A Body of Divinity

Thomas Watson’s Body of Practical Divinity is one of the most precious of the peerless works of the Puritans; and those best acquainted with it prize it most. Watson was one of the most concise, racy, illustrative, and suggestive of those eminent divines who made the Puritan age the Augustan period of evangelical literature. There is a happy union of sound doctrine, heart-searching experience and practical wisdom throughout all his works, and his Body of Divinity is, beyond all the rest, useful to the student and the minister. Although Thomas Watson issued several most valuable books, comparatively little is known of him - even the dates of his birth and death are unknown. His writings are his best memorial; perhaps he needed no other, and therefore providence forbade the superfluity. We shall not attempt to discover his pedigree, and, after the manner of antiquarians, derive his family from a certain famous Wat, whose son distinguished himself in the Crusades, or in some other insane enterprise; whether blue blood was in his veins or no is of small consequence, since we know that he was the seed-royal of the redeemed of the Lord. Some men are their own ancestors, and, for ought we know, Thomas Watson’s genealogy reflected no fame upon him, but derived all its lustre from his achievements. (Charles H. Spurgeon)


• Brief Memoir of Thomas Watson

• A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising

• Introduction

• Man’s Chief End

• The Scriptures

• God And His Creation

• The Being of God

• The Knowledge of God

• The Eternity of God

• The Unchangeableness of God

• The Wisdom of God

• The Power of God

• The Holiness of God

• The Justice of God

• The Mercy of God

• The Truth of God

• The Unity of God

• The Trinity

• The Creation

• The Providence of God

• The Fall

• The Covenant of Works

• Sin

• Adam’s Sin

• Original Sin

• Man’s Misery by the Fall

• The Covenant of Grace and Its Mediator

• The Covenant of Grace

• Christ the Mediator of the Covenant

• Christ’s Prophetic Office

• Christ’s Priestly Office

• Christ’s Kingly Office

• Christ’s Humiliation In His Incarnation

• Christ’s Exaltation

• Christ the Redeemer

• The Application of Redemption

• Faith

• Effectual Calling

• Justification

• Adoption

• Sanctification

• Assurance

• Peace

• Joy

• Growth in Grace

• Perseverance

• Death and the Last Day

• The Death of the Righteous

• A Believer’s Privilege At Death

• The Resurrection 


Thomas Watson was an English, Nonconformist, Puritan preacher and author. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen-year pastorate at St. Stephen’s, Walbrook. He 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 recall 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 license 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.