Tillotson: measuring sorrow for sin

Saturday, January 12, 2013
    Feast of Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167
    Commemoration of Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth, Scholar, 689
Meditation:
    Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
    —Acts 3:1920 (NIV)
Quotation:
    If we would judge aright of the truth of our sorrow for sin, we must not measure it so much by the degrees of sensible trouble and affliction, as by the rational effects of it, which are hatred of sin, and a fixed purpose and resolution against it for the future: for he is most truly sorry for his miscarriage, who looks upon what he hath done amiss with abhorrence and detestation of the thing, and wisheth he had not done it, and censures himself severely for it, and thereupon resolves not to do the like again.
    ... John Tillotson (1630-1694), Works of Dr. John Tillotson, v. VII, London: J. F. Dove, for R. Priestley, 1820, p. 291 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 36:1-2; Luke 15:7,10; John 3:20-21; Acts 3:19-20; 2 Cor. 7:10-11; 2 Tim. 2:25-26
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, only You can grant me true repentance. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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