Faith and fear go hand in hand. Faith keeps the heart cheerful, fear keeps the heart serious. Faith keeps the heart from sinking in despair, fear keeps it from floating in presumption. “All Things for Good” pg. 20
All Things for Good
First published in 1663 (under the title A Divine Cordial), the year after Watson and some two thousand other ministers were ejected from the Church of England and exposed to hardship and suffering, All Things For Good contains the rich exposition of a man who lived when only faith in God's Word could lead him to such confidence. All Things For Good provides the biblical answer to the contemporary question; Why do bad things happen to good people?
The Wedges of the Law
Posted by Leave a Comment
Others are more stubborn and knotty sinners, and God comes to them in a rough wind. He uses more wedges of the law to break their hearts; He deeply humbles them, and shows them they are damned without Christ. Then having ploughed up the fallow ground of their hearts by humiliation, He sows the seed of consolation. He presents Christ and mercy to them, and draws their wills, not only to accept Christ, but passionately to desire, and faithfully to rest upon Him. “All Things for Good” pg. 107
Affliction Causes Men to Look to God
Posted by Leave a Comment
When God lays men upon their backs, then they look up to heaven. God’s smiting His people is like the musician’s striking upon the violin, which makes it put forth melodious sound. How much good comes to the saints by affliction! When they are pounded they send forth their sweetest smell. Affliction is a bitter root, but it bears sweet fruit. “All Things for Good” pg. 56
Affliction Produces Much Good
Posted by Leave a Comment
As the hard frosts in winter bring on the flowers in the spring, and as the night ushers in the morning-star, so the evils of affliction produce much good to those that love God. “All Things for Good” pg. 27
Christians are as Stones in an Arch
Posted by Leave a Comment
As the stones in an arch help to strengthen one another, one Christian by imparting his experience, heats and quickens another. ‘Let us provoke one another to love, and to good works’ (Heb. 10:24). How does grace flourish by holy conference! A Christian by good discourse drops that oil upon another, which makes the lamp of his faith burn the brighter. “All Things for Good” pg. 22
When God Calls a Man by His Grace, He Cannot but Come
Posted by Leave a Comment
When God calls a man by His grace, he cannot but come. You may resist the minister’s call, but you cannot the Spirit’s call. The finger of the blessed Spirit can write upon a heart of stone, as once He wrote His law upon tables of stone. God’s words are creating words; when He says, ‘Let there be light’, there was light, and when He says, ‘Let there be faith,’ it shall be so. When God called Paul, he answered to the call. ‘I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision’ (Acts 26:19). God rides forth conquering in the chariot of His gospel; He makes the blind eyes see, and the stony heart bleed. If God will call a man, nothing shall lie in the way to hinder; difficulties shall be united, the powers of hell shall disband. ‘Who hath resisted his will?’ (Rom. 9:19). God bends the iron sinew, and cuts asunder the gates of brass (Psalm 107:6). When the Lord touches a man’s heart by His Spirit, all proud imaginations are brought down, and the fort-royal of the will yields to God. “All Things for Good” pgs. 108-109
Let not Any Man say He is Called of God, that Lives in Sin
Posted by Leave a Comment
As chastity distinguishes a virtuous woman from a harlot, so holiness distinguishes the godly from the wicked. It is a holy calling; ‘For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness’ (I Thess. 4:7). Let not any man say he is called of God, that lives in sin. Has God called you to be a swearer, to be a drunkard? Nay, let not the merely moral person say he is effectually called.
What is civility without sanctity? It is but a dead carcass strewed with flowers. The king’s picture stamped upon brass will not go current for gold. The merely moral man looks as if he had the King of heaven’s image stamped upon him; but he is not better than counterfeit metal, which will not pass for current with God. “All Things for Good” pg. 108
He that Frets Will be Ready to do Evil
Posted by Leave a Comment
Discontent is a sin which puts us upon sin. ‘Fret not thyself to do evil’ (Psalm 37:8). He that frets will be ready to do evil: fretting Jonah was a sinning Jonah (Jonah 4:9). The devil blows the coals of passion and discontent, and then warms himself by the fire. Oh, let us not nourish this angry viper in our breast. Let this text produce patience, ‘All things work together for good to them that love God’ (Rom. 8:28). “All Things for Good pg. 61
