"Most willingly, if it is desired."
Unanimous approval was at once manifested, and the western man proceeded.
"The second follows the first, just as naturally as the second step follows the first when a child learns to walk. When faith in God is once created, the knowledge that we have at some time, perhaps many times during our lives, done things displeasing to Him, naturally follows immediately, therefore repentance makes its appearance as the second principle of the gospel. When John came preaching in the wilderness, as the forerunner of Christ, his message to the people was, 'Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matt. iii: 2.) When Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, it was with a message calling them to repentance. (Mark i: 15.) When He chose His disciples and began sending them forth, it was to call mankind to repentance. (Mark vi: 7-12.) When He upbraided the cities wherein the most of His mighty works were done, it was because they repented not. (Matt. xi: 20.) True repentance is that which will cause him who stole to steal no more; that which will keep corrupt communications from our mouths; that which will cause us to so conduct our walks through life as not to grieve the Spirit of God; that which will cause all bitterness, wrath, anger, and evil speaking to be put away from us, and will make us kind one to another, tender-hearted and forgiving even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven us. (Ephesians iv: 28-32.) When he who has committed a sin shall commit it no more, then he has repented with that Godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation, and not with the sorrow of the world, bringing with it death. (II. Cor. vii: 10.) When a sinner repents with such repentance more joy is found in heaven than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke xv: 7.) This, then, ladies and gentlemen, is the second round in the gospel ladder according to the plan given us by the Master, and without it, faith is of no substantial consequence whatever."
"Your reasoning is both logical and just," said Brown, "and no one can find fault with those doctrines. This world of ours would certainly be more pleasant if these teachings were followed, and when a person is filled with that kind of faith, and has truly repented with such repentance, it must be manifest that he is entitled to salvation."
"But he must not stop at that," the speaker went on, "there are other principles just as important, just as necessary, for him to obey. If I am in possession of enough faith to convince me that I have sinned against you, and the knowledge of this causes me sincerely to repent, I must not and cannot rest until I am satisfied I have your forgiveness for the wrong. So it is with sinning against God and His laws; He has marked out the path of repentance and it is our duty to follow that divine way until we arrive at the sacred altar of forgiveness. Sin must be forgiven before it can be wiped out, and God in His wisdom selected and placed in His Church water baptism, as spoken of last night, for this purpose. It is a means whereby man can receive forgiveness of sin."
"And do you really believe that baptism brings forgiveness of sin?" queried the lawyer.
"Certainly, provided, however, honest faith and sincere repentance go before it, and the ordinance is administered in the proper way by one who is endowed with divine authority; otherwise I believe it is of no avail whatever."
"It seems to me you surround the principle of baptism with more safeguards than anyone else of whom I have ever heard. Why so?"
"Perhaps I do, and yet it should not be the case. Every principle of the gospel should be well and carefully protected, and the failure on the part of man to do this is the main cause of so many different so-called plans of salvation existing among us today, when there should be only one true and perfect plan, as found in the days of Christ."
"You are certainly giving me ample information on religious conditions. It does seem strange that there should be so many different roads, leading, as is claimed, in one direction. I declare, I never thought of that before."