The Godly Man's Picture: Drawn with a Scripture Pencil

Thomas Watson

ISBN 10: 0851515959 / ISBN 13: 9780851515953

Published by The Banner of Truth Trust, 1992

About this Item

It was old Latimer who said, When sometimes I sit alone, and have a settled assurance of the state of my soul, and know that God is my God-I can laugh at all troubles, and nothing can daunt me. Godliness puts a man in heaven before his time. Christian, aspire after piety; it is a lawful ambition. Look at the saints' characteristics here, and never leave off until you have got them stamped upon your own soul. This is the grand business which should swallow up your time and thoughts. Other speculations and quaint notions are nothing, compared to the priceless soul. They are like wafers which have fine words printed upon them, and are curious to the eye-but are thin, and yield little nourishment. But I will not keep you longer in the porch. Should I have enlarged upon any one characteristic of the godly man, it would have required a volume-but designing to go over many, I have contracted my sails, and given you only a brief summary of things. If this piece conduces to the good of souls, I shall have my desire. That the God of grace will effectually accomplish this shall be my prayer. Thomas Watson was an English preacher and author who obtained great fame preaching until the Restoration when he was ejected as the vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook for noncomformity. Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately and upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House.

Seller Inventory # 00110805729

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Godly Man's Picture: Drawn with a Scripture Pencil
• Publisher: The Banner of Truth Trust
• Publication Date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0851515959
• ISBN 13: 9780851515953
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Few preachers in the Puritan era (or any other period of church history) match Thomas Watson for his ability to combine rich spirituality, nourishing doctrine and sane wisdom with fascinating illustration and a pleasant style. Watson is remembered chiefly for his posthumously published
Body of Practical Divinity (reprinted by the Banner of Truth Trust in three volumes). But his extant sermons also include this marvelous series on the character of the Christian. It is, as C.H. Spurgeon said of his other work, 'a happy union of sound doctrine, heart-searching experience and practical wisdom'.

Watson is always the essence of sanity and reliability. But in addition, this work shows how attractive the grace of God is. Christians of all stages, reading it for the first time, will feel as if they have entered the gallery of a great portrait painter. As his sub-title suggests, Watson works with 'a Scripture pencil' in this priceless sketch of the true believer.

About the Author

Thomas Watson (1620 1686) was an English, Nonconformist, Puritan preacher and author. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen-year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook.

He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for Nonconformity. Notwithstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House.

After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.