Marks of Godly Sorrow.
No sham work will suffice in religion. Heartwork must be God's work. He who madethe heart alone can change it from its natural hardness and stubbornness into one that is broken and contrite.
I. Godly sorrow is such a sorrow as God approves of, because it brings us to see the hatefulness of sin; because it has touched the heart and brought the offender back, in penitence, to his forgiving Father. Many a wounded and agonised conscience is like a sheet of ice shivered on the pavement, and which lies there stiff and cold; but let the sun burst forth in his might, and the frozen mass is melted. So, too, true godly sorrow is accompanied by the softening influences of the Holy Spirit, and brings forth fruit meet for repentance.
II. If we have really experienced this godly sorrow, it will assuredly have wrought in us great carefulnessto seek an amendment of life: we shall feel ashamed and indignantwith ourselves for our past misdoings; we shall cherish a wholesome fearof relapsing into evil ways; a vehement desirefor pardon and sanctifying grace; a zealfor the honour of God and for the advancement of His kingdom; and a revenge,as it were, against the sinful lusts that once caused us to offend. While Sir Christopher Wren was engaged in demolishing the ruins of old St. Paul's, London, in order to make room for the new and grander cathedral, he used a battering-ram, with which thirty men continued to beat upon a part of the wall for a whole day. Our prayers and repentances may seem like puny agencies for overturning the strongholds of sin within us, but God can and will render them effectual in the end.
J. N. Norton, Every Sunday,p. 143.
References: 2 Corinthians 7:11-16. F. W. Robertson, Lectures on Corinthians,p. 379. 2 Corinthians 7:16. A. Maclaren, Christ in the Heart,p. 229. 2 Corinthians 8:1-12. F. W. Robertson, Lectures on Corinthians,p. 387. 2 Corinthians 8:4. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 249. 2 Corinthians 8:5. T. J. Crawford, The Preaching of the Cross,p. 299; Outline Sermons to Children,p. 234.