Year: 1872

Services Yesterda y-SermOn by Rev.


Father Bjerring on Repentance.


Rev. Father Bjerring preached a short sermon
on repentance yesterday at the small Russian
Greek chapel on Second avenue, taking for his
text Luke ill., 3:-"And John came into all the
country about Jordan, preaching the baptism OF
repentance for the remission of SINS" The chapel
was comfortably filed, and the reverend gentle
man conducted the liturgy partly In English and
partly in the Russian language. After a while the
whole service will be conducted in English The
subjoned Is the sermon:-As often as the Jews
sighed under the pressure OF misery their desires
became more strong after Him from whom they
expected, in accordance with the declarations OF
their prophets, the usherng in OF better times. In
the fifteenth year OF the reign OF


THE EMPEROR TIBERIUs


appeared among them John, who proclaimed the
advent OF Him who should create these better
times, but at the same time he also exclaimed,
"Repent ye.r This was Jesus OF Nazareth, long
expected by the nations, who appeared soon after
to establish by His divine teachings the kingdom
OF truth and Of virtue. II we followed this
light which Jesus knded upon earth, and
strove with all earnestness after that virtue
which he taught to men, then we too would
feel the rest and the peace OF soul which nowhere
is to be found save in Him, the beloved Saviour.





preached, and to which he exhorted all persons,
without distinction-this repentance is necessary
also for us. What is the meaning OF repentance
This is Just the misfortune with so many, that they
take for repentance that which Is not repentance.
Therefore 1t may, perhaps be not supernuous u
show to-day wherein true repentance consists.
What did


THE OLD PROPHETS


demand from the Jews, who led q wicked life
Was Ii only that they should put on robe OF re-
pentance and strew ashes upon their heads Did


s NOT Af soa ia a0 he IN
which ye have broken my law, and adorn your
selves with new spirit and with new heart.
What did John the Baptist require from the Jews
that came to him in the wilderness Did he per-
haps require them to put on, like himself, rough
garment and to eat locusts and wild honey Did
he not rather tell the rich that they should dis
tribute OF their abundance TO the poor Did he
not tell the publicans that they should not ask be-
yond the due charge and the soldiers that they
should do violence TO no man? What did Christ
and the apostles require Perhaps strict, contlnu-
they not rather require a spiritual new birth-a
new man, and a turning away from sin Repent
ance consists not alone in external acts OF re.
and strew thy head with ashes; though
and confess. If thou dost not thereby change thy
heart and llfc then is that repentance only q
shadow-only an appearance, only selfdeceit. 1t
! is not the repentance which


THE LORD REQUIRES


from thee. True repentance consists in the
change OF the wicked heart and sinful life. The
sinner who wishes truly to repent must undergo a
total change; he must as the Holy scriptures de-
clare, be born again-become totally different
man; he must entirely change his mind and his
life. Out OF the heart proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, murders, THEFT false witness, SANDER.
ings but where sin takes its origin there also
| must repentance begin. Therefore what the siu
|. ner loves the penitcnt must hate. The child thai
/ was unthankfu and disobedient TO its parents must
! be grateful and obedient: the father and mother
that were careless as to the education OF theil
children must earnestly care for their good educa
i ton; the husband that lived In discord must seel
peace; he who was calumnlator must speal


truth. This is the doctrine OF the Christian Church
| without doubt to conquer the evil lusts, TO aDan
| don the way OF sin and TO walk the path OF virtue
| Is at the cost OF many q fight and victory But
| we only have the earnest desire God viii help u