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The Lord's Supper
To Thomas Watson, the Lord’s Supper was a visible sermon, a mirror in which to gaze on the sufferings and death of Christ. ‘God, to help our faith, does not only give us an audible Word, but a visible sign.’ But more than this, the Supper was a time in which to partake of the benefits of Christ’s death by faith, to be fed and cherished by the Lord in his own banqueting house, and to obtain a foretaste of the glory which will be fully realized only in heaven. Watson's aim was to stimulate greater love to Christ in His people, and to enhance their appreciation of the Supper as a spiritual feast for all believers. His fine exposition shows the rich provision made in the Supper for all who love the Lord, while it also lays bare the emptiness of all mere sacramentalism.
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1665
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About the author
Thomas Watson
677 books249 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Thomas Watson (c. 1620 - 1686) was an English, non-conformist, Puritan preacher and author. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Not withstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
(Information from wikipedia.org)
Thomas Watson (c. 1620 - 1686) was an English, non-conformist, Puritan preacher and author. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was noted for remarkably intense study. In 1646 he commenced a sixteen year pastorate at St. Stephen's, Walbrook. He showed strong Presbyterian views during the civil war, with, however, an attachment to the king, and in 1651 he was imprisoned briefly with some other ministers for his share in Christopher Love's plot to recall Charles II of England. He was released on 30 June 1652, and was formally reinstated as vicar of St. Stephen's Walbrook. He obtained great fame and popularity as a preacher until the Restoration, when he was ejected for nonconformity. Not withstanding the rigor of the acts against dissenters, Watson continued to exercise his ministry privately as he found opportunity. Upon the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 he obtained a license to preach at the great hall in Crosby House. After preaching there for several years, his health gave way, and he retired to Barnston, Essex, where he died suddenly while praying in secret. He was buried on 28 July 1686.
(Information from wikipedia.org)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 27, 2024
Good. In spots really good. More pastoral than theological.
February 24, 2025
If you are in need of having your heart stirred to love Christ more in His Supper, read this book. And if you don’t think you do, read this book. Lord willing, I will be returning to this treasure again and again.
June 7, 2025
I read this for Communion preparation. It’s a very short book and could easily be read the week leading up to coming to the Lord’s Supper as it has a specific focus on preparation. Very edifying.
December 21, 2020
This is my first book by Thomas Watson and was very beautiful written with not only doctrine, but meditation on the death of Christ. How he was broken and poured out with such depth and I will never come to the Lord's table the same after reading this book. I would highly recommend this book to every believer as a have to read before coming to the Lord's Supper. It will be one I read more then once.
October 17, 2024
“Our weakness should send us to Christ; his blood is mortal to sin, and vital to grace.”
A beautiful Puritan book encouraging meditation on Christ’s sufferings and love through the ordinance of Holy Communion. Watson expounds with passion on the glories and benefits of the sacrament, describing it as a rich feast that increases the faith and transforms the hearts of believers.
A great book for evangelicals who have been brought up viewing the Supper as a mere memorial :)
“Oh, that such a lustre and majesty of holiness may sparkle forth in the lives of communicants that others may say, ‘These have been with Jesus!’, and that their consciences may lie under the power of this conviction, that the sacrament has a confirming and a transforming virtue in it!”
Powerful little book.
A beautiful Puritan book encouraging meditation on Christ’s sufferings and love through the ordinance of Holy Communion. Watson expounds with passion on the glories and benefits of the sacrament, describing it as a rich feast that increases the faith and transforms the hearts of believers.
A great book for evangelicals who have been brought up viewing the Supper as a mere memorial :)
“Oh, that such a lustre and majesty of holiness may sparkle forth in the lives of communicants that others may say, ‘These have been with Jesus!’, and that their consciences may lie under the power of this conviction, that the sacrament has a confirming and a transforming virtue in it!”
Powerful little book.
January 25, 2025
There’s nothing quite like having actual responsibilities to spur on some leisure reading.
At just over 80 pages, this was a delightful and accessible read. Among the Puritans, this work is notably low on dense theology and high on pastoral exhortation, making it easy to engage with.
Watson encourages readers to come to the Lord’s Supper and experience union with the resurrected Christ. He defends the classic Reformed view of real presence while arguing against transubstantiation. What sets this work apart from more theological tomes is Watson’s deep longing for intimacy with Christ and a heartfelt desire to truly know our risen Lord that permeates every page of this text.
I was surprised to see Watson include a quote from Bernard of Clairvaux on the Eucharist in his title page. Even more surprising was how profoundly insightful this contribution from a Roman Catholic scholastic proved to be.
