[340] Rom. ii, 4; see also II Tim. ii, 25. =28. Repentance not always Possible.=--The gift of repentance is extended to men as they humble themselves before the Lord, it is the testimony of the Spirit in their hearts; if they hearken not unto the monitor it will again leave them, for the Spirit of God strives not ever with man.[341] Repentance becomes more difficult as the sin is more wilful; it is by humility and contrition of the heart that sinners may increase their faith in God, and so obtain from Him the priceless gift of repentance. As the time of repentance is procrastinated, the ability to repent grows weaker; neglect of opportunity in holy things brings a forfeit of the chance. In giving commandment to Joseph Smith, in the early days of the present Church, the Lord said, "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven, and he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received, for my Spirit shall not always strive with man saith the Lord of Hosts."[342] [341] Gen. vi, 3; Doc. and Cov. i, 33. [342] Doc. and Cov. i, 31-33. =29. Repentance Here and Hereafter.=--The Nephite prophet, Alma, described the period of earthly existence as a probationary state, granted unto man for repentance;[343] yet we learn from the scriptures that repentance may be obtained, under certain conditions, beyond the vail of mortality. Between the times of His death and resurrection, Christ "preached unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah;"[344] these the Son visited, and unto them He preached the Gospel, "that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it."[345] [343] Alma xii, 24; xxxiv, 32; xiii, 4. [344] I Peter iii, 19-20. [345] Doc. and Cov. lxxvi, 73-74. See "Jesus the Christ," ch. xxxvi.