Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came."

I. THE SUMMONS TO REPENT.--John has a ministry with all men. In other
words, he represents a phase of teaching and influence through which we
must needs pass if we are properly to discover and appreciate the grace
of Christ. With us, too, a preparatory work has to be done. There are
mountains and hills of pride and self-will that have to be levelled;
crooked and devious ways that have to be straightened; ruggednesses
that have to be smoothed--before we can fully behold the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ. In proportion to the thoroughness and
permanence of our repentance will be our glad realization of the
fulness and glory of the Lamb of God.

But we must guard ourselves here, lest it be supposed that repentance
is a species of good work which must be performed in order that we may
merit the grace of Christ. It must be made equally clear, that
repentance must not be viewed apart from faith in the Saviour, which is
an integral part of it. It is also certain that, though "God
commandeth all men everywhere to repent," yet Jesus is exalted "to give
repentance and the remission of sins."

Repentance, according to the literal rendering of the Greek word, is "a
change of mind." Perhaps we should rather say, it is a change in the
attitude of the will. The unrepentant soul chooses its own way and
will, regardless of the law of God. "The mind of the flesh is enmity
against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed,
can it be; and they that are in the flesh cannot please God." But in
repentance the soul changes its attitude. It no longer refuses the
yoke of God's will, like a restive heifer, but yields to it, or is
willing to yield. There is a compunction, a sense of the hollowness of
all created things, a relenting, a wistful yearning after the true
life, and ultimately a turning from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan unto God. The habits may rebel; the inclinations and
emotions may shrink back; the consciousness of peace and joy may yet be
far away--but the will has made its secret decision, and has begun to
turn to God: as, in the revolution of the earth, the place where we
live reaches its furthest point from the sunlight, passes it, and
begins slowly to return towards its warm smiles and embrace.

It cannot be too strongly emphasized that repentance is an act of the
_will_. In its beginning there may be no sense of g