The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-06-26

Dut Is the ldQOer DY Wn1cn
the soul may climb. The test of genu-
ineness of repentance like that of the
silver coin is not in the ring, for the
counterfeit often gives out a sound
equal to that of the genuine coin. but
the test is found in its ability to stand
the applica tion of the acid. The spuri-
Gus coin will be eaten into by the biting
fluid, and the bogus repentance will be
revealed when the biting circum-
stances of desire and tempta tion again
are felt. Repent ye, but the fruits of
that repentance must prove whether
it really is repentance or only mo-
mentary troubling of conscience, which
feeling will evaporate before the heat
of trial.
CAUL was sorry for his act of DISC
- bedience which cost him the sharp
rebuke of the prophet and the king
dom. but repentance never moved with
in his heart and he went headlong to
miserable death. David not only felt
sorry for his great sin, but he repented
in sack cloth and ashes, and later
wrote: THE sacrifices of God are
broken spirit; broken and contrite
heart, o God, Thou wilt not despise."
The sorrow of his heart was mani
tested in the outward life of his
changed conduct. The rich young
ruler left Jesus sorrowful, but re-
pentance did not come to make him
willing to give his all to the Lord and
help him to lead a new life in humble
service. All who came to John and
were baptized in the Jordan made
profession of repentance, but it was
only as Pharisees and Sadducees gave
expression in their outward lives of
pure religion and undefiled," it was
only as the people gave that others
might have raiment and meat, it was
only as the publicans in their tax gath
ering only eXacted that which they
were entitled to, it was only is the sol
diers violated no mans person or
rights, did not bear false witness, and
did not plot mutiny and rebellion, that
the genuineness of the repentance
which they prOfessed was made evil
dent. See how strikingly this is ex-
emplified in the experience of fZaccheus.
He quit eXtortiOn, he restored the goods
he had taken wrongfully, and Jesus
declared: This day is salvation come
to this house" And all throughout
Jericho and the surrounding country
it was soon known that Zaccheus had
repented and become changed man,
for the widow, the struggling trades
man and farmer whom he had robbed
in his tax gathering were made to re-
joice with a fourfold return of their
goods, and the poor of the city were
warmed and fed and clothed by the
generous gifts which the converted
publican gave even to the half of his
great possessions.
p UT the test of genuine repentance is
II found not only in the changed l&e,
but in the patience manifested in that
life when the accumulated conse-
quences of past mistakes and misdeeds
press upon the soul. God forgives, but
He does not always remove the con-
sequences of sin. The boy who drove
nail into the post every time he told
| a lie, and who, after he had filled the
post full, began to draw them out,
one by one, whenever temptation was
overcome and he told the truth, was
panied by the fact that the nail holes
were still there with their disfguring
marks. 1t is so with the sin marks and
failures in the life. The scars remain.
Careless neglect of duty, the seeking
of the qualification of selfish desires
and aims may plunge one into difficult
ties which are exceedingly trying and
painful, and the genuineness of the re-
pentance for the wrong and evil that
have crept into the life is measured by
the patience with which those difficult
ties and trials are faced. The bringing
forth of fruits meet for repentance
here has its realization. That is not
repentance which is sorrow because
the consequences of sin and wrong
doing must be endured. Repentance
that arises simply from desire to es-
cape the penalties of sin is not genuine
repentance.
The prisoner in the dock is sorry be-
cause of the punishment which is about
to be inflicted upon him for his wrong
doing He makes profession of re-
pentance in the hope, perhaps, that he
may escape the penalty of his sin
wholly or in part. While he feels the
penalties of sin pressing hard upon
him he is repentant, but once escaped
from the consequences of sin, he for
gets the professed repentance and is
soon back into the old ways and the old
life But real repentance would find
expression in patiently enduring the
consequences of the wrong doing and
the turning from ways which would
make repetition of the sin and wrong
doing possible
THE message of John was the
same to all. People from all
classes and conditions in life sought
him out in his wilderness retreat.
There were the religious teachers and
great numbers of common people.
there were the rich and the poor. the
public officials and the soldiers. And
to one and all, the message of John
the Baptist was repent ye," bring
forth therefore fruits meet for repen-
tance" And to all the world to-day
the same message sounds forth. Re
pent ye." Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance" Repentance and
the evidences of that repentance were
the necessary parations for the com
ing of the Lord. Jesus entering Jeru-
salem as the King rode over a pathway