by Thomas Reade
The converted sinner daily feeds upon Christ by faith, and daily derives strength from this gracious source of blessedness.
He feels his own weakness, and experiences the power of Jesus. He loathes himself and truly loves his Savior, in whose righteousness he appears all lovely in the eyes of his heavenly Father.
As a pilgrim, he journeys onwards under the guidance of that Holy Spirit who dwells in him as in a temple, and who has promised to keep him by his mighty power through faith unto salvation.
The world fascinates no longer. The mask falls from its face, and he beholds the idol in its natural deformity.
He sees....
the emptiness of human applause;
the madness of ambition;
the deceitfulness of riches;
the folly of extravagance.
Every thing beneath the sun assumes its true character while he views it through the mediumof God's holy Word.
The converted sinner lives by faith; he longs for heaven; he desires to be daily conformed to Jesus, and to glorify him more, whether it be by life or death.
To him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Such is the character of the converted sinner.
Oh, how precious, how divine, how rare a character!
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Excerpt from On Conversion by Thomas Reade