:15. But if we are unsettled there is no growing: ‘the plant which iscontinually removing never thrives.’ He can no more grow in godliness, who is unsettled, than abone can grow in the body that is out of joint.[6] There is great need to be settled, because there are so many things to unsettle us. Seducersare abroad, whose work is to draw away people from the principles of religion. I John 2:26. ‘Thesethings have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.’ Seducers are the devil’s factors;they are of all others the greatest felons that would rob you of the truth. Seducers have silver tongues,that can put off bad wares; they have a sleight to deceive. Eph 4:14. The Greek word there is takenfrom those that can throw dice, and cast them for the best advantage. So seducers are impostors,they can throw a dice; they can so dissemble and sophisticate the truth, that they can deceive others.Seducers deceive by wisdom of words. Rom 16:68. ‘By good words and fair speeches they deceivethe hearts of the simple.’ They have fine elegant phrases, flattering language, whereby they workon the weaker sort. Another sleight is a pretence of extraordinary piety, that so people may admirethem, and suck in their doctrine. They seem to be men of zeal and sanctity, and to be divinelyinspired, and pretend to new revelations. A third cheat of seducers is, labouring to vilify and nullifysound orthodox teachers. They would eclipse those that bring the truth, like black vapours thatdarken the light of heaven; they would defame others, that they themselves may be more admired.Thus the false teachers cried down Paul, that they might be received, Gal 4:17. The fourth cheatof seducers is, to preach the doctrine of liberty; as though men are freed from the moral law, therule as well as the curse, and Christ has done all for them, and they need to do nothing. Thus theymake the doctrine of free grace a key to open the door to all licentiousness. Another means is, tounsettle Christians by persecution. 2 Tim 3:12. The gospel is a rose that cannot be plucked withoutprickles. The legacy Christ has bequeathed is the CROSS. While there is a devil and a wicked manin the world, never expect a charter of exemption from trouble. How many fall away in an hour ofpersecution! Rev 12:2. ‘There appeared a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns; andhis tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven.’ The red dragon, by his power and subtilty, drewaway stars, or eminent professors, that seemed to shine as stars in the firmament of the church.To be unsettled in good is the sin of the devils. Jude 6. They are called, ‘morning stars,’ Job38:8, but ‘falling stars;’ they were holy, but mutable. As

of being a most laborious student; the great Puritanic authors must have been most industrious workers at the university, or they never would have become such pre-eminent masters in Israel. The conscientious student is the most likely man to become a successful preacher. After completing