As always, Banner of Truth delivers an easy to read and attractive typeface. While the Puritan Paperbacks series isn’t known for the highest paper quality, you can’t complain when you’re paying less than $7 for a book.
At just over 80 pages, this was a delightful and accessible read. Among the Puritans, this work is notably low on dense theology and high on pastoral exhortation, making it easy to engage with.
Watson encourages readers to come to the Lord’s Supper and experience union with the resurrected Christ. He defends the classic Reformed view of real presence while arguing against transubstantiation. What sets this work apart from more theological tomes is Watson’s deep longing for intimacy with Christ and a heartfelt desire to truly know our risen Lord that permeates every page of this text.
I was surprised to see Watson include a quote from Bernard of Clairvaux on the Eucharist in his title page. Even more surprising was how profoundly insightful this contribution from a Roman Catholic scholastic proved to be.
As always, Banner of Truth delivers an easy to read and attractive typeface. While the Puritan Paperbacks series isn’t known for the highest paper quality, you can’t complain when you’re paying less than $7 for a book.
March 21, 2025
As a friend wrote, this book will “…stir the heart,” and it surely did mine. I appreciated the outline of how to approach the Lord’s supper. We must come with self examining hearts, with serious hearts, with intelligent hearts, with longing hearts, and we must consider the magnificence and royalty of this supper.
Two quotes I appreciated:
“A great faith can bear great delays. Faith knows that the most tedious voyages have the richest returns; and the longer mercy is in expectation, the sweeter it will be in fruition. The more the heart is kept waiting, the more sweetly it rejoices.”
“…when Christ was in the human nature suffering, he was in the divine nature triumphing.”
Would definitely recommend reading this short, powerful sermon.
Two quotes I appreciated:
“A great faith can bear great delays. Faith knows that the most tedious voyages have the richest returns; and the longer mercy is in expectation, the sweeter it will be in fruition. The more the heart is kept waiting, the more sweetly it rejoices.”
“…when Christ was in the human nature suffering, he was in the divine nature triumphing.”
Would definitely recommend reading this short, powerful sermon.
February 7, 2025
Some gold in here. The Puritans always have such a vivid way with language. For example:
“The cross, says St. Augustine, was a pulpit in which Christ preached his love to the world.” – 23.
“The musician first puts his instrument in tune before he plays. The heart must first be prepared, and put in tune, before it goes to meet with God in this solemn ordinance of the sacrament. If we come not worthily, we do not drink, but spill Christ’s blood.” – 39.
“It is hard for a man to look inward, and see the face of his own soul. The eye sees everything but itself.” – 41.
“The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.” – 46.
“Christ gave himself a sin-offering for us, let us give ourselves a thank-offering for him.” – 74.
Well worth the read!
“The cross, says St. Augustine, was a pulpit in which Christ preached his love to the world.” – 23.
“The musician first puts his instrument in tune before he plays. The heart must first be prepared, and put in tune, before it goes to meet with God in this solemn ordinance of the sacrament. If we come not worthily, we do not drink, but spill Christ’s blood.” – 39.
“It is hard for a man to look inward, and see the face of his own soul. The eye sees everything but itself.” – 41.
“The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.” – 46.
“Christ gave himself a sin-offering for us, let us give ourselves a thank-offering for him.” – 74.
Well worth the read!
February 20, 2026
"A sacrament is a visible sermon.
Were we made up all of spirit, there would be no need of bread and wine, but we are compounded creatures. Therefore God, to help our faith, does not only give us an audible Word, but a visible sign.
Things taken in by the eye do work upon us more than things taken in by the ear. So when we see Christ broken in the bread, and as it were crucified before us, this does more affect our hearts than the bare preaching of the cross."
Equal parts deep in Church history and the Bible. Highly theological and deeply devotional. The richness of the Passion of our Lord and His Supper all in less than 90 pages.
Were we made up all of spirit, there would be no need of bread and wine, but we are compounded creatures. Therefore God, to help our faith, does not only give us an audible Word, but a visible sign.
Things taken in by the eye do work upon us more than things taken in by the ear. So when we see Christ broken in the bread, and as it were crucified before us, this does more affect our hearts than the bare preaching of the cross."
Equal parts deep in Church history and the Bible. Highly theological and deeply devotional. The richness of the Passion of our Lord and His Supper all in less than 90 pages.
April 27, 2025
Every Christian should read this book. It has completely changed the way I take communion. I have walked away from this book with both a greater understanding of the Lord’s supper and a greater affection for Christ. What a beautiful gift this sacrament is to believers!
