# Thomas Watson (Puritan)

Thomas Watson (c. 1620 – 1686) was an English, non-conformist, Puritan preacher and author.

## Quotes

* Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl. 9:10)
** The Christian Soldier; or Heaven Taken by Storm (1669).
* Seriousness is the Christian's ballast which keeps him from being overturned with vanity.
** The Christian Soldier; or Heaven Taken by Storm (1669).
* Though the way of religion has thorns in it with respect to persecution, yet it is full of roses with respect to that inward peace and contentment that the soul finds in it.
** From Heaven Taken By Storm, Soli Deo Gloria Publications edition, pg. 73.
* There is nothing that can hurt the soul but sin; it is not affliction that hurts it, it often makes it better, as the furnace makes gold the purer; but it is sin that damnifies.
** "Christ The Redeemer" in A Body of Divinity (1692).
* Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion.
** From The Ten Commandments - first published as part of A Body of Practical Divinity (1692).
* The excellence of a thing is the end for which it was made; as of a star to give light, and of a plant to be fruitful. So the excellence of a Christian is to answer the end of his creation, which is to hallow God’s name, and live to that God by whom he lives.
** from The Lord's Prayer.
* We may read many truths in the Bible, but we cannot know them savingly, till God by his Spirit shines upon our soul.
** from The Lord's Prayer

### The Doctrine of Repentance (1668)

* Repentance is never out of season.
* Repentance is a grace of God's Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.
* O that we would therefore, while we are on this side of the grave, make our peace with God! Tomorrow may be our dying day; let this be our repenting day.
* In Adam we all suffered shipwreck and repentance is the only plank left us after shipwreck to swim to heaven.
* The first sermon that Christ preached, indeed, the first word of his sermon was 'Repent'.
* Repentance is a pure gospel grace. The covenant of works admitted no repentance; there it was, sin and die. Repentance came in by the gospel. Christ has purchased in his blood that repenting sinners shall be saved.
* The two great graces essential to a saint in this life are faith and repentance. These are the two wings by which he flies to heaven.

### Heaven Taken By Storm

* ...the vinegar of the law, then the wine of the gospel...
* That preaching is to be preferred which makes the truest discovery of men's sins and shows them their hearts.
* ...too much leniency emboldens sin...
* Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl 9:10). Our work is great, our time short, our Master urgent. We have need therefore to summon together all the powers of our souls and strive as in a matter of life and death, that we may arrive at the kingdom above.
* When zeal like incense burns, first the lamp of knowledge must be lighted.
* Truth is unerring; it is the star which leads to Christ. Truth is pure (Psa 119:140)
* "The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved" (2 Peter 3:12), but not that truth which came from heaven (1 Peter 1:25)
* Truth has noble effects. Truth is the seed of the new birth. God does not regenerate us by miracles or revelations, but by the word of truth (James 1:18). As truth is the breeder of grace, so it is the feeder of it (1Ti 4:6). Truth sanctifies: "Sanctify them through Thy truth" (John 17:17).
* Truth is an antidote against error. Error is the adultery of the mind.
* Just so is the case of many; God gives them precious time in which they are to provide for a kingdom, and they waste this time of life and cut it all into chips. Let this excite violence in the things of God. It is the main errand of our living here...

## External links

* Profile at The Thomas Watson Reading Room
* Works by Watson at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library