Private Thoughts About Repentance

Generally speaking, it is to be feared we do not dread sin, but the punishment of it; and yet, till we hate sin, as such, and feel our misery under it, it is in vain to talk of repentance.

Till we are so convinced of sin, as fully to pronounce the sentence of condemnation upon ourselves, we shall not receive mercy as mercy, but consider it as a debt.

So long as we are joined to the world; acting in the main for worldly ends; attached to its interest; oppressed with its cares, or devoted to its pleasures; we must either totally reject, or explain away the gospel.

Corruption is strong, evil predominant, my state is wavering, my soul in danger; Christ does not reign; I am in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity, till I fully resolve not to sin.

No man has the least glimpse of the inside of truth, till all conceit of merit and self-power is annihilated, and he is pierced through and through with a sense of his vileness and unworthiness.

It is the Spirit’s office to convince of sin, because He only has the power: nothing that others can say, or I can think, will bring me to a true sense and feeling of it without Him.

I am all astonishment when I think of the number and greatness of my sins, and how long my life has been spared that I might repent

Pride is seeing the defects of others, and overlooking our own. Humility is seeing feeling, and lamenting sin in ourselves; not only past, but present sin; not only actual sin, but the root of it in an evil nature; and all sin without disguise or extenuation, in all its guilt and malignity.

Humility is knowing that we are not humble.

If my nature, heart, will, and affections, must be changed, God must do it; for I can no more change them than I could make myself. God commands to strike at the root of sin; Christ puts the axe, sharpened with His blood, into the hands of all who are willing, and the Spirit gives strength to the blow.

I had rather know a work of the Spirit in mourning for sin, as displeasing to God, in love to Christ, and because it pierced Him, than be at the top of worldly joy.

Repentance is forsaking sin for God, for His favour, His blessing, and will.

The moment we sin, there is an absolute forfeiture of life incurred; nothing but mercy can now relieve us, and we must always see ourselves in the light of condemned malefactors: for no future amendment can undo what is past.

Sin should sit heavier on the soul, and cut deeper into the heart, than the loss of a first-born. Blessed are they that mourn, and who has not cause for it?

No man has any warrant from Scripture to believe that his sins are forgiven, unless he repents of them; that is, is heartily sorry for them, and earnestly desires to be delivered from the power of evil habits, and an evil nature.

It is impossible for any man to know Christ to be a Saviour, till he knows himself to be a sinner.

Rev. Thomas Adam (1701–1784) was a godly divine and student of John Newton, who pastored a congregation in Lincolnshire for 58 years. Like John Newton, he remained within the Anglican Church all his life.

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