30.04.2019 Views

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.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> H<strong>is</strong> <strong>Peoples</strong> <strong>Great</strong> <strong>Reward</strong><br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>Thomas</strong> <strong>Watson</strong><br />

"I am your exceeding great reward." Genes<strong>is</strong> 15:1<br />

<strong>God</strong> Himself <strong>is</strong> H<strong>is</strong> people's reward!<br />

Abraham <strong>is</strong> called "the friend of <strong>God</strong>," James 2:23. The Lord<br />

spoke with him familiarly, Genes<strong>is</strong> 17:22; he was made of <strong>God</strong>'s<br />

privy council, Genes<strong>is</strong> 18:17. And in the text, "the Word of the<br />

Lord came unto him in a v<strong>is</strong>ion." And what was the word that<br />

came to th<strong>is</strong> holy patriarch in a v<strong>is</strong>ion? "I am your shield, and<br />

your exceeding great reward"—words too great for any man or<br />

angel fully to expound. In the Hebrew it <strong>is</strong>, "I am<br />

your superabundant, very exceeding much reward." In the text <strong>is</strong> a<br />

climax; it r<strong>is</strong>es like the waters of the sanctuary, higher and<br />

higher—"I am your reward; your great reward; and your<br />

exceeding great reward." There are four things here to be<br />

spoken of:<br />

1. Nothing besides <strong>God</strong> can be the saints' reward.<br />

2. How <strong>God</strong> <strong>is</strong> their reward.<br />

3. How <strong>God</strong> comes to be their reward.<br />

4. Wherein the exceeding greatness of th<strong>is</strong> reward cons<strong>is</strong>ts.<br />

Page<br />

3 of 30

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!