Quotes from Thomas Watson

A humble saint is content with that condition which God sees is best for him. A proud man complains that he has no more; a humble man wonders that he has so much: "I am not worthy of the least of all your mercies!" (Gen. 32:10).

Until the heart is pure, all our holy things (that is, our religious duties) are polluted. They are but splendid sins!

The Scripture is a love letter which the great God has written to us. We must not run it over in haste, but meditate upon God's wisdom in writing, and his love in sending it to us.

Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, 'A God of knowledges.

It is better that men should reproach you for repenting than that God should damn you for not repenting.

Let it not be said that repentance is difficult. Things that are excellent deserve labour. Will not a man dig for gold in the ore though it makes him sweat? It is better to go with difficulty to heaven than with ease to hell.

The godly understand the mystery of living by faith: "The just shall live by faith" (Heb. 10:38). They can trust God's heart where they cannot trace his hand. They can get comfort out of a promise, as Moses got water out of the rock (Exod. 17:6).

A man may as well go to hell for not working in his calling, as for not believing.

The hypocrite is fair to look on. He has a devout eye, but a hollow heart. But he who is sincere, his inside is his best side!

We should look upon sin in two looking-glasses—the glass of Christ's blood, and the glass of death.

Read not the word carelessly, but with seriousness and affection; as the oracle of heaven, the well of salvation, the book of life.

A shaking hand may as well write a line steadily, as we can keep our hearts fixed in prayer without the Spirit of God.