Two young girls of my congregation, about seventeen years of age, went to a neighboring town, where there was a religious excitement; and after remaining there about two days, returned home very happy. They thought they had attained salvation by faith in Christ.
On talking with them, I was surprised to find them so little sensible of the extent of human depravity, of the helplessness of human nature, and the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. They told me that they had been rendered sensible of their sin and danger, and had resolved to go to Christ; and the minister told them that was enough - if they really resolved to give up the world and to serve God, that was enough; and they had resolved to do so. This appeared to me to be all the reason for the hope which made them so happy.
But their religion did not last them six months. At least, they gave no evidence of it, but much to the contrary. They ceased to hope and ceased to pray.
Moral suasion is one thing, and the Holy Spirit is another. It is an easy thing for a minister to fix a hope in the heart of an alarmed sinner, but it is not safe. The Bible does not tell us that a sinner's resolves are enough. It does not tell us the resolves are regeneration.
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