Thomas Watson on Repentance

Powerful, Biblical, and soul-piercing in three brief parts.

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This is Watson's outline for his treatise on repentance:

COUNTERFEIT REPENTANCE

1. The first deceit of repentance is legal terror
2. Another deceit about repentance is resolution against sin
3. The third deceit about repentance is the leaving of many sinful ways

THE NATURE OF TRUE REPENTANCE

I shall next 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:

1. Sight of sin
2. Sorrow for sin
3. Confession of sin
4. Shame for sin
5. Hatred for sin
6. Turning from sin

If any one is left out it loses its virtue.

(HT: Clyde Cranford - End Notes)