Observations on Conviction of Sin

By REV. THOMAS HOG, of Kiltearn (1628-1692): from his Memoirs.
FIRST, he laid down some preliminary observations; as,

1. That declining or shifting a fair and Scriptural inquiry in any concern of religion is a shrewd sign that matters are utterly wrong (John iii, 19, 20).

2. That something like a convincing work may have place in some cases, and yet prove delusive, especially, (a) in the case of melancholy: where this dreadful disease is, it putteth a dismal garb on everything, and consequently sin must appear terrible also. Evil spirits do ordinarily make a special handle of this disease, to lead to desperate courses. Thus, sin proves in so far a considerable part of the disease. In this case the mind is dark and confused, and according as the malady prevails or abates, the mind is sad or cheerful; and yet the poor creature can give no reason for either. Besides, melancholy doth ordinarily utterly indispose the patient for action, and rendereth him both unfit and entirely averse from it; whereas convictions set home upon the conscience by the Spirit of God from the Word, are made effectual for exciting to a diligent use of means, as one could do when his house is all in flames about his ears. Melancholy may be taken off by medicines; but saving conviction admits of no cure, till the same Spirit which awakened, drop in the healing salve as deep as the wound. Yet in the case of several awakened persons, there is a mixture of this malady; but the Lord over-rules it so as, contrary

to its nature, it issues into a distinct concern about their eternal state. When this is the posture of matters, it is happy if the malady be carried off by medicines, and the soul’s concern continue and grow; yet ordinarily in this complex case, the soul’s cure bringeth health to the body also, according to (Job xxxiii, 23-25), (Ps. ciii, 1-3). (b) Somewhat like to convictions on the mind may be the effect of discontent upon the account of some worldly loss or trouble. This is that sorrow which worketh death (II Cor. vii, 10). Such a pretended malady would be cured by bettering the worldly circumstances; yet sometimes this malady hath been blessed of the Lord for ushering in convictions (II Chron. xxxiii, 11-13), (Job xxxvi, 8, 9), (Ps. cvii, 10-13). And (c) specious resemblances of soul exercise, are sometimes derived from a secret consciousness of some atrocious and scandalous crime, punishable by the civil powers, or censurable by the Church; but here the shame, and not the sin, is that which troubles the soul (Gen. iv, 13 14), (Matt. xxvii, 3-5). Yet even such dismal occasions may be made effectual for bringing the soul under a genuine concern about its eternal state; and when that is the case, the patient will be found very willing to glorify God by an open and free acknowledgment (Ps. li).

1. A third preliminary he laid down was, the detection of the sinner’s true estate as a child of the first Adam who had sinned in him, and was now fallen with him, who therefore is in the same state whereinto Satan brought us all by that conquest, and further hardened therein by a course of transgressions.

2. That there is no attaining of anything that is good and acceptable to the Lord, antecedent to saving faith; or in other words, till we be in Christ (Heb. xi, 6), (Rom. xiv, 23), (Matt. vii, 17-19).

3. That there is an enlightening work about sin as well as about righteousness carried in upon the conscience by the Spirit of God, in a suitableness to the sinner’s circumstantiated case (John xvi, 8-10).

Secondly, for discovering whether the Holy Spirit was preparing His way towards a saving change on the soul, Mr. Hog used to inquire:

1. Where? On what occasion and from what places of Scripture it had pleased the Lord to carry home a conviction of sin upon the conscience? Whether it was particular? Whether the conviction carried from the streams to the fountain of our guilt? And, upon the whole, whether such a discovery of sin had been diffused through the soul with a strong hand, so as the patient was made to acknowledge his former ignorance of the exceeding sinfulness of his sins, and that he never saw them in the light he now does? (John iv, 29), (Rom. iii, 9).

2. He further inquired, how the patient found himself affected with this sentence? This inquiry consisted more especially of two parts, (a) Whether the weight of this sentence had fallen more heavily upon the conscience, than any worldly loss, pain or trouble could affect the mind? (Prov. xviii, 14), (John vi, 2-4), (Acts ii, 37, and xvi, 30, 31). And (b) in the event of much felt hardness and confusion, which is usually the case of the patient thus circumstanced, he inquired, whether this confusion and hardness was looked upon as an evil greater, and to be more lamented, than any worldly loss or trouble? (Isa. i, 6).

