my thoughts and actions may ever be so directed in the ways of thy laws, and the works of thy commandments, that in the great day of examination of all the world, I may be accepted by Thee, and may be reckoned amongst thy elect in thy heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

WEDNESDAY.

On the Duty of Repentance.

THERE is no duty more constantly enforced, both in the Old and New Testament, than repentance; and for this evident reason, that mankind have always sinned by their disobedience to the positive commands of God. And as peace of mind in this world, and hopes of happiness in the next, are only pro

mised to those who repent of, and correct their sins, how can those who feel no sorrow for their sins, nor endeavour to overcome them, by which alone repentance could be proved to be sincere, expect to be accepted of God, or presume to say, they wish for acceptance by Him? since, if we believe the Scriptures at all, we must believe that he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and rejects every impenitent sinner, whilst at the same time he pardons all who turn from their evil ways. Of this we have frequent instances recorded in the Bible, where, if the exhortations to repentance, and complaints of the obstinate impenitence of mankind, are nume rous, no less so are the promises of forgiveness to all those who turn to the Lord their God. Amongst many examples are those of Ahab, one of the most wicked kings of Israel, whose punishment, just ready to fall upon him, was remitted upon his deep humiliation; and David, whose two-fold sin had called for

heavy vengeance, yet when he was recalled to a sense of his guilt, and, struck with remorse, could only expect some dreadful denunciation, his repentance was accepted with these consoling words, "The Lord hath put away thy sin;" and though punishment in some degree followed, yet he received forgiveness. In both these striking instances, the punishment for sin threatened to follow the commission of it immediately, but very frequently this is not the case; at least, it is not apparent to the world; and from hence, the idea that sins often pass unpunished, is a consolatory reflection, perhaps, to those who shut their understandings against examination and conviction; but can we suppose such apparently unpunished persons are dead to all sense of right and wrong? We do not then consider, that from the jurisdiction of conscience no one can entirely withdraw; and that even in the most brilliant scenes of splendor and magnificence, when all wears

the face of gaiety and happiness, the miserable sinner may be writhing under the excruciating torments of conviction, and selfcondemnation.

We have, indeed, the example of the Israelites to warn us against blindness on this point; their journey through the wilderness is an emblem of our journey through life; and we find that their transgressions were usually followed by immediate punishment; but if not immediate, it was not remitted. "The Lord said, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them." The judgment was indeed deferred, but when it came it was tremendous.

In the new dispensation of the Gospel, the doctrine of repentance was still more urgently promulgated, and the practice of it encouraged by every motive that could act upon the fears and hopes of mankind. Jesus

Christ was not, indeed, in this respect, as in every other point of christian duty, a pattern for our imitation. His divine nature made

this impossible; in this instance only his precepts could not be enforced by example; for how could infinite goodness have subject for repentance? But it was the special commission of St. John the Baptist to call upon every one to repent; as a preparation for the reception of that perfect law of life which Jesus Christ came to publish to the world. Our Saviour also confirmed the doctrine of his messenger, when he said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

The word chiefly used in the New Testament to denote the duty of repentance, signifies change of mind; it is a conversion from that proneness to evil, which every man must be conscious of, to a sincere endeavour to serve the living God in truth, by thought, word, and deed. True repentance, therefore,