February 10, 2025
3.5
A bit more pastoral, some good encouragements and reminders at times.
A bit more pastoral, some good encouragements and reminders at times.
March 21, 2023
This sacrament is incredibly important in the life of the Church - even today. Thomas Watson explains, in his own image-rich way, what a source of strength it can be to the believer, its Gospel-richness, and the many ways that we are reminded of Jesus through it.
August 25, 2025
An excellent look by Watson on the Lord's Supper. He really gets to the heart of what it is, why we take it, and gives us many ways in which we can prepare ourselves for it. This was a fairly short read and I know I'll be coming back to it.
February 19, 2018
wow. just so good.
January 12, 2026
Some of the most accessible and heart-changing literature to blossom from the Puritans pen. May we never approach the lords supper with a heart of indifference, for our Saviours blood is offered unto thee.
January 2, 2023
This book was recommended to me to help with some questions and confusion I had about the Lord's Supper. It is a very smooth read, that frequently takes a "Q&A" approach to some very important questions surrounding some of the key themes of the book.
Ultimately, Watson strives to help the reader see that the Lord's Supper is a visible "sermon", that is partnered with the preached sermon, and is vital to believers as a means of receiving the grace of God through faith.
The two extremes of transubstantiation and pure symbolism are dealt with early in the book, and the remainder of the book aims to fill the reader up with a deep look at the work of Christ, and our right response to it, all in terms of receiving the sacraments of the bread and wine. How we respond with hearts full of gratitude to the grace and mercy that was poured out for us at the cross, which we are commanded to come to feast as remembrance. And in that feasting, we are prompted to deeply reflect on the broken body of Christ, and the spilled blood of Christ; to examine our own hearts in light of this, to observe if our heart posture is humble or arrogant.
The exhortations and pleadings by Watson for the reader to see Christ's love pouring out are compelling, and call the reader to a deeper desire to humility and to exalt Christ.
I was not expecting to be so richly rewarded with such deep and meditative views of the work of Christ for my salvation, but it has helped me to see the importance of a somber and serious approach to the Lord's Table, combined with great joy and exultation and the cleansing work done on my behalf, that will hold for all eternity.
Do I receive grace from partaking rightly of the Lord's Supper? Indeed! By faith (no matter how small), I believe in Him, I submit myself to Him, I examine my heart as I remember His work, and by grace, I continue to be molded and shaped into His image. I come and bring my life to lay at His feet; He mercifully and gracefully strengthens me in faith.
An eye-opening read that seems foundational in my on-going life journey of preparation for eternity with my King.
Ultimately, Watson strives to help the reader see that the Lord's Supper is a visible "sermon", that is partnered with the preached sermon, and is vital to believers as a means of receiving the grace of God through faith.
The two extremes of transubstantiation and pure symbolism are dealt with early in the book, and the remainder of the book aims to fill the reader up with a deep look at the work of Christ, and our right response to it, all in terms of receiving the sacraments of the bread and wine. How we respond with hearts full of gratitude to the grace and mercy that was poured out for us at the cross, which we are commanded to come to feast as remembrance. And in that feasting, we are prompted to deeply reflect on the broken body of Christ, and the spilled blood of Christ; to examine our own hearts in light of this, to observe if our heart posture is humble or arrogant.
The exhortations and pleadings by Watson for the reader to see Christ's love pouring out are compelling, and call the reader to a deeper desire to humility and to exalt Christ.
I was not expecting to be so richly rewarded with such deep and meditative views of the work of Christ for my salvation, but it has helped me to see the importance of a somber and serious approach to the Lord's Table, combined with great joy and exultation and the cleansing work done on my behalf, that will hold for all eternity.
Do I receive grace from partaking rightly of the Lord's Supper? Indeed! By faith (no matter how small), I believe in Him, I submit myself to Him, I examine my heart as I remember His work, and by grace, I continue to be molded and shaped into His image. I come and bring my life to lay at His feet; He mercifully and gracefully strengthens me in faith.
An eye-opening read that seems foundational in my on-going life journey of preparation for eternity with my King.
February 4, 2020
I rarely give books 5 stars, but this one earned every one of them. This was also the first book of Thomas Watson (an English Puritan) that I've read. Thoroughly enjoyable. Watson has a wonderful way with words. He's a skilled writer, and has keen spiritual insight.
"In the sacrament, Christ bestows all good things. He both imputes his righteousness, and imparts his loving-kindness. He gives a foretaste of that supper which shall be celebrated in the Paradise of God. To sum it all up, in the blessed Supper, Christ gives himself to believers; and what more can he give?" (26).
