Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09

there can be no repentance. As long as
man goes on hiding fron dimself that he II
doing wrong. 90 long does he battle the
Holy Spirit Ia His work of conviction OF sine
Sometimes our sins seam to be to US
trivial because they have been committed
against another man whom we know to be
no better: perhaps not g eood as ourselves a ..
sin. 1T realizes that evsry sin committed.
no matter against whom, n really commit
ted against God. Thsrsfere there are no
After q realisation OF SIN and uncleanness.
true repentance longs tabs made clean and
to have spirit put Within 1t that shall not
further tempt to sin agaiaal.
Christ's presence and lungs to be restored
to the Joy OF salvation. True repentance
realizes its own weaknesssand trusts In God
for strength and UNFOLDING.
True repentance will make man long to
be such that he can consistently teach 9TH
ers the way to God and be the means Of
bringing sinners to the kingdom.
Repentance reaches to the lips and breaks
forth in praise to the God who can forgive.
And lastly true repentance Ia ready for any
sacrifice that God may require, but knows
that an humble. broken spirit and a contrite
heart are all that He requires, and re5oices
to give it.
This is repentace between God and the
soul. One would naturally expect this to
come first, but perhaps there is a deeper
thought In the mind of those who selected
the chapter in Luke as first. We are told
that II we bring the gift to the altar, and
there remember that our brother hath
reconciled to the brother and then come
bringing the gift, and l take it that even
the gift of humble and contrite heart or
the sacrifices of a broken spirit will not be
and we give not to the brother who has
none. We are to bring forth fruits, meet
for repentance" and not go boasting that
we have come of good old Puritan STOCK
or hnnr oh Yoh all 0,rr Ivyno
have Abraham to our father
You sometimes hear people urge that they
cannot be Christians because of the business
they are In, which requires them to do
something inconsistent with what they con-
slider Christianity to be. True repentance,
true desire to follow Christ, will not con-
slider any such excuse. It will find way
to be honest and God-like wherever placed.
or else 1t will find way to get out of that
business. Christ found a way for every
man that came to Him to repent. When
they came and asked Him what shall I
do?" He had an answer ready for each in
dividual case. The people, the aristocracy,
what were they to do? Get down from their
lofty height and divide with their poorer
neighbors. not spend their time in providing
rich food and soft raiment for their own
selfish use. = That was what repentance
meant for them.
Probably in those days 1t was a common
saying that man could not be a publican
and Christian. It was impossible, 1t was
incompatible, just as today 1t is SO often
remarked, and wrongly, that man cannot
be politician and a Christian. Jesus found
a way. Exact no more than that which is
appointed you" If the modern politician
should carry that principle into effect, as a
few rare ones are doing. would he not be
able to follow Jesus?
And even the rough soldiers, grumbling at
their poor pay, and throwing 1t away in
careless self-indulgence. Yes, even the men
Of war might find way of repentance
There is no place in life but II we go to
Jesus and ask what we shall do He will
tell US directly what fruits of repentance
we are to bring forth
Applied Truth.
Suppose 1 am going to Boston tonight,
and go down to the union depot and say
to a man I see there. Can you tell me, 10
this train going to Boston? and the man
says Yes and go and get on board the
train. and Mr.. Dodge comes along and says,
Where are you goingr I say. I am going
to Boston, and Mr.. Dodge says, Well you
are on the wrong: train, that train is going
to Albany. But, Mr.. Dodge, am quite
sure l am right: 1 asked a railroad man
here and he told me this was the train
And Mr.. Dodge says, Moody know all
about these trains; 1 have lived here forty
years. and go up and down on these trains
every day.. and at last Mr.. Dodge con-
vinces me I'm On the wrong train. That is
conviction, not conversion But If I don't
other train, that is repentance Just to
MOODY.
How to help the leader.-You cannot bet
ter help another struggling soul than to tell
of some repentance of your own, In just
few words How hard it was to make the
acknowledgment and undo, as far as you
could, the wrong you had done. You need
not make it SO plain that people will know
exactly when and where it was. Speak in
general terms e-
Parallel passages.-Psalms 1876; Job 1915;
Hosea 14:2; Matthew 3:S; Matthew 1915:
Luke 1877: Acts 2619. 20: 2 Corinthians I:
10, II; John 1:9.
Christian Endeavor hymns, II. 16, 40. 81.
1873. 2O6.
The Endeavor hymnaI Al, 40, SO, 1853, 100.
Ask members to give tests of repentance.
Ask, What is repentance?" Allow num-
Der Of answers as well as Illustrations
Toward the close of meeting sing Just as
Am" before season Of prayer, and at its
close. with heads still bowed, and without
accompaniment, sing the second verse Of
GLORY to Thee, my God. this night"
Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ills that this day have done,
That with the world. myself, and Thee,
/, ere sleep, at peace may be-.
IF we put repentance off another day,
we have day. more to repent Of, and day
less to repent In" w. MASON.
Dazed with fear. flies to tree
When the muttering thunder's heard,
Father now, not daring fee,
creep away to Thee.
Twas my own misguided fight
Brought me far away from home.
Put me in this sorry plight,
Almost overcome;
I'll creep away to Thee.
Thou wilt shelter till it's DER.
Thou wilt me forgive,
Thou wilt hush the temPest's roar.
Thou wilt make me to live;
I'll creep away to Thee.