First published in 1663 by the title A Divine Cordial, Watson simply but profoundly explains how God does in fact make all things – good and bad things – work together for the good of His people. By far the most useful explanation of Romans 8:28 ever written.

Watson said that two of the greatest obstacles he faced as a pastor were:
1) To make unbelievers sad, so they recognize their need of God’s grace, and:
2) To make believers joyful, in their experience of God’s grace!

He wrote this book to make an effort to undo the second difficulty: by explaining Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:28. As for his own experience, Watson wrote this the year after he and 2,000 other ministers were expelled from the Church of England, and thus exposed to much hardship and suffering. This is the rich exposition of a faithful man who lived in circumstances when only faith in the Word of God could bring him such a confidence.