Thomas Watson (c. 1620—1686) was an English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, non-conformist

Nonconformism

Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...

, Puritan

Puritan

The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...

 preacher and author.

He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...

, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook

St Stephen Walbrook

St Stephen, Walbrook is a small church in the City of London, part of the Church of England's Diocese of London. It is located in Walbrook, next to the Mansion House, and near to Bank and Monument Underground stations.-History:In the second century A.D...

. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war

English Civil War

The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...

, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love

Christopher Love

Christopher Love was a Welsh Protestant preacher and advocate of Presbyterianism at the time of the English Civil War. In 1651 he was executed by the government, after it was discovered that he had been in correspondence with the exiled Stuart court...

's plot to recall Charles II of England

Charles II of England

Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...

. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar

Vicar

In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...

 of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration

English Restoration

The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...

, 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

Declaration of Indulgence

The Declaration of Indulgence was two proclamations made by James II of England and VII of Scotland in 1687. The Indulgence was first issued for Scotland on 12 February, and then for England on 4 April 1687...

 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

Barnston, Essex

Barnston is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located 2 miles southeast from Great Dunmow and is 9 miles north-northwest from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Uttlesford and in the parliamentary constituency of Saffron Walden...

, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.http://www.fivesolas.com/watson/wattarget.htm

Writing

Watson still has numerous titles in print that are available from various publishing houses that specialize in Puritan works, including the Banner of Truth Trust and Soli Deo Gloria Books. Some of these titles include:

• All Things for Good (originally published as A Divine Cordial) ISBN 0-85151-478-2
• The Godly Man's Picture ISBN 0-85151-595-9
• The Ten Commandments ISBN 0-85151-146-5
• The Doctrine of Repentance ISBN 0-85151-521-5
• Sermons of Thomas Watson (a compilation) ISBN 1-877611-23-9
• A Plea for the Godly: And Other Sermons ISBN 1-877611-74-3
• The Duty of Self-Denial: (And 10 Other Sermons) ISBN 1-57358-015-5
• The Fight of Faith Crowned: The Remaining Sermons of Thomas Watson, Rector of St. Stephen's Walbrook, London ISBN 1-57358-047-3
• The Beatitudes ISBN 0-85151-035-3
• The Lord's Prayer ISBN 0-85151-145-7
• The Lord's Supper ISBN 0-85151-854-0
• The Art of Divine Contentment ISBN 1-57358-113-5
• The Christian's Great Interest ISBN 0-85151-354-9

• Jerusalem's Glory: A Puritan's View of the Church ISBN 1-85792-569-6
• Heaven Taken by Storm: Showing the Holy Violence a Christian Is to Put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory ISBN 1-877611-50-6
• The Mischief of Sin ISBN 1-877611-85-9
• A Body of Divinity: Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism ISBN 0-85151-383-2 and ISBN 1-58960-314-1
• Gleanings from Thomas Watson (a compilation) ISBN 1-57358-009-0
• Between Shadows And Light ISBN 1-4208-3791-5
• Harmless as Doves: A Puritan's view of the Christian Life ISBN 1-85792-040-6

External links

• Writings by Watson at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
  Christian Classics Ethereal Library
  The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a digital library that provides free electronic copies of Christian scripture and literature texts....
  
  
• The Thomas Watson Reading Room
• Sermons by Watson