Thomas Watson (clergyman)

Thomas Watson

Thomas Watson (* around 1620 probably in Yorkshire , † July 1686 in Barnston , Essex ) was an English nonconformist (Puritan) clergyman and author.

Watson was educated at Emmanuel College , Cambridge , where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1639 and a Master of Arts degree in 1642 . After several years working in the house of Lady Mary Vere, widow of Sir Horace Vere, baron of Tilbury , he took up the post of lecturer at St Stephen Walbrook's Church in London in 1646 . Later he was promoted to rector . During the English Civil War he was on the side of the supporters of a Presbyterian church constitution , but was nevertheless connected to King Charles II and was briefly imprisoned with other pastors in 1651 because he was involved in Christopher Love's plot to bring the king back. On June 30, 1652 he was released and reinstated in his pastoral office. As a preacher he achieved great fame and popularity until he was removed from the parish as a nonconformist ( dissenter ) after the Stuart Restoration by the Uniformity Act of 1662 . Despite the rigorous measures taken against the dissenters, Watson was able to continue his spiritual activity privately. The 1672 Declaration of Indulgence gave him permission to preach in the great hall of Crosby House. After working there for several years, his health deteriorated, so he retired and went to the countryside. He died suddenly during silent prayer and was buried on July 28, 1686.

Watson was married to Abigail Beadle, the daughter of the Puritan pastor John Beadle. They had at least seven children, four of whom died young.

Fonts (selection)

Watson published many writings, some of which are still commercially available. New German editions of some of the publications have even appeared in recent years.

• The Art of Divine Contentment. 1653 (Monergism Books reissued 1986).
• The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5: 1-12. 1660 (New edition Monergism Books 1971. ISBN 0-85151-035-3 ).
• A Divine Cordial . 1663 (Reissued All Things for Good . Monergism Books 1986. ISBN 0-85151-478-2 ).
• A Body of Divinity: Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism . 1692 (Monergism Books 1986 reissued . ISBN 0-85151-383-2 ).
• The Lord's Prayer . Monergism Books 1960. ISBN 0-85151-145-7
• The Ten Commandments . Monergism Books 1965. ISBN 0-85151-146-5
• The Doctrine of Repentance . Banner of Truth 1988. ISBN 0-85151-521-5
  • The biblical doctrine of repentance. 3L-Verlag, Friedberg 2006. ISBN 3-935188-90-0 .
• The Duty of Self-Denial: (And 10 Other Sermons) . Monergism Books 2001. ISBN 1-57358-015-5
• The Mischief of Sin . Monergism Books 2003. ISBN 1-877611-85-9
• Heaven Taken by Storm: Showing the Holy Violence a Christian Is to Put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory . Monergism Books 2007. ISBN 1-877611-50-6
  • The Zealous Christianity or Thomae Watson of an English teacher strong exhortation to all Christians / how they should pull heaven to them by force / that is / strive with the greatest zeal to be saved. Tschorn, Brieg 1672 (and other editions; translated by Anton Brunsen )
  • Take the sky by storm. 3L-Verlag, Waldems 2012. ISBN 978-3-941988-71-2 .
• 365 days with the Puritan Thomas Watson. 3L-Verlag, Waldems 2013. ISBN 978-3-941988-46-0 .

literature

• Peter Harrison:  Watson, Thomas . In: Religion Past and Present (RGG). 4th edition. Volume 8, Mohr-Siebeck, Tübingen 2005, Sp. 1314.

Web links

Wikiquote: Thomas Watson (Puritan)  - Quotes

• Works by and about Thomas Watson  in the German Digital Library
• Publications by and about Thomas Watson in VD 17 .
• Watson's writings in the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
• Short biography and new editions of his writings
• The Thomas Watson Reading Room
• Watson's sermons