Below is my review of “The Doctrine of Repentance” written by Thomas Watson. I highly recommend reading this book, especially for anyone struggling to grasp the concept of repentance or anyone who is weary of injustice. This was a much needed wake up call both to humility and to be encouraged.
Thomas Watson was a puritan preacher and author who lived during the 1600’s. According to Charles Spurgeon, there is little known of him, but “his writings are his best memorial.” During his life he experienced an imprisonment for being a part of a plot to recall King Charles II of England, as well as being ejected from the pastorate due to nonconformity. He continued to minister privately until his death, which reportedly came during a time of prayer.[1]
The Doctrine of Repentance [2] powerfully reads as a handbook for all things repentance, which Watson defines as “a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed,”[3]and he spends the entirety of his book supporting this definition. The first few chapters are focused on what the nature of repentance actually is. To illustrate this Watson introduces a list of “ingredients” that he claims are what make up repentance. Without these ingredients repentance cannot be complete or genuine. The ingredients include the sight, sorrow, confession, shame, and hatred for sin as well as the turning from sin.[4]
Watson begins by making clear statements on what repentance is not, lest his reader think repentance is evidenced by feeling guilt, resolution against sin, or simply leaving certain sins.[5]
“True leaving of sin is when the acts of sin cease because of the infusion of a principle of grace, just as it ceases to be dark when there is an infusion of light.”[6] He demonstrates that if being troubled in mind was enough for repentance, then those in hell would be the most penitent due to their torment.[7] Instead, repentance is not only a terror of sin, but a change of heart.[8] Specifically, a change of heart from sin and to God.
For many ingredients to repentance, such as a true “hatred” of sin, he also counters with what a counterfeit repentance would look like. In the case of true repentance being evidenced by a sorrow of sin, a false repentance would be embodied by not a sorrow for sin itself, but rather a sorrow for the punishment of an offense.[9] Here Watson used the example of Pharaoh, who was “more troubled for the frogs and river of blood than for his sin.”[10] As opposed to David who proclaimed in Psalm 52 that his sin was before him, and was grieved that he had offended his God and Comforter.[11]
He also addresses individuals who would find it harder to repent than others, such as those who have sat under God’s ordinances but have not grown better[12] and “those who have sinned frequently against the convictions of the Word, checks of conscience, and motions of the Spirit.”[13] His writing is clear, convicting, and oftentimes poetic such as when he speaks of the one who resists repentance when he says that “it’s not falling into water that drowns, but lying in it. It’s not falling into sin that damns, but lying in it without repentance.”[14]
He introduces a list of people who are in need of repentance. When addressing hypocrites, who he believes will find it most difficult to repent, he writes that “if prayer does not make a man leave sin, sin will make him leave prayer.”[15] He claims that hypocrisy is harder to cure than frenzy. “The hypocrite’s imposthume in his heart seldom breaks. If it be not too late, seek yet to God for mercy.”[16] On the other side, repentance is also necessary for well-behaved people, who Watson claims are often in the worst condition.[17] Their outward deeds may be civil, but they can make a Christ of them and “morality shoots short of Heaven.”[18] He draws attention to Luke 11, where Jesus’ parable demonstrates that Satan entered into the house that had just been swept clean.[19]
Some of his teachings highlight the ways that Christian focuses have shifted since his time of writing. God’s people are on the list of those who need repentance followed by another list of specific sins common to true believers. Among sins plaguing believers is “vain fashion.”[20] He references Paul’s writing in 1 Timothy to show that Christians are to be dressed in “modest apparel” and to inwardly be “clothed with humility” according to 1 Peter 5:5.[21]
The middle section of the book is dedicated to reasons for repentance, exhortations to, not only repentance, but a speedy repentance, and motives to repent. In addition, he also dedicates a chapter to the trials of and comforts for a penitent person. He prescribes a list of seven effects of repentance that he draws from 2 Corinthians 7:11.[22] One of the seven effects is that the one who is repentant will seek revenge for their sins that have mostly dishonored God.[23] As he puts it “a true penitent pursues his sins with a holy malice. He seeks the death of them.”[24] There are numerous examples in Scripture that Watson uses to make this point, most elaborate being the example of Mary Magdalene, who “sinned in her eye by adulterous glances, and now she will be revenged on her eyes. She washes Christ’s feet with her tears. She had sinned in her hair. It had entangled her lovers. Now she will be revenged on her hair; she wipes the Lord’s feet with it.”[25][
