A Body of Practical Divinity, Frontispiece – Bibliography
Thomas Watson sometimes Minister of St. Stephens Walbrooke LONDON
A Body of Practical Divinity, Consisting of above One Hundred Seventy Six SERMONS ON THE Lesser CATECHISM Composed by The Reverend Assembly OF Divines at Westminster: WITH A SUPPLEMENT OF SOME SERMONS on several Texts of SCRIPTURE.
By THOMAS WATSON, Formerly Minister at St. Stephen's Walbrook, London.
Printed from his own Hand-Writing.
Recommended by several Ministers to Masters of Families and others.
Heb. XI.iv.
He being dead yet speaketh.
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chappel. 1692.
To the READER.
THESE Catechetical Lectures of the late Reverend Mr. Tho. Watson, all, but one written with his own hand, I have read over, together with some Sermons annexed to them; and since my Testimony is desired concerning them, I do hereby declare, That (tho' I will not undertake to justifie every Expression or Sentence in them, or in any Humane Writing, yet) I find them in the main agreeable unto the Doctrinal Articles of the Church of England, and unto the Westminster Assembly's Confession of Faith and Catechisms: And I believe, that through the Blessing of God, they may be profitable unto the Edification of all that read them with an honest desire to know and do the Will of God: for certainly there are many excellent things in them, which if they meet with a well-disposed serious Mind, are very apt to have a good Effect upon it; and if it prove otherwise with any that happen to read this Book, it will be their own Fault, more than the Books. Most Writers have different Stiles, and it is well known that Mr. Watson had one peculiar to himself, which yet has found good Acceptance with, and has been useful unto serious People; and I hope this (by reason of the great Variety of excellent Matter) may be more generally Vseful than any other thing that ever he wrote. I little doubt but every sober Christian will be of this mind after he hath read his Lectures on God's Attributes, the Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, &c. I sincerely profess, I have no other End in giving this Testimony of this Book, but thereby to serve the Common Good of Christ's Church, and not the Private Interest of any Person or Party in the World: if my Conscience did not bear me witness that this Book may be Vseful to that excellent End, no Man should ever have prevailed with me thus to prefix my Testimony and Name to it. Moreover, I do not doubt, but every Intelligent and Candid Reader will consider that this is a Posthumous Work, and on that account will make some Allowance for any small Fault that may be in it, as also for the Errours of the Press. That it may answer the main End for which it was first written by the Author (whom I always took to be a grave, serious, modest, good Man); and for which (I hope) it is now published, to wit, The Edification of the Church of Christ in Faith, Holiness, and Comfort, is the hearty Desire of one of the meanest Servants of our most Blessed LORD IESVS,
WILL. LORIMER.
WE whose Names are subscribed, having seen the Testimony of our Worthy Brother, Mr. William Lorimer, after his Perusal of this Book, doubt not but it may be of use to many, as the former Writings of Mr. Thomas Watson have been; and with that Desire and Hope, we Recommend it to Masters of Families, and others.
William Bates,
Matth. Barker,
Iohn Howe,
Matth. Mead,
Edw. Lawrance,
Samuel Slater,
Richard Mayo,
Richard Adams,
Richard Steel,
Samuel Stancliff,
Iohn Raynolds,
Nath. Vincent,
Iohn Hughes,
Matth. Sylvester,
Ioseph Read,
Dan. Burges,
Abraham Hume,
Ioseph Cawthorne,
Rich. Stretton,
Daniel Williams,
Richard Wavel,
Iohn Shower,
Timothy Cruso,
Francis Glascock,
Timothy Rogers,
Nath. Oldfield.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THere are many single Sermons on Variety of Occasions, as at Fasts, Thanksgivings, Sacrament Discourses, besides several Subjects handled in many Sermons on each Text of Scripture, left under Mr. Thomas Watson's one Hand-writing, if these find Acceptance, in due time (after their being perused by some Learned Divine) may be published.
Tho. Parkhurst. Aug. 28th, 1692.
A Catalogue of what Books Mr. Thomas Watson published.
THree Treatises, 1. The Christian's Charter, shewing the Priviledges of a Believer. 2. The Art of Divine Contentment. 3. A Discourse of Meditation: To which is added, several Sermons preached Occasionally. Quarto.
The Beatitudes: or, a Discourse upon part of Christ's famous Sermon on the Mount. Whereunto is added, Christ's various Fulness; The Preciousness of the Soul; The Soul's Malady and Cure; The Beauty of Grace; The Spiritual Watch; The Heavenly Race; The Sacred Anchor; The Trees of Righteousness; The Perfume of Love; The good Practitioner.
The Godly Man's Character.
A Word of Comfort to the Church of God, in a Sermon. Quarto.
The Crown of Righteousness: at the Funeral of Mr. Hoges, Merchant. Quarto.
A Sermon preached July 2, at the Funeral of Mr. John Wells, late Pastor of Olave-Jury, London. By Thomas Watson. Quarto.
The Fight of Faith Crowned: or, a Sermon preached at the Funeral of the eminently Holy Man Mr. Henry Stubs. By Thomas Watson.
The Doctrine of Repentance, Useful for these Times.
Religion our true Interest: or Practical Notes upon the third Chapter of Malachy, the sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen Verses.
The Mischief of Sin, it brings a Person Low.
A Divine Cordial: or, the Transcendent Priviledge of Those that Love God, and are savingly Called.
The Holy Eucharist; or, the Mystery of the Lord's Supper briefly explained.
A Plea for the Godly: Wherein is shown the Excellency of a Righteous Person.
The Duty of Self-denial briefly Opened and Urged.
Heaven taken by Storm.