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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their sorrows. One beam of the Sun of Righteousness will dry<br />
up all their tears! After trouble—eternal peace! After labor—<br />
eternal rest. Then <strong>God</strong> will be all in all to H<strong>is</strong> people—light to<br />
their eye, manna to their taste, music to their ear, and joy to<br />
their heart! Oh, then, let the saints be comforted in the midst of<br />
their trials! Romans 8:18, "I reckon that the sufferings of th<strong>is</strong><br />
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory<br />
which shall be revealed in us!"<br />
Use 4. Of TERROR to the Wicked.<br />
Here <strong>is</strong> dread to frighten them. They shall have a reward—but<br />
one vastly different from the godly. The one shall be rewarded<br />
in the king's palace—the other in hell's pr<strong>is</strong>on. All the plagues in<br />
Scripture are their reward. Proverbs 10:29, "Destruction shall<br />
be to the workers of iniquity." <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> their rewarder—but not<br />
their reward. Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin <strong>is</strong> death." They<br />
who did the devil's work—will tremble to receive their wages!<br />
Zophar notably sets forth a wicked man's reward in Job 20.<br />
Verse 7, "He shall per<strong>is</strong>h forever, thrown away like h<strong>is</strong> own<br />
dung." That <strong>is</strong>, he shall leave a stinking savor behind. Verse 16,<br />
"He will spit out the riches he swallowed; <strong>God</strong> will make h<strong>is</strong><br />
stomach vomit them up. He will suck the po<strong>is</strong>on of serpents."<br />
That <strong>is</strong>, the sin which was sweet as honey in h<strong>is</strong> mouth—shall<br />
be as bitter as the po<strong>is</strong>on of serpents. Verse 26, "Terrors will<br />
come over him; total darkness <strong>is</strong> reserved for h<strong>is</strong> treasures. A<br />
fire unfanned [<strong>by</strong> human hands] will consume him." That <strong>is</strong>, the<br />
fire of hell shall torture h<strong>is</strong> soul. He shall be ever consuming,<br />
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