Quotes from Thomas Watson

Many Christians are like sieves. Put a sieve into the water, and it is full; but take it out of the water, and it all runs out. So, while they are hearing the sermon, they remember something of value. But, like the sieve, as soon as they have left the church, all is forgotten.

It [repentance] is not so much to endear us to Christ as to endear Christ to us. Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.

Men think it a shame to be ignorant of their trade—but no shame to be ignorant of God. There is no going to heaven blindfold.

The more helpful we are to others, the more like we are to God.

A Christian without meditation is like a soldier without weapons, or a workman without tools.

The Lord hates that which is forced; which is paying a tax rather than an offering.

He that leaves off prayer leaves off to fear God.

The tree of the promise will not drop its fruit unless shaken by the hand of prayer.

An estate may be imparted without being impaired.

love 'thinketh no evil.' 1 Cor 13: 5. It puts the best interpretation upon another's words.

Oh, Christian, if you are overspread with this fretting leprosy, you carry the man of sin about you, for you set yourself above God and act as if you were wiser than He, and would sassily prescribe to Him what condition is best for you.

God so values his people that he will give kingdoms for their ransom (Isaiah 43:3); He put his best Jewel (Christ) in pawn for them (John 3:16).

Three wishes Paul had, and they were all about Christ; that he might be found in Christ, be with Christ, and magnify Christ.

A godly man will forgive those who have wronged him Revenge is sweet to nature. A gracious spirit passes by affronts, forgets injuries and counts it a greater victory to conquer an enemy by patience than by power. It is truly heroic "to overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). Though I would not trust an enemy—yet I would endeavor to love him. I would exclude him from my creed—but not from my prayer (Matt. 5:44).

As no flattery can heal a bad conscience, so no slander can hurt a good one.

As our sin is ever before us, so God's promise must be ever before us. As we much feel our sting, so we must look up to Christ, our "brazen serpent" (Num 21:8-9).

is the soul's retiring of itself, that by a serious and solemn thinking upon God, the heart may be raised up to heavenly affections.

Some complain they find no benefit by the word preached; perhaps they did not pray for their minister as they should.

The God whom we worship is holy, the work we are employed in is holy, the place we hope to arrive at is holy; all this calls for holiness.

Do they think the tree of blessing will drop its fruit into their mouth when they never shook it by prayer? God does not set His mercies at so low a rate as to cast them away upon those who do not seek them, Ezekiel 36:37.

The holiness of the saints will not excuse them from sufferings.

It was more for Christ to suffer one hour than for us to have suffered forever.

Were our love more set upon the preached word, our minds would be more fixed upon it; and surely there is enough to make us love the word preached; for it is the word of life, the inlet to knowledge, the antidote against sin, the quickener of all holy affections.

A Christian is commanded to warm-hearted service; he must charge through the whole army of his lusts, every one of which is stronger than Goliath.