Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-06-17
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
lOrIginal...
REPENTANCE.

Delng the case, we liner CnaC the QOCCrlne OF
repentance is one of great Importance. We
are led to this conclusion from the fact that
the more Importance is attached to any subject
by God, the more frequently is that subject
treated of in the Bible. The being and attrib-
utes of God; the fall of man and the depravity
of the human heart; the person, nature, work
and sutficiency of Jesus Christ, are constantly
kept before the reader of the Bible Regene
ration by the spirit and justification by faith,
are found on nearly every page of the Scrip
lures We conclude and rightly, too, that re-
generation and faith are important doctrines.
This we would infer from the fact that they
are so frequently and so minutely described;
but we are not left to bare inferences In the
Scriptures We are told, positively, that ''we
must be born again." and that ''without faith
it is impossible to please God"
Important as are regeneration and faith, re-
pentance is equally important. This we infer
from the fact thatrepentance is brought prom
inently to view in the Scriptures, as frequently
as regeneration. But here again we are not
left to bare inferehces. Jesus says, ''except
ye''-meaning, evidently, all men-''repent,
We shall perish" 1t is then just as necessary
that we repent, as it is that we be born again,
or that we believe in Jesus Christ. We mean
that in order that we may escape the ruins of
the fall, and finally reach heaven, it is absolute
ly necessary that we repent. This is, beyond
all doubt, the plain, positive and oft-repeated
teachings of the Scriptures.
Repentance is, then, one Of the important
doctrines of the Bible which must be correctly,
if not fully, understood. If our eternal life
depends on repenting, we should have a correct
notion of what repentance is. A mistake here
will prove ruinous to us, not for time only, but
for all eternity.
\ thrilling Importance gathers around this
subject, when weremember that there afe two
kinds of repentance spoken of in the Bible
The one is genuine, the other spurious. The
one God approves Of; the other does not re-
ceive his appreciation. Not only is it the teach
ing of the Bible that there are two kinds of re-
pentance; but the observation of every man in
Christian lands teaches the same thing. The
repentance of Judas was very different from
that of Peter; but not more 50 than that which
comes under the observation of all who live in
Christian lands Since, then, we must repent
or perisl-and there are two kinds of repent
ance wholly different in their origin, aims and
final results-it becomes us to inquire, in the
first place, whether or not we have repented at
all; and in the second place, if we have repent
ed, whether or not our repentance is of the
right sort.
Repentance is a turning from sin. 1t is al
ways attended with sorrow. Thus far, genu-
inc repentance and spurious repentance appa-
rently agree; but the agreement is only in ap-
| fro1 in ho mo
conveyance, on the same road. Apparently,
they are doing the same thing; but if we look
beyond external appearances, we shall find that
they are, although in the same conveyance and
on the same road, pursuing very different
course and prompted by very opposite motives
The one, it may be, is on an errand of mercy
His heart has been touched by some tale Of
suffering, and he is fastening to relieve the
distressed. The other is notorious black-leg
and is in search of a victim.
Two men were once addicted to the same
sin-say drunkenness; but both are now sober
and temperate men. So far they have done
have repented; but if we ask each the ques-
tion: "Why did you leave off your drunken
habts?" The one will reply, if he answers
correctly, 81 saw that strong drink was has
tening me to the grave and my family to dis
grace" The other will answer, 81 was led by
the word and spirit of God to discern that
drunkenness is a great evil and sin against
God" Both are SOrry-bOth are grieyed at
heart-but the origin of their grief is very
different. The one is sorry because he has
sinned against God; the other is sorry because
he has sinned against himself The one strives
to break off all his sins; the other has no scru-
pies to sin in every and all particulars, provi-
ded he is not to be injured thereby in person,
property or social position. The murderer, the
thief and the house-burner, all repent when
caught; but until caught, whatevermay be the
qualms of conscience, they make no confess
sions and express no sorrow. Their sorrow is
produced by the sight Of the lash Of the law.
Remove this and their sorrow is dissipated.
A moments reflection is sufficient to con-
vince any one that ceasing to sin in one partic-
ular, is not Scripture repentance If so, then
all men who have lived on the earth have re-
may hereafter live on the earth, will most cer-
tainly break off some of their sins. Old men
do not practice the sins of their youth. They
will not, they cannot practice them. Still, all
men do not naturally repent, when they grow
old On the contrary, we find that men, as
they grow old, become adopts in sin.
In genuine repentance there is godly sorrow
for sin; for all sin-sin, in all it's forms. This
being the case, there is universal reformation.
The true repentant breaks off his sins by right
eousness, and his iniquities by turning unto
the Lord. Repentance is the index which
marks change of heart. Our Saviour says,
''by their deeds ye shall know them" In
the order of nature, regeneration is first.
soul spiritually dead-.dead in trespasses and
sin-is quickened into life. The regenerated
soul Immediately begins to entwine itself
around Jesus, and rests upon him alone for
salvation. This is faith, this is believing, this
is accepting Christ, this is coming unto him.
Next follows, in the order of nature, repent
ance. In point of time, however, regenera-
ton, faith and repentance, are contemporaries
Gus. So soon as the spiritually dead soul is
made alive, it begins to trust in Jesus, and SO
soon as it begins to trust in Jesus it begins to
cease to do evil and commences the practice of
holiness. In other words, it begins to cease
to serve Satan and to engage in the service of
the Lord. The soul dead in trespasseS and sin
cannot believe, and only believers can repent.
All who are regenerated believe, and all believ-
ers repent This is the Bible order. Not that
there is all interval between regeneration and
faith and between faith and repentance
We must be careful not to push our tech
nical distinction too far; but there is one diff
ference which exists between regeneration and
both faith and repentance, which is of great
practical Importance. In regeneration, we are
passive, just like the clay in the hand of the
potter. We do nothing because we can do
nothing. God comes to us; we cannot 60 to
him. In both faith and repentanceit it is differ
ent. Our passiveness ceases the moment we
are quickened into life, and we then begin to
be co-laborers with God in working out our
salvation. Regeneration is perfect at once
1t is the principle of life-rather it is life it.
self, and is as perfect in the babe as in the full
urou.n man Not so with either faith or re.