A holy antipathy against sin
(Thomas Watson, "Doctrine of Repentance")
There is no better sign of true repentance,
than 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 is 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.
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 mind--
but chiefly in the will:
(Romans 7:15c).
Paul was not free from sin--
yet his will was against it.
3. He who truly hates one sin--
hates all sins. He who hates a serpent--
hates all serpents.
(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.
4. 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.
Those who have no antipathy
against sin, are strangers to true
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!
(Jeremiah 11:15c).
Loving of sin is worse than committing it.
What is it, which makes a swine love
to tumble in the mire? Its love of filth.
O how many there are--
who love the forbidden fruit!
They love their sin--
and hate holiness.
There should be a deadly antipathy
between the heart and sin.
What is there in sin, which may
make a penitent hate it?
Sin is the accursed thing,
the most deformed monster!
Look upon the origin of sin,
from whence it comes. It fetches
its pedigree from Hell:
(1 John 3:8).
Sin is the devil's special work.
How hateful is it to be doing that
which is the special work of the devil--
indeed, that which makes men into devils!
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