236 quotes
Thomas Watson Quotes
The sharpest, most searching lines from Thomas Watson, drawn straight from the Puritan Paperbacks. Filter by theme, or browse the whole collection.
“Mercy is not like the sun to the fire, to dull it, but like the oil to the wheel, to make it run faster.”
“A hard heart is the anvil on which the hammer of God’s justice will be striking to all eternity.”
“A gracious heart is like a piece of good ground that, having received the seed of mercy, produces a crop of obedience.”
“It is not enough to have a few transient thoughts of God by the by, but there must be a fixing of our minds on God, till our hearts are warmed in love to him, and we can say, like those in Like 24:32, 'Did not our heart burn within us?”
“An idle person is the devil’s tennis ball, which he bandies up and down with temptation till at last the ball goes out of play.”
“Faith is the oil which feeds the lamp of hope. Faith and hope are two turtle-dove graces; take away one, and the other languishes. If the sinews are cut, the body is lame; if this sinew of faith is cut, hope is lame.”
“Believers are Christ’s garden; their graces are flowers; their savory discourse is the fragrant scent of these flowers.”
“Faith is a cure-all – a remedy against all troubles. It is a godly man’s sheet anchor that he casts out into the sea of God’s mercy, and is kept from sinking in despair.”
“As the hard frosts in winter bring on the flowers in the spring, and as the night ushers in the morning-star, so the evils of affliction produce much good to those that love God.”
“Faith and fear go hand in hand. Faith keeps the heart cheerful, fear keeps the heart serious. Faith keeps the heart from sinking in despair, fear keeps it from floating in presumption.”
“A secure sinner provides for his body, but neglects his soul; like one that waters his flowers, but never minds his jewels.”
“A Christian by divine discourse may enlighten another when he is ignorant, warm him when he is frozen, comfort him when he is sad, confirm him when he is wavering.”
“Sinners desire Christ only for shelter. The Hebrews never chose their judges except when they were in some imminent danger. Godless persons never look for Christ except at death, when they are in danger of hell.”
“Sin is worse than hell, but yet God, by His mighty over ruling power, makes sin turn to the good of His people. Hence that golden saying of Augustine, 'God would never permit evil, if He could not bring good out of evil.”
“When the strings of the lute are snarled up, the lute is not fit to make music. So when a Christian’s spirit is perplexed and disturbed, he cannot make melody in his heart to the Lord.”
“An impatient man is like a troubled sea that cannot rest (Isa. 57:20). He tortures himself upon the rack of his own griefs and passions, whereas patience calms the heart, as Christ did the sea, when it was rough.”
“Surely, there is not a greater sign of a man ripe for hell, than this, not only to lack grace, but to hate it.”
“God so calls as He allures; He does not force, but draw. The freedom of the will is not taken away, but the stubbornness of it is conquered. ‘Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power’ (Psalm 110:3).”
“Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset.”
“There is more evil in a drop of sin than in a sea of affliction!”
“The pleasure of sin is soon gone but the sting remains!”
“A weak faith can lay hold on a strong Christ.”
“Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.”
“Every time you draw your breath, you suck in mercy!”
“Prayer delights God's ear. It melts His heart and opens His hand.”
“The door of Heaven is always open for the prayers of God's people.”
“True faith will trust God's heart where it cannot trace His hand!”
“Knowledge without repentance will be but a torch to light men to Hell.”
“Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages.”
“There are millions who would rather go sleeping to Hell than sweating to Heaven.”