Plumer on the Deluded Thinking of Unregenerate Men

“Hardly anything is more striking than the obstinate attachment of men to their own works, and their consequent aversion to the grace of God. The great mass of unrenewed men, even in Christian assemblies, have really no idea of ever being saved otherwise than by becoming good, and that in their own strength. They generally suspect that they are not now what they ought to be, but they intend to do better hereafter. They seem very ignorant of the extent, spirituality and holiness of the law; and thus while conscience does not flame out against them, they rest in the delusion that they are not very bad, and may easily improve. The very last thing which a sinner under conviction does, is to give up his self-confidence. He cleaves to it as if salvation depended upon his good opinion of himself. Indeed, till God’s Spirit enlightens his mind, he will not see that salvation can never be compassed by his own power or merit. So that the very process, by which a sinner is led to the Saviour, is usually one of extreme sadness. He has less and less, in his own esteem, worthy of honourable mention before God, until at last he finds out that he is nothing but a guilty, vile, lost, helpless, perishing sinner.”

– William S. Plumer, The Grace of Christ, Chapter 12