The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1838-11-15
DEATH.BED REPENTANCE.

Ae lUI hiaA SOtEON aHA tNSANh "hASh -
felt BY the sick and dying. let il not be
mistaken for repentance. IL proves no
thing. It is a miserable hope that is
built upon it No man has any assur.
snce that, since the foundation of the
world, more than one man, repenting
thus late, repented ssVingly; for the dy-
ing man has no opportunity 10 " bring
forth fruits meet for repentance" and
only "by their fruits shall We know
them"
Perhaps nothing would more striking
IL illustrate The deceiifulness Of sin, than
The perversion thereby produced in re-
gard TO future repentance. IL tells how
many excellent opportunities there will
he Cor repentance in the progress Of life.
seasons Of affections, periods Of leisure,
occasions Of sickness, and what golden
time the last, the sickness that shall be
unto death, will afford; what a glorious
opportunity then, in the midst Of medi-
eines, snCnin the company OF nurses, and
physicians, and pastors. when there is
necessity 10 constrain, and agony 10 urge
"n, and no world To attract, no friend TO
oppose. no formidable cross 10 take up,
but death is in near view and every thing
favorable! The poor sinner is made to
think q return OF The Pentecost would
hardly equal such a time in advantages
for repentance lie forgeIs that the soul
il not merely bound ~iih filaments-thai
there are chains To be broken. He for.
gets that in making peace with God, the
divine consent and concurrence are as me-
cessary as his. He forgets too, that true
repentance is not mere sorrow, and that
.here is sorrow for sin for which hell is
peniteniiary.
There is among the realities Of this
world. what answers to that which in the
parable Of the virgins is set forth in f.
CURE. A person. he may be one Of those
who have borne the lamp Of christian
profession and gone forth TO meet the
bridegroom. makes in one Of his last
hours, perhaps his very last, the painful
discovery that he has no grace in his
heart What shall he do! His mind is
now awake. But the approach of death
has alresdy been announced; and the cry,
"he cnmeth, he cometh," has been reit
Grated in his ears. and he hears the fatal
football at hand. What shall he do! He
has no time to lose. He applies To those
around him; but all the help they can al.
ford is friendly counsel" 90 buy," and
he hastily g"es; and with tears and sigh:
he asks for the holy oil; and he offers the
world, upon which he has now no claim
and he proposes 10 give his all, which i:
now nothing: and he enlis.s as many as
he can in his behalf; but death, inexora'
Die. uncourteous, intrusive death, super.
Venes, and draws his impervious curtain
around the scene; and he is gone! Friend
ship. thinking that importantly, thai
prayer. and tina, warmth and earnestness
he ELECT OF loves enkindlement in the
hear'' calls these exercises religion; and
supposes that the flown spirit has found
easy and abundant entrance into an am.
PIE and vide. and open door. But it i:
10 be feared lie found the door shut. lie
slept too long. lie began TOO late. He
was IN ea'hest-he lost not a moment
but 1t was tho late when he began. All
mat noise and bus'le that the fearful sou
makes on Tie eve Of its departure, about
ils salvation. ! place littIe dependence
upon. l. is thus that animal feelings
when highly excited, exhibit themselves.
All Tins may occur, and yet the Holy Spi
Ilt be afar of. N,r;ns