Quotes from Thomas Watson
These quotes from Thomas Watson, an English Puritan, reflect a deep concern for a robust, biblical understanding of repentance. Though at times Watson’s insistence on repentance may seem nearly legalistic, he does not see repentance as a meritorious grounds for salvation, but instead as a true and necessary expression of that salvation-life that is found in those who are truly converted. Watson’s work is a helpful challenge for us to take repentance seriously, as a necessary corollary to faith in Christ.(1)
“Godly sorrow shows itself to be ingenuous [genuine] because when a Christian knows that he is out of the gun-shot of hell and shall never be damned, yet still he grieves for sinning against that free grace which has pardoned him.” – pg. 19
“It is said that the Virgin Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:33), but we often conceive by the power of Satan. When the heart conceives pride, lust, and malice, it is very often by the power of the devil. May not this make us ashamed to think that many of our sins are committed in copulation with the old serpent?” – pg. 39
“O let us take holy shame to ourselves for sin. Be assured, the more we are ashamed of sin now, the less we shall be ashamed at Christ’s coming.” – pg. 43
“If the sins of the godly be mentioned at the day of judgment, it will not be to shame them, but to magnify the riches of God’s grace in pardoning them.” – pg. 43
“Christ is never loved till sin be loathed. Heaven is never longed for till sin be loathed.” – pg. 43
“A regenerate person abhors sin not only for the curse but for the contagion. He hates this serpent not only for it sting but for its poison. He hates sin not only for hell, but as hell.” – pg. 45
“Loving of sin is worse than committing it. A good man may run into a sinful action unawares, but to love sin is desperate. What is it that makes a swine but loving to tumble in the mire? What is it that makes a devil but loving that which opposes God? To love sin shows that the will is in sin, and the more of the will there is in a sin, the greater the sin.” – pg. 46-47
“The sword of God’s justice lies quiet in the scabbard till sin draws it out.” – pg. 48
“Turning from sin is like pulling the arrow out of the wound; turning to God is like pouring in the balm.” – pg. 54
“When a prisoner has broken prison, and the jailer gets him again, he will lay stronger irons upon him. He who leaves off a course of sinning, as it were, breaks the devil’s prison, but if Satan takes him returning to sin, he will hold him faster and take fuller possession of him than ever. Oh take heed of this!” – pg. 56
“It is not left to our own choice or not we will repent, but it is an indispensable command. God has enacted a law in the High Court of heaven that no sinner shall be saved except the repenting sinner, and he will not break his own law.” – pg 61
“There are two sorts of persons who will find it harder to repent than others: (1) Those who have sat a great while under the ministry of God’s ordinances but grow no better… (2) Those who have sinned frequently against the convictions of the word, the checks of conscience, and the motions of the Spirit.” – pg. 63
“It is one thing to sin for want of light and another thing to sin against light. Here the unpardonable sin takes its rise. Men begin by sinning against the light of conscience, and proceed gradually to despiting the Spirit of grace.” – pg. 64
“There is no rowing to paradise except upon the stream of repenting tears. Repentance is required as a qualification. It is not so much to endear us to Christ, as to endear Christ to us. Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” – pg. 67
“Civility is insufficient for salvation. Though the life may be moralized, the lust may be unmortified. The heart may be full of pride and atheism. Under the fair leaves of a tree there may be a worm. I am not saying repent that you are civil, but [repent] that you are no more than civil… If civility were sufficient to salvation, Christ need not have died.” – pg. 72
“Indeed, if sin does not make a man leave sin, sin will make him leave prayer.” – pg. 73
“Some bless themselves that they have a stock of knowledge, but what is knowledge good for without repentance? It is better to mortify one sin than to understand all mysteries.” – pg. 82
“Christ commands us to forgive our trespassing brother seventy times seven in one day, in case he repents (Matt. 18:22). If the Lord bids us do it, will not he be much more ready to forgive upon our repentance? What is our forgiving mercy to his? This I speak not to encourage any impenitent sinner, but to comfort a despondent sinner that thinks it is in vain for him to repent and that he is excluded from mercy.” – pg. 85
“Ahab sold himself to work wickedness; yet upon his fasting and rending his garments, God said to Elijah, ‘I will not bring the evil in his days’ (1 Kings 21:29). If the rending of the clothes kept off judgment from the nation, what will the rending of the heart do?” – pg. 86
“The Jews said to Pilate, ‘If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend’ (John 19:12). If we let our sins go and do not crucify them, we are not Christ’s friend.” – pg. 87
“It is dangerous to procrastinate repentance because the longer any go on in sin the harder they will find the work of repentance. Delay strengthens sin and hardens the heart and gives the devil fuller possession.” – pg. 96
“The Lord usually punishes neglect of repentance in time of health with hardness of heart in time of sickness.” – pg. 100
“A repenting person fears and sins not. A graceless person sins and fears not.” – pg. 102
“Christ’s blood only can merit pardon. We please God by repentance, but we do not satisfy him by it… Therefore do not idolize repentance. Do not rest upon this, that your heart has been wounded for sin, but rather than your Saviour has been wounded for sin.” – pg. 105
“Delighting in sin hardens the heart. In true repentance there must be a grieving for sin, but how can one grieve for that which he loves? He who delights in sin can hardly pray against it..” – pg. 112
(1) The quotes from Thomas Watson, listed above, are from the 2025 Edition of the Puritan Paperbacks Series printed by Banner of Truth Trust.
Fellowship Reformed Church is a Bible-believing Church in Mt Pleasant, MI.
