Yer. 13.-Bpiritual repentance. Throughout the Scriptures the one indispensable condition of man's forgiveness and of his acceptance with God, which. is insisted upon by all inspired writers, is repentance. It is, therefore, of great importance to have .l right view of this exercise or posture of the soul. I. TnuE BEPENTANOE DOES NOT CONSIST IN ANY EX.TERN.AL, CEREMONIAL 0BSDVANCB. In the East especially it has always been common to pracme rites of a symbolical character in connection with the religious life. Sorrow and penitence are expressed by ,the rending of the garments. Now, it is in accordance with human nature that the , sign should be substituted for the thing signified, the outward observance and ceremony . for the feeling. It is an evidence of the divinity and spirituality of the religion of the Old Testament that, in this 88 in other passages, the mere symbol should be diswiraged in comparison with the emotion which it represents. II. TBUE AND ACCEPTABLE BEPENTANOE IS SPIRITUAL. 1. Its seat is the heart. A broken and a contrite heart will not be despised by him who cares nothing for rent garments, for sackcloth and 88hes, for loud and repeated lamentations. 2. Its essence is turning unto the Lord, i.e. away from sin and away from self, to him against whom the sinner has offended, and by whom alone the sinner can be justified. III. Tmra REPENTANCE IS PROJIIPI'ED BY JUST THOUGHTS OF GoD AS MERCIFUL AND FORGIVING. 1. In disposition (if language so human may be allowed concerning the Supreme) God is gracious, merciful, forbearing. If his only principle of government had been the strict retribution which some have attributed to him, there would be no encouragement to the sinner to repent of sins which could never be forgiven. 2. In his treatment of men, God is characterized by great kindness, such a.sour poor, stricken, clinging hearts especially need and crave for. 3. In regard to threats and promises, God makes himself known 88 repenting of the evil. The threat of punishment is not idle. But the revelation of mercy, the promise of grace, is far deeper than all threa.ten- ,:ing. Denuncia.tions of wrath are for the impenitent and unbelieving; but when sinners repent of tl1eir sin, God repents of his purpose to destroy.-T. Ver. 14.-The hope of reconciliation. This language is figurative, and may be deemed by some open to the charge of anthropomorphism. Yet it is very simple, very nature.I, and very expressive. God is represented as a king and warrior, who has been offended by hie subjects, and who has come down from hi~ palace at the head of hi8 ,army, to chastise the rebellious; but who has been met wi~h the language of sub- mission a.nd supplication, and whose wrath is averted, so that it is hoped that, instead of punishing he ma.y show mercy, and me.y return to hie 11alace, leaving behind. him ,11ome tokens of hie favour and forgiveness. 8A THE BOOK OF JOEL. [on. II. 1-32.
J. \VREN llltN T1IIN1[ OF THEIR OWN D,J, DB8DTll1 TRff MAT 'WKLr, FEAR TBR OONH•:QUENOJJB OF GoD'II 'NOTICE AND AOTIOlt, II. nuT WHEN THEY THINK OF GoD'B OJIABACTER AND PBOH[81':B1 'l'IIBY MA y WIILL CHEIIIBH THI': JIOMI: 'l'IIAT HE WILL HAn XBBOY UPON THKIL JI[, WHBN FAITRFOI, AND REPl:'NTANT1 Kn KAY LOOK, NOT KBBBLT FOIi TRB REMIBl!JON OF .JUSTLY THREATENED PENALTID, B'O'T l'OB TRB 11:NJOYMB:ilT· OF UNDlll- l!ERVF.D BLE8HJNG8, APPLICATION. If we were to think chlefty of our own sins and unworthiness tho utmoHt that we could do would be to cherieb eomo faint hopo that rueroy might be extended to us. Th08e untaught by revelation, if they have any sense of their 11inful- ness, cannot go beyond thie: "Who can tell if he will repent?" But those who are in JXl'l8eBRion of the gl~ tidings which are by Jesus Christ will bo guilty .,f distrusting and dishonouring God. if this be their mental attitude. They have the expreee &BSul'&nces of " him who cannot lie," and who has promised th«t the penitent and believing sinner shall be pardoned, and put into the enjoyment of all spiritual blessings. They are not, therefore, at liberty to doubt, but are .bound to credit and to act upon the revelation of a faithful and merciful God.-T.