By Thomas Watson, 1668
The Nature of true repentance
Ingredient 5. HATRED of Sin
The fifth ingredient in repentance
is hatred of sin. The Schoolmen distinguished a two-fold hatred: hatred of
abominations, and hatred of enmity.
Firstly, there is a hatred or
loathing of ABOMINATIONS: "Then you will remember your evil ways and
wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable
practices!" (Ezek. 36:31). A true penitent is a sin-loather. If a man
loathes that which makes his stomach sick, much more will he loathe
that which makes his soul sick! It is greater to loathe sin—than
to leave it. One may leave sin for fear, as in a storm the jewels are
cast overboard—but the nauseating and loathing of sin argues a detestation of
it. Christ is never loved—until sin is loathed. Heaven is never longed
for—until sin is loathed. When the soul sees its filthiness, he cries out,
"Lord, when shall I be freed from this body of death!
When shall I put off
these filthy garments of sin—and be arrayed in the robe of Your perfect
righteousness! Let all my self-love be turned into self-loathing!" (Zech.
3:4-5). We are never more precious in God's eyes—than when we are lepers in our
own eyes!
Secondly, there is a hatred of
ENMITY. There is no better way to discover life—than by motion. The eye
moves, the pulse beats. So to discover repentance there is no better sign than
by a holy antipathy against sin. Sound repentance begins in love to
God—and ends in the hatred of sin. How may true hatred of sin be
known?
1. When a man's HEART is set
against sin.
Not only does the tongue protest
against sin—but the heart abhors it. However lovely sin is painted—we
find it odious—just as we abhor the picture of one whom we mortally hate, even
though it may be well drawn. Suppose a dish be finely cooked and the sauce
good—yet if a man has an antipathy against the meat—he will not eat it. So let
the devil cook and dress sin with pleasure and profit—yet a true penitent has a
secret abhorrence of it, is disgusted by it, and will not meddle with it.
2. True hatred of sin is UNIVERSAL.
True hatred of sin is universal in
two ways: in respect of the faculties, and of the object.
(1) Hatred is universal in respect
of the faculties. That is, there is a dislike of sin not only in the judgment—but
in the will and affections. Many a one is convinced that sin is a
vile thing, and in his judgment has an aversion to it—yet he tastes sweetness
in it—and has a secret delight in it. Here is a disliking of sin in the
judgment and an embracing of it in the affections! Whereas in true repentance,
the hatred of sin is in all the faculties, not only in the intellectual
part—but chiefly in the will: "I do the very thing I hate!" (Romans
7:15). Paul was not free from sin—yet his will was against it.
(2) Hatred is universal in respect
of the object. He who truly hates one sin—hates all sins. He who hates a
serpent—hates all serpents. "I hate every false way!" (Psalm
119:104). Hypocrites will hate some sins which mar their credit. But a true
convert hates all sins—gainful sins, complexion sins, the very stirrings of
corruption. Paul hated the motions of sin within him (Romans 7:23 ).
3. True hatred against sin is
against sin in all forms.
A holy heart detests sin for its
intrinsic pollution. Sin leaves a stain upon the soul. A regenerate person
abhors sin not only for the curse—but for the contagion. He hates
this serpent not only for its sting but for its poison. He hates sin not only
for hell—but as hell.
4. True hatred is IMPLACABLE.
It will never be reconciled to sin
any more. Anger may be reconciled—but hatred cannot. Sin is that Amalek which
is never to be taken into favor again. The war between a child of God and sin
is like the war between those two princes: "there was war between Rehoboam
and Jeroboam all their days" (1 Kings 14:30 ).
5. Where there is a real hatred, we
not only oppose sin in ourselves but in OTHERS too. The church at Ephesus 2:15 ). He would not allow the temple to be made an exchange. Nehemiah rebuked
the nobles for their usury (Neh. 5:7) and their Sabbath profanation (Neb. 13:17 ).
A sin-hater will not endure
wickedness in his family: "He who works deceit shall not dwell within my
house" (Psalm 101:7). What a shame it is when magistrates can show height
of spirit in their passions—but no heroic spirit in suppressing vice.
Those who have no antipathy against
sin, are strangers to repentance. Sin is in them—as poison in a serpent,
which, being natural to it, affords delight. How far are they from repentance
who, instead of hating sin, love sin! To the godly—sin is as a thorn in the
eye; to the wicked sin is as a crown on the head! "They actually rejoice
in doing evil!" (Jer. 11:15).
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, which makes a swine love to tumble in the mire? Its love of filth.
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. Wilfulness makes it a sin not to be purged by
sacrifice (Heb. 10:26 ).
O how many there are—who love the forbidden fruit! They love their oaths and
adulteries; they love the sin and hate the reproof. Solomon speaks of a
generation of men: "madness is in their heart while they live"
(Eccles. 9:3). So for men to love sin, to hug that which will be their death,
to sport with damnation, "madness is in their heart". It persuades us
to show our repentance, by a bitter hatred of sin. There is a deadly antipathy
between the scorpion and the crocodile; such should there be between the heart
and sin.
