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〃Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven； whose sin is covered。 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity； And in whose spirit there is no guile。〃 Psalm 32：1； 2。 〃Have mercy upon me； O God； according to Thy loving…kindness： According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions。 。 。 。 For I acknowledge my transgressions： and my sin is ever before me。 。 。 。 Purge me with hyssop； and I shall be clean： wash me； and I shall be whiter than snow。 。 。 。 Create in me a clean heart； O God； And renew a right spirit within me。 Cast me not away from Thy presence； And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me。 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation； And uphold me with Thy free spirit。 。 。 。 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness； O God； Thou God of my salvation： And my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness。〃 Psalm 51：1…14。
A repentance such as this； is beyond the reach of our own power to accomplish； it is obtained only from Christ； who ascended up on high and has given gifts unto men。
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Just here is a point on which many may err； and hence they fail of receiving the help that Christ desires to give them。 They think that they cannot come to Christ unless they first repent； and that repentance prepares for the forgiveness of their sins。 It is true that repentance does precede the forgiveness of sins； for it is only the broken and contrite heart that will feel the need of a Saviour。 But must the sinner wait till he has repented before he can come to Jesus？ Is repentance to be made an obstacle between the sinner and the Saviour？
The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ； 〃Come unto Me； all ye that labor and are heavy…laden； and I will give you rest。〃 Matthew 11：28。 It is the virtue that goes forth from Christ； that leads to genuine repentance。 Peter made the matter clear in his statement to the Israelites when he said； 〃Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour； for to give repentance to Israel； and forgiveness of sins。〃 Acts 5：31。 We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ。
Christ is the source of every right impulse。 He is the only one that can implant in the heart enmity against sin。 Every desire for truth and purity； every conviction of our own sinfulness； is an evidence that His Spirit is moving upon our hearts。
Jesus has said； 〃I； if I be lifted up from the earth； will draw all men unto Me。〃 John 12：32。 Christ must be revealed to the sinner as the Saviour dying for the sins of the world； and as we behold the Lamb of
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God upon the cross of Calvary； the mystery of redemption begins to unfold to our minds and the goodness of God leads us to repentance。 In dying for sinners； Christ manifested a love that is incomprehensible； and as the sinner beholds this love； it softens the heart； impresses the mind； and inspires contrition in the soul。
It is true that men sometimes become ashamed of their sinful ways； and give up some of their evil habits； before they are conscious that they are being drawn to Christ。 But whenever they make an effort to reform； from a sincere desire to do right； it is the power of Christ that is drawing them。 An influence of which they are unconscious works upon the soul； and the conscience is quickened； and the outward life is amended。 And as Christ draws them to look upon His cross； to behold Him whom their sins have pierced； the commandment comes home to the conscience。 The wickedness of their life； the deep…seated sin of the soul； is revealed to them。 They begin to comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ； and exclaim； 〃What is sin； that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of its victim？ Was all this love； all this suffering； all this humiliation； demanded； that we might not perish； but have everlasting life？〃
The sinner may resist this love； may refuse to be drawn to Christ； but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus； a knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins； which have caused the sufferings of God's dear Son。
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The same divine mind that is working upon the things of nature is speaking to the hearts of men and creating an inexpressible craving for something they have not。 The things of the world cannot satisfy their longing。 The Spirit of God is pleading with them to seek for those things that alone can give peace and restthe grace of Christ； the joy of holiness。 Through influences seen and unseen； our Saviour is constantly at work to attract the minds of men from the unsatisfying pleasures of sin to the infinite blessings that may be theirs in Him。 To all these souls； who are vainly seeking to drink from the broken cisterns of this world； the divine message is addressed； 〃Let him that is athirst come。 And whosoever will； let him take the water of life freely。〃 Revelation 22：17。
You who in heart long for something better than this world can give； recognize this longing as the voice of God to your soul。 Ask Him to give you repentance； to reveal Christ to you in His infinite love； in His perfect purity。 In the Saviour's life the principles of God's lawlove to God and manwere perfectly exemplified。 Benevolence； unselfish love； was the life of His soul。 It is as we behold Him； as the light from our Saviour falls upon us； that we see the sinfulness of our own hearts。
We may have flattered ourselves； as did Nicodemus； that our life has been upright； that our moral character is correct； and think that we need not humble the heart before God； like the common sinner： but when the light from Christ shines into our souls； we shall see how impure we are； we shall discern the selfishness of motive； the enmity against God； that
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has defiled every act of life。 Then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as filthy rags； and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us from the defilement of sin； and renew our hearts in His own likeness。
One ray of the glory of God； one gleam of the purity of Christ； penetrating the soul； makes every spot of defilement painfully distinct； and lays bare the deformity and defects of the human character。 It makes apparent the unhallowed desires； the infidelity of the heart； the impurity of the lips。 The sinner's acts of disloyalty in making void the law of God； are exposed to his sight； and his spirit is stricken and afflicted under the searching influence of the Spirit of God。 He loathes himself as he views the pure； spotless character of Christ。
When the prophet Daniel beheld the glory surrounding the heavenly messenger that was sent unto him； he was overwhelmed with a sense of his own weakness and imperfection。 Describing the effect of the wonderful scene； he says； 〃There remained no strength in me： for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption； and I retained no strength。〃 Daniel 10：8。 The soul thus touched will hate its selfishness； abhor its self…love； and will seek； through Christ's righteousness； for the purity of heart that is in harmony with the law of God and the character of Christ。
Paul says that as 〃touching the righteousness which is in the law〃as far as outward acts were concerned he was 〃blameless〃 （Philippians 3：6）； but when the spiritual character of the law was discerned； he saw himself a sinner。 Judged by the letter of the law as
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men apply it to the outward life； he had abstained from sin； but when he looked into the depths of its holy precepts； and saw himself as God saw him； he bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt。 He says； 〃I was alive without the law once： but when the commandment came； sin revived； and I died。〃 Romans 7：9。 When he saw the spiritual nature of the law； sin appeared in its true hideousness； and his self…esteem was gone。
God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude； there are degrees of guilt in His estimation； as well as in that of man； but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men； no sin is small in the sight of God。 Man's judgment is partial； imperfect； but God estimates all things as they really are。 The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven； while pride； selfishness； and covetousness too often go unrebuked。 But these are sins that are especially offensive to God； for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character； to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe。 He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ； but pride feels no need； and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give。
The poor publican who prayed； 〃God be merciful to me a sinner〃 （Luke 18：13）； regarded himself as a very wicked man； and others looked upon