You can never become a child of God without some true convictions of sin. Conversion begins with repentance. In the case of fallen creatures like ourselves, it is the beginning of all religion. True penitence is the gift of God. It leads to Christ and salvation. Think therefore of your sins, your youthful sins. Is there need that I should have made the effort to convince you of them? You have only to listen to the voice of your own conscience. The very fact that you intend to think about your religious duties and interests at some yet future period, is evidence that you are now, and have all along been, neglecting them. In acknowledging your obligations for the future, you pronounce your own condemnation for the past and the present.

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