Quotes from Thomas Watson

The more work we do for God, the more willing we shall be to die, and the sweater death will be.

Grace breeds delight in God, and delight breeds meditation. Meditation is a duty wherein consists the essentials of religion, and which nourishes the very life-blood of it.

Let us show ourselves godly by being more spiritual in duty. It is not the quantity, but the quality which God is concerned with. It is not how much we do but how well.

Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard. The beasts in the old law which did not chew the cud were unclean; the professing Christian who does not by meditation chew the cud, is to be accounted unclean. Meditation is like the watering of the seed; it makes the fruits of grace to flourish.

the spiritualizing of duty gives life to it. Without this it is only dead praying, dead hearing—and dead things are not pleasing. A dead flower has no beauty, a dead breast has no sweetness.

is a command of God to pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5:17. The meaning is—not that we should be always praying—but that we should every day set some time apart for prayer.

As David's three worthies ventured their lives, and brake through the host of the Philistines for water, 2 Sam. xxiii. 46, — Such a kind of violence must we use, breaking through all dangers for obtaining the 'water of life.

Where does Christ rule as king? His kingdom is spiritual. He rules in the hearts of men. He sets up his throne where no other king does; he rules the will and affections; his power binds the conscience; he subdues men's lusts. "He will subdue our iniquities." Mic 7:19.

Men begin by sinning against the light of conscience, and proceed gradually to despiting the Spirit of grace.

Love is an industrious affection; it sets the head studying for God, hands working, feet running in the ways of his commandments.

Let us beg from God, a spiritual palate to relish a sweetness in holy things. For lack of spiritual hearts, we come to duty without delight, and go away without profit!

God sometimes afflicts with infirmity of body. Sickness takes away the comfort of life, and makes one in deaths oft.

Self-examination [means] setting up a court in [your] conscience and keeping a register there that by strict scrutiny a man may know how things stand between God and his own soul.

When we pray for grace and use opportunities to the full, this is laying a fig on the boil which will make us recover. To pray for holiness and neglect the means—is like winding up the clock and taking off the weights.

It is more honour to serve God, than to have kings serve us.

Si quiere usted alcanzar la excelencia, puede lograrlo hoy mismo. A partir de este segundo, no haga ningún trabajo que no sea excelente.

A pure heart avoids that which may be interpreted as evil. He who is loyal to his prince not only forbears to have his hand in treason, but he takes heed of that which has an appearance of treason.

Bad aims will spoil good actions.

Do not rest in baptism; what is it to have the water, and want the Spirit?

The pardoned soul is out of the gunshot of hell (Rom. 8:33).

Affliction only reaches the body, but sin goes further: it poisons the fancy, disorders the affections. Affliction is but corrective; sin is destructive. Affliction can but take away the life; sin takes away the soul.

By having a change wrought in thee. 'But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified.' I Cor 6: 2: Whence we are changed, a tenebris ad lucem [from darkness to light], so changed, as if another soul did live in the same body. By this change we are interested in the unchangeable

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory." Matthew 12:20

A good Christian is not a grave to bury God's mercies, but a temple to sing His praises.