"Let us pray, that as Christ was 'cruci-fixus', so he may be 'cordi-fixus'--as he was fastened to the cross, so may he be fastened to our hearts" (31).
"In the sacrament, Christ bestows all good things. He both imputes his righteousness, and imparts his loving-kindness. He gives a foretaste of that supper which shall be celebrated in the Paradise of God. To sum it all up, in the blessed Supper, Christ gives himself to believers; and what more can he give?" (26).
"Let us pray, that as Christ was 'cruci-fixus', so he may be 'cordi-fixus'--as he was fastened to the cross, so may he be fastened to our hearts" (31).
August 13, 2024
‘The Word brings us to Christ, the sacrament builds us up in him.’
‘Let us weep for those sins which shed his blood, yet rejoice in that blood which washes away our sins.’
A real joy and delight to meditate up this work. I feel a deep sense of encouragement. Watson so masterfully expounds the richness of Christ’s love. He calls for careful and diligent examination and preparation, and in such a way that you feel drawn to it. In chapter 9, he beautifully and tenderly deals with worries and concerns that may be had in regards to ones being fitted for the sacrament. A real spiritually uplifting book.
‘Let us weep for those sins which shed his blood, yet rejoice in that blood which washes away our sins.’
A real joy and delight to meditate up this work. I feel a deep sense of encouragement. Watson so masterfully expounds the richness of Christ’s love. He calls for careful and diligent examination and preparation, and in such a way that you feel drawn to it. In chapter 9, he beautifully and tenderly deals with worries and concerns that may be had in regards to ones being fitted for the sacrament. A real spiritually uplifting book.
February 28, 2026
Watson is a helpful instrument in expositing the Scriptural view of the Lord's Supper: Christ's spiritual presence. He points out and avoids the idolatry of Catholicism and also the empty memorialism of many non-denom and Baptist churches.
Surprised that Watson considered the Eucharist more important than the Word preached. Even though I'd say that's a false dilemma.
All in all, a beautiful, simple (not simplistic), biblical exposition of how "Christ leads us to the Mount of Transfiguration" that is His Supper for all believers. To taste of His manna that strengthens us and drink of His blood that replenishes us.
Surprised that Watson considered the Eucharist more important than the Word preached. Even though I'd say that's a false dilemma.
All in all, a beautiful, simple (not simplistic), biblical exposition of how "Christ leads us to the Mount of Transfiguration" that is His Supper for all believers. To taste of His manna that strengthens us and drink of His blood that replenishes us.
August 31, 2023
Baller. Awesome meditation on the sacrament, breaking down Matt. 26:26-28 at first but then just meditating on Christ’s death and resurrection. He offers his thoughts on believers coming to the table despite living in sin. Definitely some good sections that have affected how I approach communion.
Pretty easy read for a Puritan too.
Pretty easy read for a Puritan too.
March 4, 2026
A fantastic and deeply nourishing exposition on the Lord’s Supper. What a privilege it is to feast on the body and blood of our Lord with the saints in this glorious meal. Anyone who regularly presides at the Eucharist should read this book.
May 28, 2019
Fantastic book.
Watson’s work is deep, pastoral, and full of Christ. He’s easily one of the better Puritan writers. I found myself highlighting almost the entire book.
Watson’s work is deep, pastoral, and full of Christ. He’s easily one of the better Puritan writers. I found myself highlighting almost the entire book.
February 5, 2021
Excellent devotional work on the Lord’s Supper!
October 20, 2024
Ambrose, Augustine, Calvin, Grudem etc can hold that. Watson has by far the best Eucharistic theology I’ve ever read.
September 16, 2025
"The more bitterness we taste in sin, the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ.”
September 30, 2022
Concise presentation of Reformed Eucharistic spirituality
If you've ever delighted in that pithy Flannery O'Connor quote re: the Eucharist, "If it's just a symbol, to hell with it," perhaps like me you've also assumed that only Roman Catholics (and Orthodox) affirm the doctrine of the Real Presence. And if, like me, you were raised a Catholic and equate "Real Presence" with transubstantiation, you may be particularly prone to this assumption.
If you're a Lutheran, or at least familiar with the Lutheran understanding of Real Presence (Christ's body and blood are "with and under" the bread and wine, though the elements remain) along with the dispute between Luther and Huldrych Zwingli on this topic, you might assume that those in the Reformed tradition must hold to a strictly memorialist ("just a symbol") view of the Lord's Supper. (In which case, if you've read Marilynne Robinson's novel Gilead, you might wonder how it is that the narrator, a Calvin-quoting Congregationalist minister, can display such profound, even mystical, reverence for the Eucharistic elements.)
