The Beatitudes

I here present you with a subject full of sweet variety. This Sermon of Christ on the Mount is a piece of spiritual needlework, wrought about with divers colours; here is both usefulness and sweetness. In this portion of Holy Scripture you have a breviary of religion, the Bible epitomised. Here is a garden of delight, set with curious knots, where you may pluck those flowers which will deck the hidden man of your heart. Here is the golden key which will open the gate of Paradise. Here is the conduit of the Gospel, running wine to cherish such as are poor in spirit and pure in heart. Here is the rich cabinet wherein the Pearl of Blessedness is locked up. Here is the golden pot in which is that manna which will feed and refocillate (revive) the soul unto ever-lasting life. Here is a way chalked out to the Holy of Holies.


• To the Reader

• Introduction

• There is a blessedness in reversion

• The godly are in some sense already blessed

• Blessed are the poor in spirit

• The poor in spirit are enriched with a kingdom

• Blessed are they that mourn

• Sundry sharp reproofs

• Motives to holy mourning

• The hindrances to mourning

• Some helps to mourning

• The comforts belonging to mourners

• Christian meekness

• The nature of spiritual hunger

• Spiritual hunger shall be satisfied

• A discourse of mercifulness

• A description of heart-purity

• The blessed privilege of seeing God explained

• Concerning peaceableness

• They shall be called the children of God

• Exhortations to Christians as they are children of God

• Concerning persecution

• An appendix to the beatitudes



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.