The Nature of True Repentance

This excerpt below is from Paul Washer’s Heart Cry publication January – February 1998 Volume 3, Page 8 with lots of thanks to Manuela for forwarding the periodical to me. Who was Thomas Watson?

Thomas Watson (c. 1620 – 1686) was an English, Nonconformist, Puritan preacher and author. Watson’s depth of doctrine, clarity of expression, warmth of spirituality, love of application, and gift of illustration enhanced his reputation as a preacher and writer. His books are still widely read today.You can read more about Watson and also browse through a list of his books which are still available (published) today, here at Monergism- http://www.monergism.com. Their short biography is excerpted from Dr. Joel Beeke and Randall J. Pederson’s book  Meet the Puritans which is also available at monergism.com.

The Nature of True Repentance by Thomas Watson.

Edited and Abridged by Randy Lowe

I shall show what gospel repentance is. Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed. For a further amplification, know that repentance is a spiritual medicine made up of six special ingredients. If any one is left out it loses its virtue.

Ingredient 1: Recognition of Sin

The first part of Christ’s healing work is to apply eyesalve. It is the great thing noted in the prodigal’s repentance: “he came to himself” (Luke 15:17). He saw himself a sinner and nothing but a sinner. Before a man can come to Christ he must first come to himself. He must first recognize and consider what his sin is, and know the plague of his heart before he can be duly humbled for it. The first thing God made was light. The first thing God gives the sinner is illumination. The eye is made both for seeing and weeping. Sin must be seen before it can be wept for. Hence I infer that where there is no sight of sin, there can be no repentance. Many who can spy faults in others see none in themselves. They say that they have good hearts. Is it not strange that two should live together, yet not know each other? Such is the case of a sinner. His body and soul live together, yet he is unacquainted with himself. He knows not his own heart. Under a veil, a deformed face is hid. Persons are veiled over with ignorance and selflove; therefore they see not what deformed souls they have.

Ingredient 2: Sorrow for Sin

Ambrose calls sorrow the embittering of the soul. The Hebrew word “to be sorrowful” signifies “to have the soul, as it were, crucified”. This must be in true repentance: “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn” (Zech. 12:10), as if they did feel the nails of the cross sticking in their own sides. A woman may as well expect to have a child without pain as one can have repentance without sorrow. He that can believe without doubting, should be suspicious of his faith; and he that can repent without sorrowing, should be suspicious of his repentance. True sorrow for sin is not superficial: it is a holy agony. It is called in Scripture a breaking of the heart (Psalm 51:17); and a rending of the heart (Joel 2:13).

Ingredient 3: Confession of Sin

Sorrow is such a vehement pas- sion that it will have vent. It vents itself at the eyes by weeping and at the tongue by confession: “The children of Israel stood and confessed their sins (Neh. 9:2). “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence” (Hosea 5:15).

Confession is selfaccusing: “Lo, I have sinned” (2 Sam. 24:17). This is not common among men. Men never want to accuse themselves, but when we come before God, we must accuse ourselves. In fact, the humble sinner does more than accuse himself; he sits in judgment and passes sentence upon himself. He con fesses that he has deserved to be bound over to the wrath of God.

Ingredient 4: Shame for Sin

The fourth ingredient in repen tance is shame: “that they may be ashamed of their iniquities” (Ezek. 43:10). Blushing is the color of virtue. When the heart has been made black with sin, grace makes the face red with blushing: “I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face” (Ezra 9:6). The repenting prodigal was so ashamed of his excess that he thought himself not worthy to be called a son any more (Luke 15:21). Repentance caused a holy bashfulness.

Ingredient 5: Hatred of Sin

The fifth ingredient in repentance is hatred of sin. There is a hatred or loathing of abominations: “Ye shall loathe yourselves for your iniquities” (Ezek. 36:31). A true penitent is a sinloather. If a man loathes that which makes his stomach sick, much more will he loathe that which makes his conscience sick. It is more to loathe sin than to leave it. One may leave sin for fear, but the nauseating and loathing of sin is a detestation of it. Christ is never loved till sin is loathed. Heaven is never longed for till sin is loathed. Sound repentance begins in the love of God and ends in the hatred of sin.

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