Fifthly, of those who repent when trouble befalls them.  How much nobler is this than human nature!  Instance Jephtah:  “Did ye not hate me ... and why are ye come unto me now when you are in distress?” But the infinite mercy of our God accepts even such repentance; as it is written, “When thou art in tribulation, and all these things have overtaken thee ... then wilt thou return unto the Lord thy God.”  Founded upon this is the proverb of the fathers, “Repentance and good deeds form a shield against punishment.”

Sixthly, the repentance of age.  Even when man grows old and feeble, if he repents truly, his atonement will be received.  As the Psalmist says, “Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, ’Return, ye children of men.’” Meaning, man can return at any time or any age, “Return, ye children of men.”

Say the Rabbis, “Although a man has been righteous in his youth and vigor, yet if he rebels against the will of God in his old age, the merit of his former goodness shall be lost to him, as it is written, ’When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and doeth wrong, and dieth therefor; through his wrong which he hath done must he die.’  But a man who has been wicked in his early days, and feels true sorrow and penitence in his old age, shall not be called ‘wicked’ any more.  This, however, is not gracious penitence when it is so long delayed.”

Seventhly, is the last degree of penitence.  Of the one who is rebellious against his Creator during all the days of his life; turns to Him only when the hand of death is laid upon him.

Say the Rabbis, if a person is sick, and the hour of his decease approaches, they who are by his deathbed should say to him, “Confess thy sins to thy Creator.”

They who are near the point of death should confess their shortcomings.  The sick man is as the man who is before a court of justice.  The latter may have advocates to defend him or laud his case, but the only advocates of the former must be penitence and good deeds.  As is written in the Book of Job, “If there be now about him one single angel as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness; then is he gracious unto him, and saith, ’Release him from going down to the pit; I have found an atonement.’”

Thus we have seven different degrees of penitence, and he who neglects them all must suffer in the world to come.  Therefore fulfill the duties laid upon you; repent as long as you are able to amend.  As the Rabbis say, ’Repent in the antechamber, that thou mayest enter the room of state.’

“Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; wherefore will ye die, O house of Israel!” exclaimed the prophet Ezekiel; and what does this warning mean? without repentance ye shall die.

* * * * *

Penitence is thus illustrated by a parable:—­