Sete sermões sobre diversos temas selecionados pregados pelo Sr. Tho. Watson

SEVEN SERMONS ON Several Select Subjects, PREACHED BY Mr Tho Watson, sometimes Mi nister of the Gospel, at St Stephen Walbrook, London With Allowance LONDON, Printed, in the Year, 1689 THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER.

Christian Reader, HAving had these Sermons by me for a considerable time, and finding them of singular Advantage to all who mind the work of their Salva tion in earnest, I thought I could not sufficiently discharge that Duty I owe to my fellow Christians, if I did not con tribute what I could to the good of o thers; and therefore I have made them of Publick use. 'Twere a Presumption in me, to of fer to launch out upon the Praises of the Worthy Preacher of them, as if he needed Encomiums from such as I am, to recommend his Works to the World; since his Name is so savoury among all those, that either heard him Preach, read his Writings, or were acquainted with his Exemplary Life and Conversation (he having with that great Apostle taken suf ficent care, that while he Preached to others he might not be a cast away him self) that 'twill be sufficient to recom mend them to the perusal of all serious Christians that they are his.

Those that are only for a quaint polite Discourse, may sute themselves where they think best; but such as are for the plain Truths of the Gospel, and desire to drink in the sincere Milk of the Word of God may find great profit by this Book.

Those Ministers whose only delight it is to make Elegant Discourses, busk ing them up with a vain flourish of Words (as if the plain Truths of the Gospel were not palatable, but needed some correctives to render them more grate ful to mens appetites) and those who perplex their Hearers with Intricate, Philosophical Notions, seem more to hunt after Popular applause than sincere ly to endeavour the Conversion and Sal vation of Souls: But those who design faithfully, to discharge that great Trust committed to them by their Lord and Ma ster, will be sure to shun both these, and to deliver the Truths of the Gospel in as plain and homely a dress as may be, that the way of Salvation may be set forth to the meanest Capacities: Like the famous Gregory Nazianzen, who (tho he was Master of as much Learn ing as any in his day, yet) was very plain in his Preaching; and a Godly la borious Preacher here, sometimes since with the Lord, who when he had writ ten his Sermon, used to read it over to his Servants; and if any thing in it transcended their Capacities, altered it, and made it so plain, that he was sure nothing in it could surmount the Under standings of the meanest of his Hear ers.

And all that ever heard the wor thy Author or read any of his Sermons, can sufficiently testifie how well he acquitted himself in this point: And those that have not, may fully be con vinced of it by reading these Sermons, which they will find as plain and obvi ous as can be desired, delivered in as few words as possible, so as to leave out nothing neeessary in order to explaining the true meaning of the Text.

Were this golden Rule generally observed much more Fruit might be expected by the preaching of the Gospel than now is, and those who desire to be most service able in their Generation, would not be misrepresented as Canters by men that speak evil of things they understand not.

The Subject matter of these Sermons are Truths of very great use in Christians Practice, whatever their case or condi tion be: So that there are few Spiritu al Diseases, but Remedies are here set down for them; viz. those who are groaning under the Cross, Comforts are prescribed to them, those who are se cure are awakened, those that are world ly, Weaning Considerations are here pro posed to them, and those who are under comfortable Influences of the Spirit, Directions are given them how to con tinue them.

It cannot be expected, since the God ly Preacher himself had not the perusal of them, but that those that are too Nice and Censorious may espy some expressions in them, that might have been better worded: And therefore I hope that they will be so far from laying it on the Worthy Author, that they will even excuse it in me; since through a desire I had for the publick good, I rather chose to incurr the censures of some men in publishing these Sermons, than out of a sullen Modesty suppress that which might tend so much to the Advancement of Holiness.

Which that it may be the blessed fruit of this, and all other Works of this Nature is, and shall be the Hear ty Prayers of, &c ERRATA.

Page 27. line 4. for Disabling ▪ read Disciplining, p. 30. l. 18 Disabling, for r Disciplining SERMON I.

All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.

THIS Book relates the History of Iob 's sufferings: he was a tall Cedar in grace, yet this Cedar grew in a Valley of Tears.

Religion gives no Charter of Ex emption from trouble.

Iob 's tryals were so sharp, that he began to grow weary of life, and was willing to have a Writ of Ease; to have his pass and be gone, Iob 14.13.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave! This holy man was much afflicted in his meditations of his latter end: He walked among the Tombs, and walked into his Grave before it was digged, and by frequent thoughts laboured to make death fa miliar to him.