Thomas Watson (Puritan)


Thomas Watson was an English Puritan preacher and author. He was ejected from his London parish after the Restoration, but continued to preach privately.
Watson was affiliated with the Cavalier faction in the English Civil War. From 1651 to 1652, he was imprisoned for taking part in a failed conspiracy to restore Charles II of England on the throne. During the actual Stuart Restoration, he was ejected from his position as a vicar due to his non-conformity.

Education and career

He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a 16-year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook.
Watson showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to restore King Charles II of England. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, 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 in 1672 he obtained a licence 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, where he died suddenly, while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.

Writing

Watson still has numerous titles available in print. His works include:
  • All Things for Good
  • The Godly Man's Picture
  • The Ten Commandments
  • The Doctrine of Repentance
  • Sermons of Thomas Watson
  • A Plea for the Godly: And Other Sermons
  • The Duty of Self-Denial:
  • The Fight of Faith Crowned: The Remaining Sermons of Thomas Watson, Rector of St. Stephen's Walbrook, London
  • The Beatitudes
  • The Lord's Prayer
  • The Lord's Supper
  • The Art of Divine Contentment
  • Jerusalem's Glory: A Puritan's View of the Church
  • Heaven Taken by Storm: Showing the Holy Violence a Christian Is to Put Forth in the Pursuit After Glory
  • The Mischief of Sin
  • A Body of Divinity: Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism and
  • Gleanings from Thomas Watson
  • Harmless as Doves: A Puritan's view of the Christian Life
  • ''The Great Gain of Godliness''