Confession and Repentance
By J. A. Griggs
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: As I look back upon my life and see my wayward course, my heart is filled with sorrow. I behold pride, selfishness, vanity, and forgetfulness and neglect of Him who has bought me with his precious blood. Time, given to secure a better and an enduring substance, has been trifled away, and lost forever. How have I been deceived and blinded as to my true condition before God. I am grateful that I have been led to see, in a measure, my errors. I desire to confess and sincerely and heartily repent of every sin, correct, as far as possible, my wrong influence, that my name may be written in the book of life. I am thankful for correction, instruction, and reproof. In darkness and almost despair I have realized it to be no light thing to sin against God. But I trust my humiliation, confessions, and tears, have been regarded and accepted in Heaven through the intercessions of the sinless One. And I mean, with heavenly assistance, that my future life shall evince that I am following on to know the Lord. “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exerciseth lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth.” O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.”
J. A. GRIGGS.
Owasso, Mich., April 3, 1869.