Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-03-05
MOr0J and Religious.
For the Spectator.
Forgiveness of Sins.

SltcUCSS VI Oils.
''But Christ the heavenly Lamb
Takes all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.
My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of thine,
While like penitent / stand,
And there confess my sin"
In the affairs Of men it sometimes occurs that
certain persons are chosen to appear in the
presence OF the great In power and authority,
to transact business of the first importance
Those thus appointed eyince much concern
and anxiety to know what they should say and
how they should act in order to perform their
part well, and realize the advantages desired
Now, IT 1t be matter OF so much interest to
know what to do and say In the presence of the
noble ones OF this world, who are mortal like
ourselves, how much more important is it, that
we should know what we should say, and how
we should act in the presence Of God, the King
OF kings, and Lord OF Lords respecting the
interests OF our immortal souls for time and
eternity. The eleventh chapter OF Luke, is ex-
ceedlngly interesting because we are taught
therein What to say and how to act in the di-
vine presence, when we would engage in prayer.
In the model prayer taught by our Lord we
are instructed to say, and forgive US our sins.
HoW encouraging this Is. 1t is sin that expo
seS US to the miseres of this life, death itself,
and the pains Of he'll forever. Should we be
so unfortunate as to be doomed to weep and
mourn as lost spirits, SIN will be the ground of
our condemnation. To remove all ground for
doubt as to his Willingness to forgive sins our
Savior proceeds to say: ASK, ask what we in
qulre. Ask for the things prayed for as | have
taught you, and We shall receive. Seek and ye
shall find. " Seek what? we ask again: Seek
the forgiveness OF Sins and the assurance is that
we shall find. 10 present the matter In a still
more encouraging form that all may hope and
none presume, he tenderiy alludes to parental
love, and says, that our Heavenly Father is
more ready to give the Holy Spirit to them that
ask HIM than earthly parents are to give good
gifts to their children.
The principle Of parental affection was i'm
planted by our creator, and In its pure intensity
1t exists III his nature to degree as much high
er as his nature Is higher and purer than that
of his mere creatures. He that made the ear,
shall he not hear? He that made the eye, shall
he not see! and He that implanted parental
Affection shall He not love?
But, let US not forget, however, that this
readiness to forgive is through the merits of
Jesus Christ, as our vacarious sacrifice. Our
hopes of pardoned sin are in proportion to our
knowledge OF the power and willingness OF God
to forgive sins in answer to the intercessions of
Jesus, the sinner S last and only hope
LII coinlhg 10 i1lm, let US Drlng nothing In our
hands, but simply clinging to His cross The
only fitness required of US is to feel our need of
Savior.
But in seeking forgiveness it is enjoined up
on US to be forgiving. Ii we are forgiven so
much, 1t is our duty to forgive little In for
giving, we show whether we have the spirit of
Him who sends rain upon the just and the un-
just. Unless we have this spirit we are none of
his. Since our Lord has taught us to pray
forgive us our sins,' how true it is that it is
faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, and that he is the only one that can do
helpless sinners good. w. L. P
MONTEREY, Va, Feb. 20, 1867.