The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson; published by Banner of Truth; available from John Ritchie Ltd; 252 pages; price £5.75.
Thomas Watson’s The Godly Man’s Picture was first published in 1666 and re-issued by The Banner of Truth Trust in 1992, 2003 and 2007 as a 252-page paperback in their Puritan Paperbacks series. The work’s full title is The Godly Man’s Picture drawn by a Scripture Pencil; it is further subtitled Some Characteristic Marks of a Man who is Going to Heaven. Immediately the reader is confronted with the author’s ambition to demand that the reader makes his "calling and election sure".
The second and third chapters of The Godly Man’s Picture expound the nature of godliness, which is defined to be "an exact harmony between holy principles and practices". It also reproves those who are mere pretenders to godliness. Indeed the contrasts between reality and unreality are evident throughout the book. Assurance of the soul’s security is there for those who are genuine believers, warnings for those who are not. Sternly, the accusing finger is pointed at the Church of Rome wearing the white linen of "innocence", while the Spirit of God "paints her out in scarlet". After dealing with godliness, Watson sets out 24 characteristics of the godly man. Among them we find faith, zeal, prayer, and humility being an instrument that might lead others to be godly.
There are some idiosyncrasies in the author’s interpretation of Scripture. To him the "one pearl of great price" is Christ (Mt 13.46). He describes the Lord Jesus as "a pearl that God wears in His bosom"; "a pearl that enriches the soul", "a pearl that enlightens heaven". He interprets as the power to resist temptation the power the disciples were to receive "after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1.8). Some of his infelicities jar with the reader. Speaking of union with Christ, he writes: "Christ marries thousands. It is holy and chaste polygamy".
Few would doubt Thomas Watson’s love for Christ and his desires after godliness. The passing of the centuries has not rendered his exhortations redundant. However, the structure of the book and its demands upon the reader’s knowledge of Scripture may deter many readers.
TW
