“When a Christian is weak and can hardly pray for himself, Jesus Christ is praying for him… What a comfort is this: when Satan is tempting, Christ is praying!”
–Thomas Watson, All Things For Good, or A Divine Cordial (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1663/2001), 23.
“If the worst things work for good to a believer, what shall the best things– Christ, and heaven! How much more shall these work for good! If the cross has so much good in it, what has the crown? If such precious clusters grow in Golgotha, how delicious is that fruit which grows in Canaan? If there be any sweetness in the waters of Marah, what is there in the wine of Paradise?
If God’s rod has honey at the end of it, what has His golden sceptre? If the bread of affliction tastes savoury, what is manna? What is the heavenly ambrosia? If God’s blow and stroke work for good, what shall the smiles of His face do? If temptations and sufferings have matter of joy in them, what shall glory have?
If there be so much good out of evil, what then is that good where there shall be no evil? If God’s chastening mercies are so great, what will His crowning mercies be? Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
–Thomas Watson, All Things For Good, or A Divine Cordial (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1663/2001), 63.
“In the sacrament we see Christ broken before us, and his broken body is the only comfort for a broken heart.”
–Thomas Watson, The Lord’s Supper. First published as The Holy Eucharist in 1665. (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2004), p. vii.
“A sacrament is a visible sermon.” p. 1-2.
“We write in our letters, ‘Your friend until death!’ But Christ wrote in another style, ‘Your friend after death!’ Christ died once, but loves ever. He is now testifying his affection to us; he is making the mansions ready for us. He is interceding for us. He appears in the court, as the Advocate for the client. When He has done dying, He has not done loving.” p. 25-26.
“It is not enough to do what God has appointed, but as he appointed.” p. 39.
“Let us dress ourselves by a Scripture-mirror, before we come to the Lord’s table; and, with the Lamb’s wife, make ourselves ready.” p. 40.
“A sight of God’s glory, and a sight of sin, may humble us. Was Christ humble, who was all purity? And are we proud, who are all leprousy? Oh, let us come with a sense of our own vileness. How humble should he be who is to receive an alms of free grace!” p. 50.
“The jewel of faith is always put in the cabinet of a good conscience.” p. 54.
“Let us pray for furnace-grace, to be like those three children, ‘Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods’ (Dan. 3:18). They would rather burn than bow.” p. 75.
“Wicked men, while they live, are blinded by the god of this world. But when they are dying, the eye of their conscience will begin to be opened and they shall see the wrath of God, flaming before their eyes; which sight will be a sad Prologue to an eternal tragedy.” p. 86.
