be developed in
him. It is but common sense that a man, longing to be freed from
suffering, or made able to bear it, should betake himself to the Power
by whom he is. Equally is it common sense that, if a man would be
delivered from the evil in him, he must himself begin to cast it out,
himself begin to disobey it, and work righteousness. As much as either
is it common sense that a man should look for and expect the help of his
Father in the endeavour. Alone, he might labour to all eternity and not
succeed. He who has not made himself, cannot set himself right without
him who made him. But his maker is in him, and is his strength. The man,
however, who, instead of doing what he is told, broods speculating on
the metaphysics of him who calls him to his work, stands leaning his
back against the door by which the Lord would enter to help him. The
moment he sets about putting straight the thing that is crooked--I mean
doing right where he has been doing wrong, he withdraws from the
entrance, gives way for the Master to come in. He cannot make himself
pure, but he can leave that which is impure; he can spread out the
'defiled, discoloured web' of his life before the bleaching sun of
righteousness; he cannot save himself, but he can let the Lord save him.
The struggle of his weakness is as essential to the coming victory as
the strength of Him who resisted unto death, striving against sin.

The sum of the whole matter is this:--The Son has come from the Father
to set the children free from their sins; the children must hear and
obey him, that he may send forth judgment unto victory.

Son of our Father, help us to do what thou sayest, and so with thee die
unto sin, that we may rise to the sonship for which we were created.
Help us to repent even to the sending away of our sins.

_THE REMISSION OF SINS._

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance
for the remission of sins.--_Mark_ i. 4.

God and man must combine for salvation from sin, and the same word, here
and elsewhere translated _remission_, seems to be employed in the New
Testament for the share of either in the great deliverance.

But first let me say something concerning the word here and everywhere
translated _repentance_. I would not even suggest a mistranslation; but
the idea intended by the word has been so misunderstood and therefore
mistaught, that it requires some consideration of the word itself to get
at a right reco