Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/284

God, who willeth not the death of a sinner, but dealeth graciously towards repentance, pouring a healthful juice within them." In like manner St. Clement of Alexandria^[1], relating the restoration of the robber-chief through the self-devotion and earnestness of the aged Apostle St. John, (already referred to,) describes him "as asking pardon, as he could, with groans, and baptized a second time with tears:" St. John "solemnly declaring, that he had obtained pardon for him from the Saviour, and kissing his right hand as having been cleansed by repentance [it had been stained with blood], brought him back to the Church; and interceding with abundant prayers, striving with and for him, by constant fastings, and charming his mind with various words [of Scripture], departed not until he had restored him to the Church: having given," says St. Clement, "a mighty pattern of true repentance, a mighty proof of re-generation, a trophy of the hoped-for resurrection, when, at the end of the world, the angels shall receive the true penitent into everlasting habitations." And this history St. Clement relates, "in order that men may see, that a good hope of salvation yet remains, on true repentance:" and this repentance he describes, in contrast with the complete gift at Baptism^[2]. "God gives remission of the former sins: of subsequent, each must obtain it for himself. And this is to repent,—to condemn the past, to beg oblivion of them from the Father, who alone is able to make things done undone, and by His mercy and the dew of His Spirit, to efface former sins. He who hath lived ill, having repented, may afterwards overpower the evil intercourse of a long season, by the season after repentance. But much diligent care is needed, as careful diet and greater heed are for bodies which have laboured under a long disease." And so again, when shewing, that the law which commanded the death of the adulteress was an image of the Gospel which slays the sin, he says^[3], "the law agrees then with the Gospel; for the adulteress liveth to sin, but is dead to the commandments; but she, who

1. Quis dives salvetur, vers. fin.: also ap. Euseb. H. E. L. iii. c. 23.
2. § 40.
3. Strom. L. ii. fin.