To the Reader

These Catechetical Lectures of the late Reverend Mister Thomas Watson, all, but one written with his own hand, I have read over, together with some sermons annexed to them; and since my testimony is desired concerning them, I do hereby declare, that (though I will not undertake to justify every expression or sentence in them, or in any human writing, yet) I find them in the main agreeable to the Doctrinal Articles of the Church of England, and to the Westminster Assembly's Confession of Faith and Catechisms: And I believe, that through the blessing of God, they may be profitable to the edification of all that read them with an honest desire to know and do the will of God: for certainly there are many excellent things in them, which if they meet with a well-disposed serious mind, are very apt to have a good effect upon it; and if it prove otherwise with any that happen to read this book, it will be their own fault, more than the books. Most writers have different styles, and it is well known that Mister Watson had one peculiar to himself, which yet has found good acceptance with, and has been useful to serious people; and I hope this (by reason of the great variety of excellent matter) may be more generally useful than any other thing that ever he wrote. I little doubt but every sober Christian will be of this mind after he has read his lectures on God's Attributes, the Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, etc. I sincerely profess, I have no other end in giving this testimony of this book, but thereby to serve the common good of Christ's Church, and not the private interest of any person or party in the world: if my conscience did not bear me witness that this book may be useful to that excellent end, no man should ever have prevailed with me thus to prefix my testimony and name to it. Moreover, I do not doubt, but every intelligent and candid reader will consider that this is a posthumous work, and on that account will make some allowance for any small fault that may be in it, as also for the errors of the press. That it may answer the main end for which it was first written by the Author (whom I always took to be a grave, serious, modest, good man); and for which (I hope) it is now published, to wit, the edification of the Church of Christ in faith, holiness, and comfort, is the hearty desire of one of the meanest servants of our most blessed Lord Jesus,

William Lorimer.