SINS TO BE REPENTED OF
‘Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.’
When we use these words we must be careful that we do not mean ‘Bring forth fruits,’ i.e. do works which would entitle you to receive the grace of ‘repentance,’ but do works worthy of, or corresponding to, the ‘repentance’ which you already feel and profess.
‘Repentance’ is an impression wrought upon the heart, by the grace of God, whereby, under a deep sense of sin committed against Him, the feelings are changed, the mind sees everything in a new light, and adopts a course the exact opposite to that which it previously was pursuing. What the Bible teaches us is this, that where that root is planted in the heart, it must bring forth ‘fruit’ to match. There must be something in the life correspondent with the feelings; otherwise, there is no vitality; the ‘repentance’ is unreal. The effect must be worthy of the cause which produces it.
I. Our own, not other people’s sins.—It would be very little good to-day if we were now to consider what may be the sins of other people. It is a very easy kind of’ repentance’ to confess the errors of our neighbours. We have nothing to do with that. What we have to do with is our own personal sins.
II. Abuse of money.—There is no doubt, that as a people, we have been growing very rich. I believe that the general prosperity of this country is almost, if not quite, unprecedented in the history of the world. But have we rendered back to God according to that which we have received from His hand? Now our charities, our church building, our home and foreign missions—have they kept pace with the immense increase of England’s wealth? Rather, is not the race for money inordinate? And is it not characteristically a selfish and luxurious age? See how lavishly money is spent on fashion and the indulgences of life, and how sparingly it goes into God’s coffers! What tremendous inequality there is between the rich and the poor in this country! How many societies are languishing for want of funds! What a deficiency there is in our great towns of churches and clergy! What is going back to God? ‘Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord.’
III. Neglect of Sunday.—And as it has been with money, so it has been with time. The seventh part of time, which He, the Great Proprietor of all time, claims in His sovereignty, has not been accorded to Him. Our Sundays have been increasingly violated. The multitude which take their pleasure on the Lord’s Day, and neglect the assembling of themselves together, is exceeding great. In our large towns, the attendance on public worship is scanty indeed. Yet remember, the Sabbath is God’s property, given us in trust for His glory, and for His creatures’ sake; and He will never allow it to be taken away. ‘Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me.’
IV. Our unhappy divisions.—And our divisions are very wide. Where does God see His own unity? Is not our own Church of England rent, till the marvel is, how its beautiful net-work can hold together till we reach the shore? We declare our belief in the real eternal oneness of the whole mystical body of Christ,—but where is it? In controversy? In harsh judgments, and hard speeches? In separations? In schism?
V. What must we do?—How shall we ‘bring forth worthy fruits of repentance’? Be very practical. Take care that your religion neither begins nor ends in a feeling or in a service. Amend your own ways. Give God His own. Observe the Lord’s Day by attendance at the Lord’s own service. Pray and work for unity.
—The Rev. James Vaughan.
Illustration
(1) ‘As the length of the roots of a tree under the ground, so is the width and the breadth of its branches above; and the flavour of the sap may always be detected in the grain. Just so it is to be in that beautiful plant of godly sorrow. There must be a mellowedness and tenderness under it; you must “bring forth fruits meet for repentance.” ’