Thomas Watson

Knowledge Without Repentance – Thomas Watson

 

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.

– Thomas Watson –

Great Faith is Like an Anchor – Thomas Watson

A great faith is like the anchor or cable of a ship that holds it steady in the midst of storms. A Christian who is steeled with this heroic faith is settled in the mysteries of religion. The Spirit of God has so firmly printed heavenly truths upon his heart that you may we well remove the sun out of the firmament as remove him from those holy principles he has absorbed. Behold here, a pillar in the temple of God (Rev. 3:12).

– Thomas Watson –
from The Lords Supper, 70

Godly Men Do Not Indulge in Sin – Thomas Watson

A godly man does not indulge sin. Though sin is in him, he is troubled at it and would gladly get rid of it. There is as much difference between sin in the wicked and sin in the godly—as between poison being in a serpent and poison being in a man. Poison in a serpent is in its natural place and is delightful—but poison in a man’s body is harmful and he uses antidotes to expel it. So sin in a wicked man is delightful, being in its natural place—but sin in a child of God is burdensome and he uses all means to expel it.

– Thomas Watson –
from The Godly Man’s Picture, 1666

Thomas Watson on Confession

Confession must be voluntary. It must come as water out of a spring, freely. … true confession drops from the lips as myrrh from the tree or honey from the comb, freely. “I have sinned against heaven, and before thee” (Luke 15:18): the prodigal charged himself with sin before his father changed him with it.

– Thomas Watson –