cannot be separated from the other.

That the phrase here intends repentance unto the ceasing from sin, the
giving up of what is wrong, I will try to show at least probable.

In the first place, the user of the phrase either defines the change of
mind he means as one that has for its object the pardon of God, or as
one that reaches to a new life: the latter seems to me the more natural
interpretation by far. The kind and scope of the repentance or change,
and not any end to be gained by it, appears intended. The change must be
one of will and conduct--a radical change of life on the part of the
man: he must repent--that is, change his mind--not to a different
opinion, not even to a mere betterment of his conduct--not to anything
less than a sending away of his sins. This interpretation of the
preaching of the Baptist seems to me, I repeat, the more direct, the
fuller of meaning, the more logical.

Next, in St Matthew's gospel, the Baptist's buttressing argument, or
imminent motive for the change he is pressing upon the people is, that
the kingdom of heaven is at hand: 'Because the king of heaven is coming,
you must give up your sinning.' The same argument for immediate action
lies in his quotation from Isaiah,--'Prepare ye the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' The only true, the
only possible preparation for the coming Lord, is to cease from doing
evil, and begin to do well--to send away sin. They must cleanse, not the
streets of their cities, not their houses or their garments or even
their persons, but their hearts and their doings. It is true the Baptist
did not see that the kingdom coming was not of this world, but of the
higher world in the hearts of men; it is true that his faith failed him
in his imprisonment, because he heard of no martial movement on the part
of the Lord, no assertion of his sovereignty, no convincing show of his
power; but he did see plainly that righteousness was essential to the
kingdom of heaven. That he did not yet perceive that righteousness _is_
the kingdom of heaven; that he did not see that the Lord was already
initiating his kingdom by sending away sin out of the hearts of his
people, is not wonderful. The Lord's answer to his fore-runner's message
of doubt, was to send his messenger back an eye-witness of what he was
doing, so to wake or clarify in him the perception that his kingdom was
not of this world--that he dealt with other means to another