March 16

Acts ii.—37. Now, when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The apostles were called to meet that question which has ever since been the question of the soul awakened to the sense of its guilt and need, "What shall I do? How can I be saved." Their answer, given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, contains specific and precise instruction for every case.

What Peter did not say is highly significant. He did not himself grant indulgence, nor pronounce absolution; did not prescribe a course of penance, nor enjoin any church rites, ceremonies, obligations, or beliefs, as necessary to salvation, or the means of procuring it. He addressed himself to the mind, — the conscience, the understanding, the feelings, the will. Repent was his first word. Literally, change your mind, — the state of your mind; change your views and feelings toward Christ, change your motives and aims in living; change the inner, abiding, governing purpose of your soul; renounce the evil, and set your heart upon serving and pleasing Christ. This counsel applied equally to all. Peter's audience was made up of people who were religious in their way, "devout"

42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need.

46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47. Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

in keeping their church appointments: no charge of immorality was brought against them; but they had all rejected Christ. Some had done this blindly, through prejudice; others wilfully, through passion. But no degrees of guilt were measured; one and all, they were summoned to repent.

Every man has something to repent of before God, — his selfish heart, his proud will, his unbelief, his worldliness, his ingratitude, his indifference to spiritual things. One who does not confess his obligation to repent cannot offer the Lord's Prayer with its express petition for the forgiveness of sin. Repentance should be followed by the open confession of Christ, of which baptism is the visible symbol, — the acknowledgment of Jesus as the Saviour, through whom alone remission of sins can be obtained. Three thousand penitents thus openly confessed Christ upon the day of Pentecost. They at once proved the sincerity of their new faith by the largeness of their liberality, the fervor of their love, the constancy of their devotion.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 30, 113.

Almighty and everlasting God, who art ever ready to hearken to the cry of the humble, and hast promised to refuse none who come to thee in the name of thy dear Son, look upon us in mercy for his sake, and grant our requests. We thank thee that we have a throne of grace to come to; that thine ear is ever open to the prayers of thy children; and that the arms of thy mercy are stretched out towards us. Lord, we come to thee as to a father: give us, we pray thee, a father's blessing. Thou knowest how we have, one and all, wandered from thee.

Our sins are great; but great also is thy forbearance. Oh, may thy goodness lead us to repentance! May the love of Christ be shed abroad in our hearts, and constrain us to live no longer to ourselves, but to thee. Thou hast brought us safely through the night: blessed be thy name for preserving us from dangers both seen and unseen, for spreading our table with plenty, and for all the kindness we receive from those around us.

But, O Lord! we praise thee especially for those gifts which concern the welfare of our souls, — for

thy holy Word, for thy ministers, for thy house of prayer, for the means of grace, and for the hope of future glory.

Have mercy on those who are deprived of the blessings we enjoy. Visit with thy compassion the houseless, the fatherless, and the afflicted. Dry up the tears of all that mourn. Pity the ignorant, and those that are out of the way. Thou Saviour of the lost, bring home the wanderers to thy fold. Bless those who are gone forth to proclaim thy truth in distant lands: cheer and encourage their hearts; strengthen their faith; give them boldness and wisdom and love; preserve them from every peril; and crown their labors with success.

And grant, blessed Lord, that we who have the light may walk in the light. Oh! enable us to shine brightly for thee in the midst of a dark world. May we not only own thee with our lips, but may we follow thee with all our hearts! And do thou make us now and ever thine, through Him who died, and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us. Amen.