(The following article is an excerpt from the writings of  Menno Simons, a Dutch Anabaptist minister, and dates from 1552 AD.)

The Scriptures as I see it speak of different kinds of sin.  The first kind is the corrupt, sinful nature, namely, the lust or desire of our flesh contrary to God’s Law, and contrary to the original righteousness; sin which is inherited at birth by all descendants and children of corrupt, sinful Adam, and is not inaptly called original sin.  Of this sin David says, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  The Lord said unto Noah, The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.  Again, Paul says, We were, by nature, children of wrath, even as others.

Yes, readers, since we all partake of this evil, therefore we would all have continued in death if the righteousness, intercession, death, and blood of Christ Jesus were not given us as a reconciliation to God our heavenly Father.  Rom. 5:8.  But now for Christ’s sake, it is not counted as sin unto us. Rom. 3:5-8.

The second kind of sins are the fruits of this first sin and are not inaptly called actual sins by theologians.  They are these: adultery, fornication, avarice, dissipation, drunkenness, hatred, envy, lying, theft, murder, and idolatry.  They are also called works of the flesh by Paul (Gal. 5); and that because they have their origin in the flesh which is born of Adam, corrupt and sinful. Rom. 5; Eph. 5.

Wherever original sin, which is the mother, and actual sin, which is the fruit, are connected together, there is no forgiveness nor promise of life; but there wrath and death abide unless these sins are repented of, as the Scriptures testify.

If now the power of original sin is to be broken, and actual sin forgiven, then we must believe the Word of the Lord, be born again by faith and by virtue of the new birth, and by true repentance resist original sin and die unto actual sin if we are to be pious.  For as the natural birth which is of Adam is unclean and sinful, and begets all evil and unrighteousness unto death according to the will of the devil, so on the other hand the heavenly birth which is of God is clean and pure, and begets all righteousness and piety unto life according the the will of God.  Rom. 5:1; 1 John 3:5.

The third kind of sins are human frailties, errors, and stumblings which are still found daily among saints and regenerate ones, such as careless thoughts, careless words, and unpremeditated lapses in conduct.  These, although they spring from those sins mentioned above, as do the sins of the unbelieving and impenitent, yet are they not identical with them.  There is this difference: the unbelieving ones which are as yet unchanged in their first birth commit sin with relish and boldness, and without hesitation.  Because of the blindness of their corrupt nature, they do not know the ugliness of their sins and besides many of their sins they do not consider to be such, since because of their unbelief the Law has not yet made known unto them their sinfulness.

But those who are born from above are fearful of all sin.  They know by the Law that all which is contrary to the original righteousness is sin, be it inward or outward, important or trifling.  Therefore they fight daily with their weak flesh in the Spirit and in faith.  They sigh and lament about their errors, which they with Paul sincerely abhor and to which they do not consent.  They know them to be contrary to original righteousness and God’s law, and are therefore sinful.  They approach the throne of grace daily with contrite hearts and pray, Holy Father, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  They are not rejected by the Lord on account of such lapses, even though they are sinful lapses, which are not committed wilfully and intentionally but contrary to their will, out of mere thoughtlessness and weakness—we have as an instance, Peter, who thrice denied the Lord—for they are under grace and not under the Law, as Paul says.  The seed of God, faith in Christ Jesus, the birth which is of God, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit remains in them. They exercise themselves in a constant and unending battle; they crucify their lusts as long as they live; they watch and pray incessantly; and though they are such poor, imperfect children, they nevertheless rejoice in the sure trust of the merits of Christ, and praise the Father for His grace.

Behold this defective and weak nature the saints have always lamented.  Therefore John says, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:8.9.

The fourth kind of sin is this.  After one is enlightened in his heart by the heavenly lustre of the everlasting truth, has received the true knowledge of Christ and His holy Word, has tasted the heavenly gifts, the kindness of the Lord, and the power of the world to be, has partaken of the Holy Ghost and is born of God; but in downright wickedness, malice and wilfulness, contrary to his heart and mind and the Spirit which is in him, renounces all knowledge and grace, rejects the Spirit and Word of God; ejects the sweet, new wine which he has drunk; hates and blasphemes and reviles all truth, consciously and willingly with the Pharisees and scribes, ascribing it to the devil, notwithstanding his conscience convicts him that it is the will, Word, power and work of God; and he then returns to the broad way, and says in his heart with all evil minds, I refuse to be subjected. What kind of sin this is I will leave to the Word of the Lord to make out.  Num. 15; Matt. 12; Mark 3; Luke 12; 1 John 5; Heb. 6.

Dear reader, do not misunderstand.  I do not speak of the remnants of the old nature even though they are as great as the fall of David (from which the great Lord eternally save His own) who was so miserably deceived by the lusts of the flesh.  But I speak of those who out of downright wickedness, wilfully and of set purpose trample upon the Son of God, deem the blood of the New Testament unclean, and profane the Spirit of grace.
O reader, kind reader, take heed and remember that it is written, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  Heb. 10:31.

And although such wilful blasphemy and sin had no offering in Israel (Num. 15), and although for sin against the Holy Spirit there is no forgiveness as Christ says (Matt. 12; Mark 3; Luke 12), yet I would beg and advise all the God-fearing ones, as far as I am able, that if any should revert to the patent works of the flesh and of death after his confession and baptism, wisely to consider the matter and not to make a mistake in such a case by premature and unseasonable judgement.  For the Lord to whom nothing is concealed knows what sin he has committed, whether he has sinned against the Holy Ghost or not.  But let them admonish such a one according to the Word of the Lord.  If he repents heartily, if he shows true fruits of repentance according to the Scriptures, if he receives a broken, contrite and penitent heart once more, and a peaceable, joyful and cheerful mind, then it is manifest that he did not sin against the Holy Ghost.  But if he remains impenitent, continues in his wilfulness, and unto the end wilfully despises Christ and His Word, then his conduct shows what sin he has committed, and that his end and reward will be death.  Rom. 1:8; 1 Cor. 6; Gal. 5; Eph. 5; 1 John 3:5; Rev. 21:22.

Behold, kind reader, thus we believe that all sins both outward and inward have their reconciliation in the merit and power of the blood of the Lord, if truly repented of according to the Scriptures.

Let everyone take heed that he walk in the fear of the Lord and accept the grace lest he be delivered to the wrong spirit, fall into the judgement of the Lord, and the penance which avails before God be refused him.  For Christ says, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  Peter says, Of whom a man is overcome, of the same he is brought in bondage.  Let therefore none be overcome of sin, lest he be the servant of sin.  This is incontrovertible.