God is His Peoples Great Reward by Thomas Watson 1620-1686
Thomas Watson is no doubt one of the most well-beloved of all of the Puritan authors. Few better guides have existed in this or any other area of spiritual experience than Thomas Watson. He was a master of both Scripture and the human heart, and wrote with a simplicity and directness that keeps his work fresh and powerful for the twenty-first century. Watson was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on June 30, 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. Watson obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Notwithstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
Thomas Watson is no doubt one of the most well-beloved of all of the Puritan authors. Few better guides have existed in this or any other area of spiritual experience than Thomas Watson. He was a master of both Scripture and the human heart, and wrote with a simplicity and directness that keeps his work fresh and powerful for the twenty-first century. Watson was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on June 30, 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook.
Watson obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Notwithstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
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troubled, at the diminution of these earthly things—for all the<br />
eternal blessings of heaven are yours. In the fields of Sicily<br />
there <strong>is</strong> a continual spring, and flowers are there all year long.<br />
Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> an emblem of heaven—where flowers of joy are always<br />
flour<strong>is</strong>hing. There you shall tread upon stars, be companions<br />
with angels, and have communion with the blessed Trinity. Let<br />
the saints, then, be glad in the Lord. In <strong>God</strong> are treasures which<br />
can never be emptied--and pleasures which can never be ended!<br />
BRANCH 6. If <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> an exceedingly great reward, let such<br />
as have hope in Him, long for the full possession of<br />
Him. Though it should not be irksome to us to stay here to do<br />
service—yet we should have a holy longing until our eternal<br />
portion comes into our hand. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a temper befitting a<br />
Chr<strong>is</strong>tian—content to live, and desirous to die!Philippians<br />
1:23-25. Does not the bride desire her wedding day? Revelation<br />
22:17. If we seriously considered our condition here on earth—<br />
that we are compassed with a body of sin; that we cannot pray<br />
without wandering; that we cannot believe without doubting—<br />
would not th<strong>is</strong> make us desire to depart, to be gone to heaven?<br />
Let us think how happy those saints above are, who are<br />
solacing themselves in <strong>God</strong>. While we live far from court—<br />
they are always beholding the smiling face of <strong>God</strong>!<br />
While we drink wormwood—they swim in honey! While we are<br />
perplexed and troubled—they know their names are enrolled<br />
in the book of life. While we are tossed upon the unquiet waves<br />
—they have gotten to the eternal haven. If we but knew what<br />
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