Bodyof practical Divinity, Confisting of above One Hundred and feventy fix SERMONS ΟΝ ΤΗΕ Leffer CATECHISM Composed by the Reverend Aflembly of Divines A T WESTMINSTER. WITH A Supplement of fome SERMONS on feveral Texts of SCRIPTURE. To which is added, The ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT; Recommended to the PuBLISHERS, and never before Printed (except once) in the former EDITIONS of this BOOK, altho' Printed Twenty Times by itself By THO MAS WATSON, formerly Minifter at St. Stephens Walbrook, London. Recommended by feveral Minifters to Mafters of Families and others. The FOURTH EDITION, Corrected and Amended. HE B. Xii. 4. He being dead yet speaketh. GLASGOW COLLEGE, Printed for ARCHIBALD INGRAM, JAMES DICHMAN, JOHN HAMILTON, and JOHN GLASSFORD Merchants in Glasgow. MDCCXLI. T To the READER the HISE Catecchetical Lectures of the late Reverend Mr. Thomas Watfon, all but ones written with his own Hand, I have read over, together with fome Sermons annexed to them; and fince my Teftimony is defired concerning them, I do hereby declare, That tho' I will not undertake to justify every Expreffion or Sentence in them, or in any Human Writing, yet) I find them in the Main, agreeable to the Doctrinal Articles of Church of England, and unto the Westminster Affembly's Confeffion of Faith and Catechisms: And, I believe, that, through the Bleffing of God, they may be profitable unto the Edification of all that read them with an honeft Defire to know and do the Will of God; for certainly there are many excellent Things in them, which if they meet with a well difpofed ferious Mind, are very apt to have a good Effect upon it; and if it prove otherwise with any that happen to read this Book, it will be their own Fault more than the Book's. Most Writers have different Stiles, and it is well known that Mr. Watfon had one peculiar to himself, which yet hath found good Acceptance, with, and has been useful unto ferious People; and I hope this (by Reafon of the great Variety of excellent Matter) may be more generally useful than any other Thing he ever wrote. I little doubt but every fober Chriftian will be of this Mind, after he has read his Lectures on God's Attributes, the Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, &c. I fincerely profess, I have no other End in giving this Teftimony of this Book, but thereby to ferve the common Good of Christ's Church, and not the private Intereft of any Perfon or Party in the World: If my Confcience did not bear me Witness that this Book may be useful to that excellent End, no Man fhould ever have prevailed with me, thus to prefix my Teftimony and Name to it. Moreover, I do not doubt but every intelligent and candid Reader will confider, that this is a pofthumous Work, and on that Account will make fome Allowance for any small Fault that may be in it, as alfo for the Errors of the Prefs. That it may answer the main End for which it was first written by the Author, (whom I always took to be a grave, ferious, modeft, good Man) and for which, I hope, it is now published, to wit, the Elification of the Church of Chrift in Faith, Holiness and Comfort, is the bearty Defire of one of the meanest Servants of our most Blessed LORD JESUS. WILL. LORIMER. WE E whofe Names are fubfcribed, having feen the Teftimony of our worthy Brother, Mr. William Lorimer, after his Perufal of this Book, doubt not but it may be of Ufe to many; as the former Writings of Mr. Thomas Watson have been; and, with that Defire and Hope, we recommend it to Mafters of Families and others. vi A Thort Account of the Author's Life I and Character. Tis fufficiently known to all that have any Acquaintance with the Hiftories of the Church, that many valuable and useful Minifters were ejected for Nonconformity, by the Act of Uniformity in the Reign of King Charles II. which took Place Auguft 24. 1662. Among others, the Reverend Mr. Thomas Watfon was ejected from his Charge at St Stephens Walbrook, London; whofe Character is given by the Reverend Dr. Edmond Calamy, in his Abridgements, Vol. 2. p. 37. and is as follows. "From St. Stephens Walbrook. Mr. Thomas Watfon, he was of Emanuel College in Cam"bridge, where he was noted for being an hard Student; one fo well known in the City, viz. "London, for his Piety and Ufefulness, that, tho' he was fingled out by the Friendly Debate, "he yet carried a general Refpect for all fober Perfons, along with him to his Grave. A me"morable Paffage, which I have from good Hands, muft not be pafs'd by; When Mr. Watson " was in the Pulpit on a Lecture-Day, before the Bartholomew A&t took Place, among "other Hearers, there came in that Reverend and learned Prelate, Bifhop Richardson, "who was fo well pleafed with his Sermon, but efpecially with his Prayer after it, that he "followed him Home to give him Thanks, and earneftly defired a Copy of his Prayer: Alas, faid Mr. Watson, that is what I cannot give, for I do not ufe to pen my Prayers; it was "no ftudied Thing, but uttered as God enabled me from the Abundance of my Heart and Af"fections, pro re nata. Upon which the good Bifhop went away, wondring that any Man could pray in that Manner, ex tempore. After his Ejectment, he continued in the Exercife "of the Miniftry in the City, as Providence gave Opportunity, for many Years: But his Strength wearing away, he retired into Effex, and there died fuddenly in his Clofet at 66 Prayer. A Catalogue of what Books Mr. Thomas Watfen published. HREE Treatifes, 1. The Chriftian's Charter, Thewing the Privileges of a Believer. 2. The Art of Divine Contentment. 3. A Difcourfe of Meditation: To which is added several Sermons preached occafionally. The Beatitudes; or a Difcourfe upon Part of Christ's famous Sermon on the Mount Whereunto is added, Chrift's various Fulnefs; The Precioufnefs of the Soul; The Soul's Malady and Cure; The Beauty of Grace; The fpiritual Watch; The heavenly Race; The facred Anchor; The Trees of Righteousness; The Perfume of Love; The good Practitioner. The Godly Man's Character. A Sermon preached July 2. at the Olave Jury, London. The Fight of Faith crowned; Occafionally The Doctrine of Repentance, ufeful for thofe Times. The Mifchief of Sin, it brings a Perfon low. of thofe that love God, and are favingly called. The Holy Eucharift; or the Mystery of the Lord's Supper, briefly explained. A Plea for the Godly; wherein is fhewn the Ex- The Duty of Self-denial briefly opened and urged. A Word of Comfort to the Church of God, in a Heaven taken by Storm. The Crown of Righteoufnefs; Occasionally. The Privilege of fuch as love God A LIST of the Subfcribers Names M' A RS. Anderson Relict of George An- David Anderton in Rockfhill, Old Monkland James Allan Weaver in Dykehead, faid Parifh William Allan Farmer in Carluke John Allifon in Carnduff Mr. Henry Barton in Rainow William Baxter Merchant in Greenock Thomas Brunton Jun. Merchants in Peebles James Buchanan Sugar-refiner in Glasgow George Burn in Greenfide, Ingram Parish William Brown Tennant in Dunfyre Mill William Bartram Merchant in Broughton Thomas Auchinleck in Weft-Priesthill, Muir- Adam Brotherstones there Andrew Brownlie in Snab, Evandale Parish James Baird in Shieldflatt, New-Monkland P. Robert Burgefs in Broombank, faid Parish James Black Farmer in Calaw there George |
