Do you sorrow most for the sin or for the consequences?—for the offence towards God—or the injury towards your fellow-creatures?
Do you sufficiently feel that every thought associated with such sin, is sinful, that the heart may be criminal though the actions are innocent?—And that in his state of mind & after what has past all affection for you must be more or less of this kind, therefore in seeking to keep it alive, or even in allowing it as may have appeared to you innocently, you have encouraged his guilt of heart, and distanced his repentance—Are you sincerely resolved never to indulge him or yourself in this self-deceiving way again? and strictly to confine your manifestations of Interest for him to what is required by the following considerations—provided they do not interfere with the determination of never being again on terms of familiar affection with him—
1. To prevent exasperating him to a disclosure—
2. To prevent such appearances as would tacitly disclose your relative circumstances—
253 |
ASTARTE |