The Lord never takes away any comfort from his people without giving them something better. The disciples parted with Christ’s corporal presence and he sent them the Holy Ghost. God eclipses one joy and augments another. He simply makes an exchange; he takes away a flower and gives a diamond.
– Thomas Watson –
from The Godly Man’s Picture, 1666
“After ye have suffered a while” (1 Peter 5:10), or as it is in the Greek, “a little.” Our sufferings may be lasting, not everlasting.
– Thomas Watson –
1620-1686
Idleness tempts the devil to tempt.
– Thomas Watson –
1620-1686
Read the scripture, not only as history, but as a love letter from God.
– Thomas Watson –
1620-1686
Sorrow and melting of heart fits us for every holy duty. A piece of lead, while it is in the lump, can be put to no use, but melt it, and you may then cast it into any mould, and it is made useful. So a heart that is hardened into a lump of sin is good for nothing, but when it is dissolved by repentance, it is useful.
– Thomas Watson –
from The Doctrine of Repentance, 1668
“Of his fullness have all we received” (John 1:16). Put a glass under a [faucet] and it receives water out of the [faucet], drop by drop. So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of His grace distilling on them.
– Thomas Watson –
from The Godly Man’s Picture, 1666
“They shall be filled.” God never bids us seek Him in vain. “He hath filled the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:53). “He satisfieth the longing soul” (Psalm 107:9). God will not let us lose our longing.
– Thomas Watson –
1620-1686
I will conclude with that excellent saying of Bernard: “Lord, I will never come away from Thee without Thee.” Let this be a Christian’s resolution, not to leave off his meditations of God till he find something of God in him.
– Thomas Watson –
There is as much difference between sin in the wicked and sin in the godly—as between poison being in a serpent and poison being in a man. Poison in a serpent is in its natural place and is delightful—but poison in a man’s body is harmful and he uses antidotes to expel it. So sin in a wicked man is delightful, being in its natural place—but sin in a child of God is burdensome and he uses all means to expel it.
– Thomas Watson –
from The Doctrine of Repentance