Doctrine of repentance - Watson -VII - Chapter 7

Required reading

Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 7, 'Powerful motives to repentance'.

My summary
Today Watson outlines sixteen powerful motives to repentance:
(i) Sorrow and melting of heart fits us for every holy duty;
(ii) Repentance is highly acceptable;
(iii) Repentance commends all our services to God;
(iv) Without repentance nothing will avail us;
(v) Repenting tears are delicious;
(vi) Great sins repented of shall find mercy;
(vii) Repentance is the inlet to spiritual blessings;
(viii) Repentance ushers in temporal blessings;
(ix) Repentance staves off judgments from a land;
(x) Repentance makes joy in heaven;
(xi) Consider how dear our sins cost Christ;
(xii) This is the end of all afflictions which God sends;
(xiii) The days of our mourning will soon be ended;
(xiv) The happy and glorious reward that follows upon repentance;
(xv) Consider the evil of impenitence;
(xvi) The day of judgment is coming. 

What grabbed me
I particularly enjoyed number thirteen and fourteen showing the heavenly motivations for repentance: 'You will exchange your sackcloth for white robes.  Instead of sighs you will have triumphs, instead of groans, anthems, instead of the water of tears, the water of life....God will lead his penitents from the house of mourning to the banqueting house.  There will be no sight there but of glory, no noise but of music, no sickness unless of love.  There shall be holiness unspotted and joy unspeakable.  Then the saints shall forget their solitary hours and be sweetly solacing themselves in God and bathing in the rivers of divine pleasure...O blessed repentance, that has such a light side with the dark, and has so much sugar at the bottom of the bitter cup.'  How could you not repent when there is such great reward for those who do!

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