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New birth, with all its blessed relationships-the endearment and the nearness to the Father's heart and to every one that bears the marks of it-has been little understood, and often misapprehended. Some sign of exercise or conviction about sin has been placed at times as a substitute for it. This degrades new birth, and deceives the person. We read in Scripture, as God's order, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." It is guilty sinners who are to repent, and repenting sinners who are to believe the gospel. Again, "Repentance and remission of sins." It is evident that repentance is not remission of sins, but prepares for it. "Repent, and be converted." Repentance, therefore, is not conversion, but precedes it. Again, "Repentance unto life." Repentance is not from life possessed, but "unto life" needed. Again, "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Here is a clear distinction between repentance and faith. "Repentance," to use the words of another, "is the soul's view of self, confessed to God; faith, the soul's view of Christ." Once more, "Repentance unto salvation." In all these quotations from Scripture, the order is always the same.

"Repent!" is the preacher's trumpet-call to careless, sinful men-not his message to anxious inquirers. Christ came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," and "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth."

This responsibility which God has laid upon all men, upon sinners, has been sadly overlooked by two classes:First, those who are Indifferent as to the value of immortal souls (oh, that we were everywhere stirred from this sloth and slumber!)Second, those who shape everything by schools of doctrine and preconceived ideas. For instance, when man's responsibility is presented, it is often opposed by, "But you wouldn't ask sinners, dead in trespasses and sins, to repent, would you?"We readily answer, Decidedly we should, and warn them of the fearful danger in which they are; for "God commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent." Death (the state of the unconverted) does not mean that they are not living, responsible creatures. It does not mean that they are mummies. No! They are active in sin, though dead in their affections toward God. We are increasingly impressed with the thought that many do not seek enough to break up the fallow ground with God's loud call to men on account of their sins, and in view of their eternal doom. Death here means moral separation from God-the condition into which Adam fell and in which all are now by natural birth. Hence, as the child grows, it is as natural for it to do what is wrong as it is for water to run down. "Dead in sins" is separation from God, as physical death is separation of the soul from the body, for "the body without the spirit is dead." The lake of fire is declared to be "the second death"-separation from God forever. In no case can death be interpreted to mean the extinction of man or his responsibility. Death is not a state of irresponsibility, wherever applied. It is a separation in the relations which had existed.

Now here is where the evangelist is called to press God's claims upon sinful man-himself being a subject of grace, one who has been delivered from the pit. Awful indeed are the realities of eternity for the lost! With this before him, and the sense of the value of precious souls, he goes to sinners filled with compassionate love, and with the glory of God in the salvation of men upon his heart. His preaching may vary according as the need calls. At one time he declares, "God is light," and all that it means for men; at another, he declares that "God is love," and what that means for them. At one moment he uses the plow to prepare the soil; at another, he unfolds the gospel, telling of God's love and righteousness bound up in that gospel. In every case the object in view is to reach the conscience and heart of men, in order to win them for the Lord:if careless, to reach their conscience and lead to conviction and repentance; if under conviction, to show them the way of life and salvation.

Let us look, as the apostle did, for "works meet for repentance" in those who profess conversion. That is the evidence and sign that the conscience has been reached, that sin has been judged, and the proof of a new life received. A mother once said to me that all her boys were the Lord's. I asked what were her reasons for thinking so. She answered, "They all say they believe." "But," I continued, "have you discerned any exercise about their sins?" "Why-no," she answered. I then said, children may learn as parrots to say, "I believe." Let us not be deceived about such a vital question. The devils believe, and tremble; but they do not repent and believe. Let parents, teachers, Christian workers, one and all, make sure of a thorough work in people's souls about the issues of eternity!

"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish," said our Lord when here on earth. This, we grant, is deeper in some than in others. By some the sense of sin is more keenly felt, and more fully judged before God. With others there may not be the same apprehension, and hence not the same depth; but we insist that the fact itself must be there. Where the fallow ground has not been broken up there may be profession; but, like the stony-ground hearers, they will wither away, because there is no root (Luke 8). In the 8th of Acts Simon affords us a serious lesson in this respect. Three things are said of him:First, "himself believed;" second, "was baptized;" third, "continued with Philip;" but what follows shows us how far the man's heart was from God. Peter faithfully said to him, "Thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness… if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee." His sinful condition is exposed. The need of repentance is pressed, that forgiveness might be looked for.

John the Baptist, the man who so powerfully brought men's consciences into God's presence, preached repentance. His ministry preceded that of the Lord, as a necessary work to prepare men's hearts for the Saviour whose characteristic ministry was the glad tidings, which is "the power of God unto salvation."

We verily believe we are in the time when God is giving His last call to those in Christendom who have been so long privileged with light. His word to the profession in general is the same as His words to Sardis, "Repent" (Rev. 3). The coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and the parable of the ten virgins is given us as a solemn warning. The first love of many Christians has departed; and the Lord, who is ever true, says, "Repent, and do the first works" (Rev. 2). When Christians are thus in the freshness and power of God's truth, the Spirit will fill our hearts, and we will go forth with His message 'of loving warning and of grace to our fellow-men. The Lord's words in Mark 1, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel," will be the burden of our message to the world. "Feed my sheep. . .Feed my lambs," will urge upon us a loving pastoral care over those saved by His grace. Are we ready for this? Are we self-judged? Are we ready to say, "Here am I, Lord; send me?" Then the hatefulness of sin will deepen; self-judgment will become characteristic of the whole life; the indwelling Spirit will unfold through the Word the beauties and perfections of Christ, and His graces will be manifested in our daily life. A. E. Booth