3. For discovering the more rude and unformed beginnings of a gracious and distinguished change, the heads of inquiry were:

(a) Whether in the above case the patient hath had his mouth stopped in the persuasion of the entire and spotless equity of the Lord’s disposure, being fully convinced that no person did ever so thoroughly deserve to be cast into utter darkness? Hence the exercised soul admireth and adoreth the justice of the Judge, and is filled with wonder at His long-suffering patience; and when His proud and daring spirit putteth forth itself in murmurings, he condemneth and abhorreth himself for them. These are the gall and wormwood in his cup (Judges x, 15).

(b) Whether, while the patient is pointing towards the rich and free mercy of his sovereign Lord, he is troubled with a two-fold impediment? (i) A thick and dark vail of ignorance upon his mind: he knoweth not how to manage, and is utterly unacquainted with the method of grace, and he findeth that no human instruction can remove this vail (Isa. xxv, 7); and (ii) a haughtiness of spirit which hindereth him from submitting to the Lord Jesus Christ, as his righteousness; and he is made to acknowledge himself as truly destitute of righteousness, as Christ was entirely free of sin in His own person, and that of all mankind he stands most in need of a perfect righteousness.

1. For discovering the further dawning and nearer approach of the day of grace, Mr. Hog inquired, whether, while this matter continued in suspense, the patient found a firm resolution in the Lord’s strength, never to return to former lovers; and, on the other hand, a firm resolution, in the same strength, to wait prostrate at the footstool of sovereign grace, until the day of grace and mercy break forth, however heavy the delay be? And when this was the case, it was his opinion, that a gracious issue was ordinarily near at hand (Ps. xl, 1, 2), (Nic. vii, 7-9), (Ps. xxvii, 14, and lxii, 1, 2).

2. For discovering the issue of convictions of the right kind, Mr. Hog inquired:

(a) Whether (which is chiefly decisive in this matter) the mind was enlightened to know Christ as He is offered in the gospel, as our prophet, priest and king, as made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (I Cor i, 30). But more especially His character, as “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jer. xxiii, 6), hath its peculiar relation unto the lost, miserable, and undone situation, wherein the sinner findeth himself at the time? (II Cor. iv, 6), (Acts xxvi, 18).

(b) Whether the soul hath been drawn forth by invincible power to close with the person of Christ, as standing in a marriage relation to him, and to receive and rest upon Him, not only as the Saviour in general, but as his Saviour in particular? according to (John i, 12), (Heb. x, 39), (Isa. xxvi, 3).

(c) Whether the poor tossed sinner hath found somewhat of quiet rest in pointing this way under Christ’s drawing, after all legal resolutions, prayers, fasting, vows, etc., had utterly failed? (Matt. xi, 28-30), (Luke xv, 16-18), (Ps. lxxxix, 19), (Jer. xvii, 5, 6), (Acts iv, 12), (Heb. iv, 3).

(d) Whether in according to the measure of the knowledge that the person hath got of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, a pleasant sense of gratitude and impression of the love of Christ, have strongly and sweetly engaged the soul to the whole of new obedience, without exception or reserve? (Ps. xviii, 1, and cxvi, 1), (II Cor. v, 14).

(e) Whether under all subsequent burden by sin, of whatsoever sort, or by the fruits of the same, the main propensity of the soul be to seek ease and relief in the humble acknowledgment of guilt before the Lord, and by faith imploring pity and pardon for Christ’s sake alone? (Ps. xxxii, 2-5), (Prov. xxviii, 13), (I John i, 9), (Hosea v, 15), (Lev. xxvi, 40-42).

But upon the whole, it was Mr. Hog’s opinion, that in judging of soul exercise, we should have a special respect to the issues, for that it is very difficult, if at all possible, before the respective issues, to fix the difference betwixt what is right and kindly, and that which may issue in a further strengthening of Satan’s kingdom (Luke xi, 24-26). Much depends upon the coel, or cure, of these soul fevers, which will prove either health or ruin to the patient, if sovereign and free mercy set not matters right again (John xvi, 8, 9). Conviction of sin is best verified by the subsequent conviction of righteousness, and that again by conviction of judgment.