The Weight of God’s Word
Thomas Watson (1620–1686) was probably born in Yorkshire. He studied at Emmanuel College and went on to serve as lecturer and rector in London.
He was one of the Presbyterian ministers who went to Oliver Cromwell to protest the execution of Charles I. He was imprisoned in 1651 for his part in a plot to restore the monarchy. Watson was released and reinstated to his pastorate in Walbrook in 1652.
When the Act of Uniformity passed in 1662, Watson was ejected from his pastorate. He continued to preach in private—in barns, homes, and woods—whenever he had the opportunity. In 1666, after the Great Fire of London, Watson prepared a large room for public worship, welcoming anyone who wished to attend. After the Declaration of Indulgence took effect in 1672, Watson obtained a license for Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate, where he preached for three years before Stephen Charnock joined him. They ministered together until Charnock’s death in 1680. Watson kept working until his health failed. He then retired to Barnston, in Essex, where he died suddenly in 1686 while engaged in private prayer.
Watson’s depth of doctrine, clarity of expression, warmth of spirituality, love of application, and gift of illustration enhanced his reputation as a preacher and writer. His books are still widely read today.
Thomas Watson writes of the importance of God’s Word in Taking Heaven By Storm:
The second duty of piety wherein we must provoke ourselves, is, in HEARING of the Word.
We may bring our bodies to the preaching of the Word with ease—but not our hearts, without offering violence to ourselves. When we come to the Word preached, we come to a business of the highest importance, therefore should stir up ourselves and hear with the greatest devotion. Luke 19:48: "All the people were very attentive to hear him." In the Greek it is "they hung upon his lip."—When the Word is dispensed, we are to lift up the everlasting doors of our hearts, that the King of glory may enter in!
I. How far are they from offering violence to themselves in hearing, who scarcely mind what is said, as if they were not at all concerned in the business. They come to church more for custom, than conscience. "My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice" (Ezekiel 33:31-32). If we could tell them of a rich purchase, or of some place of worldly advancement, they would diligently attend; but when the Word of life is preached, they disregard it.
II. How far are they from offering violence to themselves in hearing, who come to the Word in a dull, drowsy manner—as if they came to church for the purpose of drowsing. The Word is to feed us; it is strange to sleep at the dinner table. The Word judges men; it is strange for a prisoner to fall asleep at the time of his sentencing. To such sleepy hearers God may say, "Sleep on!" He may allow them to be so stupefied, that no ordinance shall them: Matt. 3:25: "While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares." The Devil is never asleep—but sows the tares of sin in a drowsy hearer. That we may, when we come to the Word, offer violence to ourselves, and stir up ourselves to hear with devotion, consider,
1. That it is God himself who speaks to us!
If a judge gives a verdict upon the bench—all listen. If a king speaks—all pay attention. When we come to the Word, we should think thus with ourselves—we are to hear God in this preacher! Therefore Christ is said—to speak to us from Heaven, Heb. 12:25. Christ speaks in his ministers, as a king speaks in the person of his ambassador. When Samuel knew it was the Lord who spoke to him, he lent an ear, 2. Sam. 3:5: "Speak, Lord, your servant hears!" Those who slight God speaking in His Word—shall hear him speaking to them in his wrath, Psalm 2:5. "Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath!" "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!" Matthew 25:41.
2. consider the weightiness of the matters delivered to us.
As Moses said to Israel, Deut. 3:19. "I call Heaven and Earth to record this day, that I have set before you life and death." We preach to men of Christ and of eternal recompenses; here are the weighty matters of the law; and does not all this call for serious attention? There is a great deal of difference between a common news article read to us, and a letter of personal business, wherein our whole land and estate is concerned. In the Word preached our eternal salvation is concerned; here we are instructed to the kingdom of God, and if ever we will be serious, it should be now! Deut. 37:47. "It is not a vain thing for you, because it is your life."
3. If the Word is not regarded—it will not be remembered.
Many complain they cannot remember; here is the reason, God punishes their carelessness in hearing—with forgetfulness. He allows Satan to take away the Word from them, Matt. 13:4. "The fowls of the air came and devoured the seed." The Devil always comes to church—but it is not with any good intent; he takes away the Word from men. How many have been robbed of the sermon and their souls both at once!
4. It may be the last time that God will ever speak to us in His Word.
It may be the last sermon that ever we shall hear; and we may go from the place of hearing—to the place of damning. Did people think thus when they come into the house of God, "perhaps this will be the last time that God will counsel us about our souls, perhaps this is the last time that ever we shall see our minister's face," with what devotion would they come! How would their affections be all on fire in hearing? We give great attention to the last speeches of friends. A parent's dying words are received as oracles. Oh, let all this provoke us to diligence in hearing; let us think this may be the last time that Aaron's bell shall sound in our ears, and before another day—we shall be in another world!