REPENTANCE.
Sin cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. It is so entirely opposed, so essentially antagonistic to the spirit of righteousness, that the two cannot possibly dwell together. God does not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. Consequently the soul which aspires to His presence, which expects to behold His face and be able to endure His glory, must be previously cleansed and purified from all sin. Now, no soul was ever successful in getting rid of its sins that did not first sincerely repent of them. No fault was ever corrected that was not first discovered and confessed; no habit was ever reformed that had not first been freely acknowledged; and no sin can in any wise be remitted until its perpetration has been truly repented of, and its perpetrator is resolutely resolved against its repetition. It is useless for any accountable being to say that he is without sin. The Scriptures declare that all men are sinful and that no man can truthfully claim exemption from the universal imputation. Little children (under eight years) are not responsible for their acts, and being sinless and therefore unable to repent, are redeemed by the blood of Christ from the foundation of the world. But all accountable souls, to whom the Gospel of salvation is sent, must repent of and forsake their evil ways, habits, deeds and desires, if they wish to make any headway in the pursuit of the precious prize of everlasting exaltation.