Of the early liistory, birthplace, or parentage of Mr. Watson little seems to have been known by contemporary writers. He received his education in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for being a hard student, and received the degree of Master of Arts. In the time of the civil wars, A. D. 1646, he became rector of the parish of St. Stephen's, AValbrook, London, where he executed the office of a faithful pastor, with great diligence and assiduity, for nearly sixteen years. His pious and useful labours soon spread his fame in the city, and procured him very general respect, which he carried with him to his grave. During the commotions that agitated the nation in his time, Mr. Watson discovered great loyalty and attachment to the person of Iving Charles the First, and totally disapproved the methods made use of by the army to bring him to trial. He also joined the Presbyterian minis- ters in a remonstrance to General Cromwell, and the Council of War, against the death of that monarch. After this, in 1651, he was concerned with some other persons in carrying on a correspondence with the Scots, for the purpose of bringing in King Charles II., which being discovered, he was apprehended and committed prisoner to the Tower along with Dr. Drake, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Blackmore, and Mr. Haviland. These, after some time, on their petitioning for mercy, and promising submission to the government, were released; Mr. Christopher Love, an eminent Presbyterian minister, was publicly executed as a terror to others.
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Mr. Watson continued at his living till Bartholomew-day, 1662, when he was ejected for nonconformity. The farewell sermon on this occasion is to be found in this volume. In the London collection there are three, and another printed separate without the author's knowledge; but the one here given is that which had his approbation. Notwithstanding the rigorous execution of this unnatural act, Mr. Watson continued the exercise of his ministry in private as Providence gave him opportunity. After the fire of London in 1666, when the churches were burnt, and the parish-minis- ters unemployed for want of places of worship, the Nonconformists fitted up large rooms with pulpits, seats and galleries, for the reception of those who had an inclination to attend. Of this number was Mr. Watson. Upon the Indulgence in 1672, he licensed the great hall in Crosby-House, (then belonging to Sir John Langham,who patronized the Nonconformists), and laid the foundations of a very flourishing society. Crosby-Hall, which takes its name from Sir John Crosby, sheriff and alderman of London in 1470, is a beautiful Gothic building with a bow window on one side; the roof is of timber and much admired. After having served as a place of >Yorship in connection with the Presb3rterian body during the lifetime of Mr. Watson and his pious and talented successor Stephen Charnock, it passed into the hands of the Independents, and ceased in 1769 to be used for religious worship. It is now, after having for upwards of thirty years been occupied for inferior purposes, and thereafter put into a state of beautiful repair at the expense of the Corporation of London, used with propriety as the business oflices of the London Missionary Society, as the place of meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and for other public religious purposes in connection with evangelical non- conformity. In this place Mr. Watson preached for several years; till, at length, his strength wearing away, he retired into Essex, where he died suddenly in his closet at prayer. The time of Mr. Watson's death is not mentioned; but we apprehend it ^'^ have happened about a year after the Revolution.
Mr. Watson was a man of considerable learning, a popular but judici- ous preacher, and eminent in the gift of prayer. Of the latter, the follow- ing anecdote affords a sufficient proof Once on a lecture-day, before the Bartholomew Act took place, the learned Bishop Richardson came to hear him, and was so well pleased with his sermon, but especially with the prayer after it, that he followed him home, returned him his thanks, and desired a copy of it. "Alas!" said Mr. Watson, "that is what I cannot give, for I do not use to pen my prayers; it was no studied thing, but
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE.
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