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- Herausgeber: Charles River Editors
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
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Seitenzahl: 84
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018
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WISE AND HOLY SAYINGS OF THOMAS WATSON
Thomas Watson
KYPROS PRESS
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This book is a work of nonfiction and is intended to be factually accurate.
All rights reserved. Aside from brief quotations for media coverage and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form without the author’s permission. Thank you for supporting authors and a diverse, creative culture by purchasing this book and complying with copyright laws.
Copyright © 2016 by Thomas Watson
Interior design by Pronoun
Distribution by Pronoun
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Wise and Holy Sayings of Thomas Watson
AFFLICTION
ASSURANCE
ANGELS
CARE
CHEERFULNESS
CHRIST
CHRISTIANS
CONSCIENCE
CONTENTMENT
ELECTION
ETERNITY
EXHORTATION
EXPERIENCE
FAITH
THE FEAR OF GOD
GRACE, AND THE GRACES OF THE SPIRIT
GOD
HEAVEN
HELL
HOLINESS
THE HOLY SPIRIT
HOPE
HUMILITY
LIFE
THE LORD’S SUPPER
LOVE
MERCY
MEDITATION
MINISTERS
PARDON
PRAYER
PRAISE
PROMISES
PROVIDENCE
REDEMPTION
RICHES
SALVATION
SCRIPTURE
SIN
THE SOUL
TEMPTATION
TRUTH
THE WORLD
EXPOSITION OF TEXTS
WISE AND HOLY SAYINGS OF THOMAS WATSON
IT HAS BEEN THOUGHT THIS miniature Cabinet of jewels would be an appropriate companion for the journey — the voyage — in the walk — in leisure moments, or on the couch of weakness, when some sentence might be found adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the reader, and be conducive to instruction and edification.
“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails — given by one Shepherd.” Ecclesiastes 12:11
AFFLICTION
WHEN GOD PUTS HIS CHILDREN to the school of the cross, he deals with them tenderly, because he does not leave them without a promise, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able.” He will not lay a giant’s burden upon a child’s back — nor will he stretch the strings of the instrument too much, lest they should break. If God sees it good to strike with one hand, he will support with the other; either he will make the faith stronger, or render the yoke lighter.
God has never promised a charter of exemption from trouble — but he has promised to “be with us in trouble.” Better be in a prison with God’s presence and God’s promises — than be on a throne without them.
A true Christian finds comfort in God’s afflicting rod, “as sorrowful — yet always rejoicing.” A Christian is like a bird that can sing in the dark days of winter, as well as in the lightsome months of summer.
God made for some of the martyrs, a prison as sweet as a garden of flowers — what then will Heaven be! If afflicting mercy is so great — what will be crowning mercy!
Christians mistake in supposing that, when God afflicts, he ceases to love. Affliction is his pruning-knife. He would rather have the branches of his vine bleed, than be unfruitful. He prunes us, that we may bring forth “the peaceable fruits of righteousness.”
No vessel can be made of gold without fire. Just so, it is impossible that we can be made “vessels of honor,” unless we are melted and refined in the furnace of affliction.
God’s rod is a pencil to draw Christ’s image more distinctly upon us. It is good there should be a symmetry between the Head and the members. To be part of Christ’s mystical body, we must be like him, “He was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Hence it is good to be like Christ, though it be by sufferings.
The loadstone of mercy does not draw us so near to God as do the cords of affliction.
Affliction is a bitter root — but it bears sweet fruit, “It yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.”
Affliction is God’s flail to thresh off the husks, not to consume the precious grain.
There is more evil in a drop of sin, than in a sea of affliction!
The more the diamond is cut — the more it sparkles. The heavier the cross is — the heavier is the saint’s crown.
The vessels of mercy are seasoned with affliction, and then the wine of glory is poured in.
In all our crosses, God has a kindness for his people. As there was no night so dark but Israel had a pillar of fire to give light — so there is no condition so cloudy but there is the light of consolation. David sang “of goodness and mercy.”
