It may be that we are sinful; but God did not love us for our goodness, neither will He cast us off for our wickedness. Yet this is no encouragement to licentiousness, for God knows how to put us to anguishes and straits and crosses, and yet to reserve everlasting life for us.
– John Cotton –
1585 – 1652 AD
Sin – Temptation
Departure of Heart from Him – Andrew Fuller
All backsliding from God originates in a departure of heart from him: herein consists the essence and the evil of it. “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know, therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken THE LORD THY GOD, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord of hosts” (Jeremiah 2:19).
– Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) –
from The Backslider: His Nature, Symptoms, and Recovery
A Generation of Zombies – AW Tozer
Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of things have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies.
– AW Tozer –
Do You Blush? – William Secker
Many blush to confess their faults, who never blush to commit them.
– William Secker –
The Difference Between Sin in the Wicked and in the Godly – Thomas Watson
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 Doctrine of Repentance
Worldliness Kills – JC Ryle
Open transgression of God’s law slays its thousands, but worldliness its tens of thousands.
– JC Ryle –
from Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1856
A New Act of Faith and Repentance – William Perkins
Every new act of sin requires a new act of faith and repentance (Isaiah 1:4, 16, 18).
– William Perkins –
Godly Sorrow for the Offense Rather Punishment – Thomas Watson
Godly sorrow is ingenious. It is sorrow for the offense rather than for the punishment. God’s law has been infringed, his love abused. This melts the soul in tears. A man may be sorry, yet not repent, as a thief is sorry when he is taken, not because he stole, but because he has to pay the penalty. … “My sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3); David does not say, “The sword threatened is ever before me,” but “my sin.” O that I should offend so good a God, that I should grieve my Comforter! This breaks my heart!
– Thomas Watson –
from The Doctrine of Repentance, 1668
Two Signs of Grace – Robert Candlish
Two unequivocal signs of grace; a desire to be thoroughly washed and cleansed,—”Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin,” (Psalm 51:2)—and a willingness to appear before God for that end, without concealment and without guile,—”I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me” (Psalms 51:3).
– Robert Candlish –
from The Prayer of a Broken Heart: Expository Discourses on Psalm 51, 1873