February 13

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of.—2 Corinthians 7:10.

HAVE I felt that godly sorrow for sin, and that deep humiliation in view of it, which are necessary to true repentance? Has it wrought in me "indignation" at sin? Has it wrought "fear"—the fear of distrust, not of God, but of myself? Has it wrought a "vehement desire" after thorough reformation of heart and life? Has it led me to turn from sin, not merely because it is ruinous, but because it is wrong, and offensive to God?

Repentance is not merely an act: it is a habit, leading us more and more to turn from the ways of sin, to the ways of righteousness. True repentance, says Ambrose, is to cease from sin; and as long as we are subject to sin, so long we must be striving to cease from it.

I hope to continue my penitence to the very end of life; for every day I find I am a sinner, and every day I need to repent:—and so by God's help I mean to carry my repentance to the very gates of heaven. If I repent every day for the sins of every day, when I come to die I shall have the sin of but one day to repent of.—PHILIP HENRY.

A broken heart, O Lord, Thou never wilt despise; 'Tis written in thy holy word This is the sacrifice That thou in Christ wilt always own, The broken, contrite heart alone!