Quotes from Thomas Watson

Worldly business often crowds into our duties, and while our mouths are speaking to God, our hearts are thinking of the world:

Why does he send war and epidemics? What does the heat of this great anger mean? Surely dying times are to make men die to the world.

Make spending your time a matter of conscience. "Redeeming the time" (Eph. 5:16). Many people fool away their time, some in idle visits, others in recreations and pleasures which secretly bewitch the heart and take it away from better things. What are our golden hours for—but to attend to our souls? Time misspent is not time lived but time lost! Time is a precious commodity.

The serious thoughts of our short stay here would be a great means of promoting godliness. What if death should come before we are ready? What if our life should breathe out before God's Spirit has breathed in? Whoever considers how flitting and winged his life is, will hasten his repentance!

God made the world only as a dressing room to dress our souls in. He sent us here on the grand errand of godliness.

Be often among the godly. They are the salt of the earth—and will help to season you. Their counsel may direct you; their prayers may enliven you. Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts as may kindle devotion in you. It is good to be among the saints, to learn the trade of godliness: "He who walks with wise men shall be wise" (Proverbs 13:20).

A man may as well go to hell for not forgiving as for not believing.

The Scripture is a mirror to show us our sins; Christ's blood is a fountain to wash them away.

We may read many truths in the Bible, but we cannot know them savingly, till God by his Spirit shines upon our soul.

Let us then ascribe the whole work of grace to the pleasure of God's Will. God did not choose us because we were worthy, but by choosing us He makes us worthy.

We spend our years with sighing; it is a valleyof tears; but death is the funeral of all our sorrows.

A weak faith can lay hold on a strong Christ.