of true repentance:

1. Conviction.

2. Contrition.

3. Confession of sin.

4. Conversion.

5. Confession of Jesus Christ before the world.

1. Conviction.

When a man is not deeply convicted of sin, it is a pretty sure sign
that he has not truly repented. Experience has taught me that men who
have very slight conviction of sin, sooner or later lapse back into
their old life. For the last few years I have been a good deal more
anxious for a deep and true work in professing converts than I have
for great numbers. If a man professes to be converted without
realizing the heinousness of his sins, he is likely to be one of those
stony ground hearers who don't amount to anything. The first breath of
opposition, the first wave of persecution or ridicule, will suck them
back into the world again.

I believe we are making a woeful mistake in taking so many people into
the Church who have never been truly convicted of sin. Sin is just as
black in a man's heart to-day as it ever was. I sometimes think it is
blacker. For the more light a man has, the greater his responsibility,
and therefore the greater need of deep conviction.

William Dawson once told this story to illustrate how humble the soul
must be before it can find peace.

He said that at a revival meeting, a little lad who was used to
Methodist ways, went home to his mother and said,

"Mother, John So-and-so is under conviction and seeking for peace, but
he will not find it to-night, mother."

"Why, William?" said she.

"Because he is only down on one knee, mother, and he will never get
peace until he is down on both knees."

Until conviction of sin brings us down on both knees, until we are
completely humbled, until we have no hope in ourselves left, we cannot
find the Savior.

There are three things that lead to conviction: (1) Conscience; (2)
the Word of God; (3) the Holy Spirit. All three are used by God.

Long before we had any Word, God dealt with men through the
conscience. That is what made Adam and Eve hide themselves from the
presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the Garden of Eden. That
is what convicted Joseph's brethren when they said: "We are verily
guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul
when he besought us and we would not hear. Therefore," said they (and
remember, over twenty years had passed away since they had sold him
into captivity), "therefore is this distress come upon us." That is
what we