November 1858
To Mr B R
Dear Brother
… Conversion is not the same thing as repentance. Without a discussion over words, I would remark that one could by the grace of God and the quickening work of this grace in us, turn to God and seek Him, drawn towards Him by His grace, not wanting to perish where we are, and yet repentance could remain very superficial, to the great damage of the soul. True repentance is the review that, in the consciousness of grace, the soul makes of itself, of its motives and its ways, the way of judging them in the light of God whom it knows in grace. It is the opposite of the will, for in repentance, one judges all in relation to the nature and the will of God, because one partakes in fact in His nature and one is submissive to His will. It is opposed to passions which are the tendencies of nature, united to the will and, as to these tendencies also, all is judged according to our new relationships with God. Repentance is above all a judgment of oneself, which makes the thing real and true and substitutes, by grace, God for me in us – what makes the essential difference in life.
In the details, there were always be a work to be wrought, but there is an entire difference in the state of the soul who is fundamentally repentant. I believe that many brethren, whether among us or among other Christians, have not really submitted to this powerful work. There is always repentance in a converted man, without telling himself: “I have sinned against heaven and before thee” . But it is quite another thing to judge ways and springs of the way; the spring, in selfish principles and selbständig of heart in the way of relying really on the Lord as dependent upon Him.
This is why, morally, I hold to the word repentance. Naturally, the translation depends on the sense of the word, but I answer now to your moral motives to change the word repentance and replace it by the word conversion – motives which I believe are excellent.
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