The tenth chapter is dedicated to the existing impediments to repentance. For those who may think that repentance will take their joy, he affirms that “repentance does not take away a Christian’s music, but raises it a note higher and makes it sweeter.”[26]
Another dangerous obstacle to repentance is a despondent mind that believes one’s sins are too grave to be forgiven.[27] Watson takes time to emphasize the depth of God’s mercy; “no sooner do we mourn than God’s heart melts. No sooner do our tears fall than God’s repentings kindle (Hos. 11.8). Do not say then that there is no hope…Remember, great sins have been swallowed up in the sea of God’s infinite compassions.”[28] For those who would presume upon God’s patience and carry on having not faced wrath thus far, Watson warns, “The longer God’s arrow is drawing, the deeper it will wound. Sins against patience will make a man’s hell so much the hotter.”[29]
He encouragers those who fear the reproach of men to bind reproaches “as a crown on your head” because it is better to be reproached by man for repenting, than to be damned for not repenting, while asking; “Who minds a madman laughing at him?”[30]
To close his book, he thoughtfully writes two chapters on detailing what repentance should entail and how to go about repenting. We will need to seriously ponder what sin is and the twenty evils that are present in sin, consider the mercies of God, consider His providence, and consider the wrath that will be faced in unrepentance.[31] In regard to considering how we will have to answer to God if we do not repent, Watson charges that every sermon that has been heard will come in as an indictment.[32] “As for such as have truly repented, Christ will answer for them. His blood will wash away their sins.”[33] He warns: “Those who have judged themselves in the lower court of conscience shall be acquitted in the High Court of heaven. But if we repent not, our sins must be all accounted for at the last day, and we must answer for them in our own persons, with no counsel allowed to plead for us.”[34]
Watson frequently cites Scripture to support his claims and he often references history, mythology, and uses his own analogies. He uses quotes from the early church to support his teachings regarding true repentance as an effective way to hone in on each lesson. Their words are memorable and easy to digest, such as a quote used from Origin [JBT12] when he said, “What king will pardon that man who, after he has confessed his treason, practices new treason?”[35]
He makes statements that are at first striking due to their infrequent teaching but upon further detail and looking to Scripture he leaves no choice but to embrace them. He explains that sin is worse than Hell. “Hell is of God’s making, but sin is none of His making. Sin is the devil’s creature.”[36] Hell burdens sinners, but sin burdens God. He teaches that a return to sin once left charges God of some evil in the way that “If a man puts away his wife, it implies he knows some fault by her.”[37] He later tells a story of three men who separate from sin, each with their own reason. One for an expectation of Heaven, the next for a fear of Hell, and the third man out of love for God. Here Watson claims that only a true penitent turns from sin out of love to God.[38]
Watson’s use of lists is helpful in reinforcing his teachings as well as organizing Scriptural teachings. He almost always follows his claims with practical examples. Watson writes as to not leave any stones unturned , for example, his thoughts on sickbed repentance go beyond the questions of sincerity. He also speaks on the practical concerns against deathbed repentance. For example, how can one be sure their death will not come unannounced, many on their death bed do not have use of their senses. For those who do have their senses, sickness oftentimes leaves one in an unfit state of mind. He points to Revelation to illustrate that when the body is under fever, we are more fit to blaspheme than to repent.[39]
He asks; “How do you, who put off everything until a sickbed, know that God will give you in that very juncture of time, the grace you need to repent? .. You have in your lifetime repulsed the Spirit of God, and are you sure he will come at your call?”[40]
Watson doesn’t overemphasize personal responsibility over the necessity of God needing to do work in our hearts, but he directs his readers to pray and plead with God to do the necessary works in softening our hearts that repentance requires. The Doctrine of Repentance functions as twelve chapters of clear and passionate exhortation to crucify the flesh and seek God in His love and mercy while He can be found.
“Therefore, beg of God a repentant spirit. He can make the stony heart bleed. His is a word of creative power.”[41]
