Horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and astonishing impudency! – Thomas Brooks

“He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Prov. 28:13

The true penitent would have God to forgive him, not only some of his sins but all his sins; and therefore it is but just and equal that he should turn from all his sins. The plaster must be as broad as the sore. It argues horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and astonishing impudency for a man to beg the pardon for those very sins that he is resolved never to forsake! Look! He who has not repented of all known sin, he has not yet sincerely repented of any known sin, nor as yet experienced the sweetness of forgiveness of sin.

Of all fools, there is none compared to him who is importunate with God to forgive those sins which he is resolved beforehand to commit! What prince, in his wits, will pardon the treasons of a person who is resolved to continue a traitor? Or what judge will forgive thievery of a person who is decidedly determined to continue as a thief? Such as continue in the practice of those very sins, which they beg God to pardon shall certainly go without their pardon!

Pardon of sin is for that man, and that man is for pardon of sin who is as truly willing to forsake his sins as he is to receive the pardon of his sins. Who would not look upon that man as a madman who would earnestly beg his pardon, and yet continue to steal purses, and murder people before the eyes of the judge?

The pardoned soul is the repenting soul and the repenting soul is the pardoned soul! He who begs pardon of sin yet is resolved not to turn from sin shall find no more pardon than devils or damned spirits do! Look! as one sin unforgiven will as certainly undo a man as a thousand just so, one sin unforsaken will us certainly undo and damn a man as a thousand! The true penitent is as willing to turn from all his sins as he is willing that God should pardon all his sins!