Even if you're broadly Reformed, you may assume that your own tradition subscribes to a kind of Zwinglian memorialism. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't; it seems there's a range of opinion here, and in any case, on the subject of the Lord's Supper there may be nearly as much confusion among lay Protestants as among Catholics. Be that as it may, it is indisputable that Calvin himself, along with theological descendants of his like Thomas Watson (not to mention Thomas Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer), held to a high view of the sacraments, rejecting bare memorialism in favor of Real Presence – just not the Real Presence of either Luther or Rome.
As it turns out, the way Rome defines "Real Presence," like the way it uses "Catholic," is not the only option on offer. Just as Reformers like Luther and Calvin, and Puritans like Watson, identified as catholic but not Roman (or orthodox but not Orthodox), so too did they take a high view of the Lord's Supper, affirming the Real Presence (and all that this entails for our spiritual lives and our approach to the Sacrament) while rejecting Roman transubstantiation. And so, as this book so ably and succinctly demonstrates, a devoutly orthodox, catholic "mere" Christian need not, like O'Connor, submit to Rome's many distinctive doctrines (e.g., the Treasury of Merit, indulgences, the Marian dogmas, etc.) in order to say with her, "If it's just a symbol, to hell with it."
Many thanks to Dr. Gavin Ortlund and his Truth Unites podcast for putting this excellent little book on my radar.
If you've ever delighted in that pithy Flannery O'Connor quote re: the Eucharist, "If it's just a symbol, to hell with it," perhaps like me you've also assumed that only Roman Catholics (and Orthodox) affirm the doctrine of the Real Presence. And if, like me, you were raised a Catholic and equate "Real Presence" with transubstantiation, you may be particularly prone to this assumption.
If you're a Lutheran, or at least familiar with the Lutheran understanding of Real Presence (Christ's body and blood are "with and under" the bread and wine, though the elements remain) along with the dispute between Luther and Huldrych Zwingli on this topic, you might assume that those in the Reformed tradition must hold to a strictly memorialist ("just a symbol") view of the Lord's Supper. (In which case, if you've read Marilynne Robinson's novel Gilead, you might wonder how it is that the narrator, a Calvin-quoting Congregationalist minister, can display such profound, even mystical, reverence for the Eucharistic elements.)
Even if you're broadly Reformed, you may assume that your own tradition subscribes to a kind of Zwinglian memorialism. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't; it seems there's a range of opinion here, and in any case, on the subject of the Lord's Supper there may be nearly as much confusion among lay Protestants as among Catholics. Be that as it may, it is indisputable that Calvin himself, along with theological descendants of his like Thomas Watson (not to mention Thomas Cranmer's Book of Common Prayer), held to a high view of the sacraments, rejecting bare memorialism in favor of Real Presence – just not the Real Presence of either Luther or Rome.
As it turns out, the way Rome defines "Real Presence," like the way it uses "Catholic," is not the only option on offer. Just as Reformers like Luther and Calvin, and Puritans like Watson, identified as catholic but not Roman (or orthodox but not Orthodox), so too did they take a high view of the Lord's Supper, affirming the Real Presence (and all that this entails for our spiritual lives and our approach to the Sacrament) while rejecting Roman transubstantiation. And so, as this book so ably and succinctly demonstrates, a devoutly orthodox, catholic "mere" Christian need not, like O'Connor, submit to Rome's many distinctive doctrines (e.g., the Treasury of Merit, indulgences, the Marian dogmas, etc.) in order to say with her, "If it's just a symbol, to hell with it."
Many thanks to Dr. Gavin Ortlund and his Truth Unites podcast for putting this excellent little book on my radar.
March 5, 2021
A great little book on the Lord’s Supper from a Reformed perspective. It’s full of good teaching on the sacrament, while being simple and clear. It is also written in a very pithy and devotional style (which is normal for the author, Thomas Watson), and is plenteous in application. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
January 23, 2019
One of the finest works on the Lord's Supper. Watson beautifully argues for the Reformed view, commonly known as the Spiritual Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which teaches that the Lord's Supper is a means of grace by which, Christ nourishes and strengthens the spiritual life of believers when they partake and receive Him by faith. The Puritans at their best here.
March 13, 2010
Although a very short work, the content is rich in wisdom and grace in relation to the seriousness of having a scriptural view of the Lords Supper. I would highly recommend this book to other Christians.
March 19, 2015
Pequeno clássico, recheado de frases lapidares que resumem de maneira maravilhosa a confortante doutrina da Ceia do Senhor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews