Doctrine of repentance - Watson - I - Preface, Chapters 1 and 2

Required reading

Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read 'The epistle to the reader', Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. 

My summary
As we begin a new book today we read three short sections of it.

In the 'Epistle to the Reader' Watson tells us how important it is to understand repentance.

In Chapter 1 Watson looks at Paul's speech to Festus and Agrippa (Acts 24) and demonstrates that 'repentance is of such importance that there is no being saved without it.'  He also shows that repentance is wrought (i) partly by word and (ii) by the spirit.

In Chapter 2 Watson begins defining repentance by looking at counterfeit repentance.  False repentance may exhibit:
(i) legal terror;
(ii) resolution against sin;
(iii) leaving of sinful ways.

What grabbed me
Great quote in the 'Epistle to the Reader': 'Things that are excellent deserve labour.  Will not a man dig for gold in the ore thought it makes him sweat?  It is better to go with difficulty to heaven than with ease to hell...Tomorrow may be our dying day; let this be our repenting day.'  Repentance hurts but it is the way to heaven so let us value it, not despise it.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.