All Things Work Together for Good

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

There are two things that I have always looked upon as difficult. The one is to make the wicked sad, and the other is to make the godly joyful. Dejection in the godly arises from a double spring: It is either because their inward comforts are darkened, or their outward comforts are disturbed. 

To cure both of these troubles, I have written this book, hoping, by the blessing of God, that it will lift up their desponding hearts and make them look up with a more cheerful outlook. I would prescribe them to take, now and then, a little of this cordial, or healthful tonic: All things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). 

To know that nothing hurts the godly is a matter of comfort, but to be assured that all things that happen will work together for their good, that their crosses will be turned into blessings, and that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more may fill their hearts with joy until they run over.

– Thomas Watson

About the Author

Thomas Watson (c. 1620-1686) was a prominent English Nonconformist Puritan pastor and author, known for his notable works like The Godly Man’s Picture, The Ten Commandments, and The Body of Divinity. Having earned his degrees from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he served at St. Stephen Walbrook Church in London for 16 years before being imprisoned in 1651 for his role in a plot to restore Charles II. Upon his release, he continued preaching, both privately and publicly after the passing of the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672, which allowed him to obtain a preaching license at Crosby Hall in London. Watson, who carried Christ in his heart and lived as a committed Christian, retired to Barnston in Essex due to declining health, passing away in 1686.