Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-14
From the Christian Waterman.
Forgiveness OF Injuries.

ooDSSs OTOSS OOUTEUL.
From the Christian Waterman.
Forgiveness OF Injuries.
l remember to have heard an eloquent
preacher, formerly of this States but now
of Michigan, deliver practical and earn
est discourse on this subject, of an evening,
some seven years ago. The discourse
contained many striking thoughts and un-
answerable arguments, enforcing the duty
of forgiveness. One sentiment was pal
ticularly impressive. Said the preacher,
some may ask why | do not this evening
preach revival sermon2' He was in
the place of an exchange, | believe. TO
such | would answer, know nothing
better fitted to pave the way for revival
than the duty recommend He then
related some of the happy effects of this
kind of preaching, unfolded the general
subject, showed the impossibility of a
church advancing in the way Of holiness,
while mutual animosities reigned in the
breasts of its members,-while the STUN
livingstone of contention and haired lay
in their path, and closed by stirring ap-
peal, on scriptural and christian ground,
for the duty of forgiveness.
IF any man have not the spilit of
Christ, he is none of his Now what is
the spirit of Christ on this subject2 Hear
the infallible Teacher, the Savior himself:
But say unto you, love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you and prosecute you
For if We forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses' Can any thing be more ex-
plicit than these Instructions And yet
how few Christians honor them with due
observance But, says one, this is all
very plausible, and / acknowledge the
precepts of the Savior to be Just and right
eous; but please to mark what he has
elsewhere said respecting forgiveness.'-
If tiny brother trespass against thee, re-
Duke him and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times
in day. and seven times in day turn
again to thee, saying, repent; thou shalt
forgive him. Now always grant tiny
enemies forgiveness as soon as they ask
it, and the scripture itself does not COM
mand me to yield it BEFORE All! Does
it not 2-Let us see. Without alleging
the command TO love and bless our enc.
mics, which would certainly seem to in
clude the forgiving them, let US look at the
course of the Savior, bearing in mind that
his example is as much binding on US in
this particular, as his injunctions. When
{ agonizing with the tor;ures Of the cross
while his Jewish and Gentle foes were
so far from repentance or commiseratior
that they Knocked with cruel derision the
suf1erings they had inflicted on him, un.
der which they saw him expiring, his di
vine compassion and forgiveness led hin
to exclaim, Father, forgive themP Ger
tainly, this sublime instance of love exhib
tied towards his mortal enemies, by whose
ho1rid injustice and cruelty he was at tina
moment enduring most painful and lg
nominious death, consisting as it doe.
f with the whole tenor of his life and in
, structions, leaves no room to doubt respect
) ing the duty of universal forgiveness
/. When he was reviled, he levileG no
again; when he suffered, he threatened
not; but committed himself TO him tina
jndgeih righteously.
: After mentioning the Savior himself al
: settling this question by his example, i
e may seem unnecessary to refer to human
: instances. But the case OF Stephen, who
!. with his dying breath prayed the Lore
not to lay the sin of his murder to tbs
charge of his enemies, shows how dis
t ciple may in this respect tread in the foot
5 steps of his divine master. TO indulge
spirit of unforgiveness is poison to devo
: tion,-poison to religious comfort. Th'
/, Christian who retains hardness, animos
Y ity, or heartburning against another, neet
a not wonder if he finds himself cold AM
: dead in piety For his own peace an
$ best good, for the honor Of Christianity
: 70. the love of common Savior, let hin
: repeI this enemy of all righteousness; an
q as he hopes for forgiveness from his heav
!, emily Father, let him forgive his Offending
: brother.
: PIETy AND CHARITY.-The very pl
: rate, that dyes the ocean with the 6loo'
n of his fellow beings; that meets win hi
n defenceless victim in some lonely Sc
e where no cry for help can be heard, an
l. Iplunges his dagger to the heart that
all nleadino for life-which is calling on hiT
n by all The names of kindred, oil childrel