Affliction is a badge of adoption; it is God’s seal by which he marks his own people. A holy man, suffering severely from some wounds, pointing to them, said, “These are the jewels with which God decks his children.”
As the painter mixes with his dark shadows bright colors, so does God mingle the dark and bright colors — his crosses and his blessings — and so causes “all things to work together for good to those who love him.”
God usually lets it be darkest before the morning star of light and cheerfulness appears.
God has a hand in affliction — but no hand in sin. Afflictions are sharp arrows — but shot from the bow of a loving Father.
God had one Son without sin — but no son without stripes. God puts his children to school at the cross, and there they learn best. God’s children sing most sweetly when God hedges up their way with thorns, Hosea 2:15.
There are encouragements to suffer afflictions — but none to commit sin.
Fiery trials make golden Christians, Proverbs 17:3.
Although affliction has a sting to wound — it has wings to fly, Isaiah 35:10.
When the wind of affliction blows upon the believer, God is in the wind. When the fire of affliction kindles upon him, God is in the fire to sanctify, to support, to refine.
A true Christian carries Christ in his heart, and the cross on his shoulders.
The Apostle Paul had his prison songs. When the saints taste most of the wrath of man, they feel most of the love of God.
We think God cannot favor us except he has us in his lap. Yet he loves his people when he is giving them the bitter drink of affliction. God’s rod and God’s love, they both stand together. It is no love in God to let men go on in sin, and never smite. God’s greatest curse, is when he afflicts not for sin. Let us feel God’s hand, so that we may have his heart.
Christ and his cross are never parted, for it is too much for the Christian to have two heavens — one here, and one hereafter.
In every cloud a child of God may see a rainbow of mercy shining; thus God chequers his providences, and mingles goodness with severity.
The goldsmith loves his gold when it is in the furnace, and so does God love his children when he places them in the crucible of affliction. It is only to separate the dross, not to consume the gold. “Whom he loves, he loves to the end.”
The deluge brought the dove to the ark — the floods of sorrow make us hasten to Christ.
God only threshes the precious wheat — but he burns the useless chaff. He chastens the righteous — but he condemns the wicked.
The nature of affliction is quite changed, when experienced by a godly man. It is to him, by Divine chemistry, turned into a blessing; it becomes a love-token, a badge of adoption, a preparatory to Heaven.
The cross, although it be of God’s laying, is of our making. “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him.”
ASSURANCE
ASSURANCE IS A CONSEQUENT OF sanctification; sanctification is the seed — assurance is the flower. But, as a letter may be written, and yet not sealed — so grace may be written in the heart, yet the Spirit may not have applied the seal of assurance.
True assurance is built on a Scriptural basis, Isaiah 32:17. The seed of righteousness is sown in the soul, and this seed brings forth the harvest of assurance. But presumption is like a will without seal or witnesses; presumption lacks both the witness of the Word and the seal of the Spirit.
As the sun, reflecting its beams on a burning-glass, causes the glass to burn whatever is near it — so assurance, which is God shining on the soul, makes it burn in love to God.
Assurance drops sweetness into every earthly comfort; for while sin embitters, and is like drinking a cup filled with wormwood — assurance sweetens every morsel, and a dinner of herbs with the assurance of God’s love is princely fare.
Assurance works out contentment, it rocks the heart quiet. It is the saint’s portion, and Heaven is his haven.
When grace is engraved on the heart, wait awhile, and there will be the sunshine of assurance. Whom God kisses — he crowns! Assurance is the first fruits of Paradise — but it is often kept to sweeten the bitter cup of death.
Faith may be strongest, when assurance is weakest. The woman of Canaan had no assurance — but she had glorious faith.
Assurance should be an antidote to trouble. What though there is but little oil in the cruse — you are rich in assurance. How sweetly does the bird sing that knows not where to pick up the next crumb! And shall they be discontented who have God’s Word to assure them of daily bread, and his love to assure them of Heaven?
