uttered piv re nafa, as God enabled me, from the abundance of my heart and affections." Upon this, the good bishop went away, wondering that any man could pray in so excellent a manner extempore. Mr. Watson published a variety of books upon practical subjects, and of a useful nature. But his principal work was his Body of Divinity in 176 Sermons upon the Assembly's Catechism, which did not appear till after his death. It was published in one volume folio, in 1692, accompanied with a por- trait of the author by Sturt, a Recommendatory Preface by the Rev. William Lorimer, and the attestation of twenty-five other ministers, of principal note in that day; and has since passed through a number of editions both in England and Scotland. •
A BODY
OF
PRACTICAL DIVINITY.
TO THE READER.
These Catechetical Lectures of the late Reverend Mr. Thomas Watson — all but one written with his own hand — I have read over, together with some Ser- mons annexed to them ; and, since my testimony is desired concerning them, I do hereby declare, that — though I will not undertake to justify every expression or sentence in them, or in any human writing — I find them, in the main, agree- able to the doctrinal articles of this church, and unto the Westminster Assem- bly's Confession of Faith and Catechisms ; and I believe that, through the bles- sing of God, they may be profitable unto the edification of all that read them with an honest desire to know and do the will of God ; or certainly there are many excellent things in them, which, if they meet with a well-disposed serious mind, are very apt to have a good effect upon it ; and if it prove otherwise with any that happen to read this book, it will be their own fault more than the book's. Most writers have different styles : and it is well-known that Mr. Watson had one peculiar to himself, which yet hath found good acceptance with, and has been useful unto serious people ; and I hope this — by reason of the great variety of excellent matter — may be more generally useful than any other thing he ever wrote. I little doubt but every sober Christian will be of this mind, after he has read his Lectures on God's attributes, the Ten commandments. Lord's prayer, &c. I sincerely profess, I have no other end in giving this testimony of this book, but thereby to serve the common good of Christ's church, and not the private in- terest of any person or party in the world ; if my conscience did not bear me wit- ness that this book may be useful to that excellent end, no man should ever have prevailed with me, thus to prefix my testimony and name to it. That it may an- swer the main end for which it was at first written by the author — whom I always took to be a grave, serious, modest, good man — and for which, I hope, it is now pub- lished, to wit, the edification of the church of Christ in faith, holiness and com- fort, is the hearty desire of one of the meanest servants of our most blessed Lord Jesus. William Lorimek.
We whose names are subscribed, having seen the testimony of our worthy brother, Mr. William Lorimer, after his perusal of this book, doubt not but it may be of use to many, — as the former writings of Mr. Thomas Watson have been ; and, with that desire and hope, we recommend it to masters of families and others.
William Bates, Matthew Barker, John Howie, Matthew Mead, Edward Lawrence, Samuel Slater, Richard Mayo, Matthew Sylvester, Daniel Buuges,
Joseph Cawthorne, Daniel Williams, Kichakd Wavel, Timothy Ckuso, Timothy Rogers, Nathaniel Oldfield, Richard Adams, Richard Steel, Sa-vuei Stancliff,
John Raynolds, Nathaniel Vincent, John Hiciies, Josei'H Read Abraham Hume, RiciiAKD Stretton, John Snowtu, Francis Gla.scock, Daniel William^.
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE
TO
CATECHISING.
Jfye continue in the faith grounded and settled. Col. i. 23.
Intending the next Lord's day to enter upon the work of catechising, it will not be amiss to give you this preliminary discourse, as preparatory to it ; shewing you how need- ful it is for Christians to be well instructed in the grounds of religion.
" If ye continue in the faith gi-ounded and settled," — Two propositions :
Firsts It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith.
Second, The best way for Christians to be settled, is to be well grounded.