Thomas Watson's scripture pencil

In my devotional reading I've been enjoying The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson (1620 - 1686). To be more precise, the full title is a characteristically (for a Puritan writer) long one: The Godly Man's Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil, or, Some Characteristic Marks of a Man who is Going to Heaven. Pithy isn't a word one normally associates with the Puritans, but it applies to this wonderful book.

Watson draws out 24 characteristics of a godly man, or woman. Don't be put off by the title, ladies. These are bracketed by several short chapters of additional encouragements to godliness, and warnings against it's deadly enemy -- hypocrisy. All the things I've heard about Thomas Watson are born out here. His style is warm and a delight to read. He combines deep human insight with rich application of scripture. Here are some gems from the section on prayer.

He that prays he knows not how, shall be heard he knows not when. (p. 89)


The reason why so many prayers suffer shipwreck is because they split against the rock of unbelief. Praying without faith is shooting without bullets. When faith takes prayer by the hand, then we draw near to God. (p. 90)


The lower the heart descends, the higher the prayer ascends. (p. 91)


A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual goals in prayer. There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire. The goals of a hypocrite are secular and carnal. He looks asquint in prayer. It is not the sense of his spiritual needs that moves him but rather lust. 'Ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts' (Jas. 4:3). The sinner prays more for food than for grace. (p. 92)


To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the clock and taking off the weights. (p. 93)

Maybe the best thing I can say about reading Watson, and the Puritans in general, is that they cause me to long for heaven.

In that country there is better employment; while we are here, we are complaining of our wants, weeping over our sins, but there we shall be praising God. How the birds of paradise will chirp when they are in that celestial country! There the morning stars will sing together, and all the saints of God will shout for joy.

Oh, what should we aspire after but this country above? (pp. 111-112)

Like John Owen, Thomas Watson is a "heart doctor" that every Christian would benefit from visiting. In the forest of English-speaking Christianity these 17th-century Puritans are the redwoods.