Product Description
Thomas Watson’s book, A Body of Divinity is one of the first books published by the Banner of Truth Trust. This book has been one of the best sellers and consistently the most useful and influential of our publications. There are several reasons for this:
- The subject of the book. It deals with the foremost doctrinal and experimental truths of the Christian Faith.
- The means of instruction used. It is based on the Westminster Assembly’s Shorter Catechism, in which the main principles of Christianity that lie scattered in the Scriptures are brought together and set forth in the form of question and answer. This Catechism is unsurpassed for its ‘terse exactitude of definition’ and ‘logical elaboration’ of the fundamentals.
- The style of the author. Watson conveys his thorough doctrinal and experimental knowledge of the truth in such an original, concise, pithy, pungent, racy, rich and illustrative style that he is rightly regarded as the most readable of the Puritans.
Paperback, 316 pages
Publication Date: October 1958
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
MEMOIR vii
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE
1 INTRODUCTION
1. Man’s Chief End
2. The Scriptures
2 GOD AND HIS CREATION
1. The Being Of God
2. The Knowledge Of God
3. The Eternity Of God
4. The Unchangeableness Of God
5. The Wisdom Of God
6. The Power Of God
7. The Holiness Of God
8. The Justice Of God
9. The Mercy Of God
10. The Truth Of God
11. The Unity Of God
12. The Trinity
13. The Creation
14. The Providence Of God
3 THE FALL
1. The Covenant Of Works
2. Sin
3. Adam’s Sin
4. Original Sin
5. Man’s Misery By The Fall
4 THE COVENANT OF GRACE AND ITS MEDIATOR
1. The Covenant Of Grace
2. Christ The Mediator Of The Covenant
3. Christ’s Prophetic Office
4. Christ’s Priestly Office
5. Christ’s Kingly Office
6. Christ’s Humiliation In His Incarnation
7. Christ’s Exaltation
8. Christ The Redeemer
5 THE APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION
1. Faith
2. Effectual Calling
3. Justification
4. Adoption
5. Sanctification
6. Assurance
7. Peace
8. Joy
9. Growth In Grace
10. Perseverance
6 DEATH AND THE LAST DAY
1. The Death Of The Righteous
2. A Believer’s Privilege At Death
3. The Resurrection
Author
Little is known about the early life of this Puritan preacher and author, but his writing shows a profound understanding of the English language, and a firm grasp of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Moreover, his knowledge of Scripture is superb, and his sermons demonstrate his comprehension of physics, botany, history, logic, medicine and more. He endured a significant upheaval in 1651, being imprisoned for plotting to restore the monarchy after the execution of Charles I. He was ultimately released, however, and restored to his pastorate. Thomas Watson Puritan books of note include The Godly Man’s Picture (which describes characteristics of someone destined for heaven), The Doctrine of Repentance (a central tenet of Christianity seldom discussed in churches today), The Great Gain of Godliness (his exposition of Malachi 3:16-18), and A Body of Divinity, a bestselling book. These books appeal to people who appreciate Scriptural exposition.
