Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-03-05
(Original.]
REPENTANCE.

After Judas betrayed his Master into the
hands of his enemies, he is said to have re-
pented. AS an evidence of his repentance,
he took the thirty pieces of silver and threw
them down at the feet of those from whom
he had received them, and then went out
and strangled himself. With regard to the
destiny of Judas, we have nothing to say it
is not our province to sit in judgment on the
eternal destiny of any one. With regard to
the character of the repentance of Judas, we
may with safety speak. The repentance
which Judas is said to have exercised, was
not of the kind that is necessary in order to
to be saved He was sorry for his sin. His
conscience assumed gigantic proportions and
goaded him to desperation. Sleep was driven
from his eyes, and peace from his soul. His
agony, on account Of his sin, was awfully in.
tense. A load of guilt, like mountain of
lead pressed upon his soal and forced him to
say, 81 have betrayed the innoceut BLOOD"
No language is capable of describing the
feelings of guilt which pervaded the soul of
Judas but still it wanted the elements of sa-
wing repentance. The essential elements of
evangelical repentance are, We apprehend,
the following: First, correct notion of the
moral character of sin in itself considered
second persuasion in the mind that there is
mercy with God through the blood of Jesus
Christ third, determination to return to
God and obey his law. We do not pretend
to say that these three things constitute all
that is included in repentance; but they are
the most important elements. When we
analyze the repentance of Judas, we are una
Bile to find in it any one of these things men,
toned. He was sorry for his sin, but his
sorrow was not Cody sorrow. His sorrow
was what we usually call remorse. So far
as apprehending mercy in God through the
merits Of Jesus Christ is concerned, this seems
never to have entered his mind, and he mani
tested no disposition whatever to return to
God and obey his holy law.
Millions of the human family repent in
the same sense that Judas Iscariot repented.
The worst men on earth repent, and no doubt
remorse and regret constitute part of the
misery which lost spirits suffer in the regions
of hopeless woe. The highway rObber and
the midnight assassin repent when the strong
arm of Justice takes hold of them and con-
signs them to culprits grave In their re-
pentance, however, there is no turning to
God no love for the Saviour, nothing that
constitutes that repentance which needeth not
to be repented of. There is fear, anguish and
grief, but no turning to God. There may be
pleadings for mercy, but not mercy through
the blood of the atonement. Evangelical
repentance is returning to God. Body, mind
and spirit-the whole man returns to that God
against whom all his sins have been commit
ted Judas, so far as we can see, did not do
this
WHAT IS BEFORE Us?-What is before
ourselves and those we love, we know not.
The yelled figure of the future tands before
US, and we cannot lift the veil. Who would
dare to do so? For what may it not con-
ceal! Is the winding sheet under it, high on
our own bosoms? We do not know, and
venture not to inquire. Who would like to
see the names written on the tombstones OF
the future year, or roll away the stone from
its sepulchres? Sure we are that ere Its end'
some accustomed chair will be empty, some
well.known voice be still q. :. How are we
to face the next twelve months knowing these
things? Like Jacob, we struggle with the
dark ang gel, but it will not tell us its name,
nor what is behind its veil, neither will it let
US 20. How are we to encounter it? There
is, indeed, but one way in which We can do so
with confidence, and it is Ito put our trust in
God," to know in whom we trust, and to have
reason for believing that in Him we can trust.
"Truly our hope is even in Thee" )" 80, Lord
in Thee | have trusted )" "Thou arc my
strong refuge" Bishop Of ArgyA
pag" When any one was speaking i'll of an
other in the presence of Peter the Great, he
at first listened to him attentively, and then
interrupted him. "Is there not, said ne, "a
fair side also to the character Of tho person OF
whom Won are speaking? Come, tell me what