How do you know that? – Thomas Brooks

A sincere willingness to part with every sin, and to mortify every sin is a sure sign of saving grace. When a man is sincerely willing to leave every sin, and to indulge himself in none, no, not even his darling sin it is a most certain sign of his integrity and saving faith.

“I am upright before God; I have kept myself from sin.” Psalm 18:23

“I am upright before God.” Oh! but how do you know that? How do you prove that? How are you assured of that? Why, by this that “I have kept myself from sin.”

Doubtless there is as much of the power of God required, and as much strength of grace required, and as much of the presence and assistance of the Spirit required to work a man off from his bosom sins, from his darling sins, from his beloved sins. A conquest here clearly speaks out uprightness of heart before God.

The godly man . . .
does not give himself over to a voluntary serving of sin;
does not make a trade of sin;
does not allow of himself in any settled course of sin;
does not indulge, connive or wink at any known sin;
does not sin as wicked men sin who sin studiously,
resolutely, ardently, delightfully, customarily, willfully. The ungodly sin with their whole will, and with the full consent and sway of their souls.