New Orleans Republican., 1868-01-19
A Story About forgiveness.

Several years ago there lived in a
town in central Georgia, two men
bearing the names of ]. and F. These
men, so far as known, were regarded
as good brethren. They were on
terms of peace in the church.
In process of time, however, j. went
to his Brother +. to buy some wheat.
The wheat was purchased by the
busbel, perhaps at one dollar part of
the money was paid for it., After this
J. sent for the wheat, but strange to
say f. refused to let him have it. F.
it is said, found after bargaining with
j. that wheat had advanced in price,
and he wanted the advance. Of course
J. insisted on his right to what he had
contracted and partly paid for. F. re-
fused positively to fulfil his agree
ment. This was the groundwork, as
might naturally have been expected,
of terrible difficulty between the two
brethren. The one, feeling injured,
gave public expression to his indigna-
ton; while the other, conscious per-
haps of having done wrong, and yet
possessed of an obstinate nature, an
grily defended himself as best he
might. Things went on this way for
months, perhaps; at least till the mat
ter was talked of all over the country.
Having borne with the brethren as
long as possible, the church to which
they belonged was on the eve of talk
ing up the matter, when Brother j.,
the injured party, began to come to
himself. He told f. at their last inter
view that he would sue him. Now he
began to think the matter all over.
" Was it right" he asked himself, 6 to
injure the cause of Christ, to disgrace
the church, to cast away Brother F.,
who up to that time had always seemed
a good man-to do all this for the pitt
full amount of few dollars or a few
bushels of wheat?"
j. went at night into a solitude to
place the whole subject before the
Lord. While there the Lord helped
him. He found the spirit of forgive
ness there at the throne of grace. He
brought it home with him. In the
morning early, ]. mounted his horse
and started to see F. F. saw him COM
ing, and tried to get out of sight, by
leaving his house by back way. j.
saw this and called him. F. seemed
not to hear; but as the call was still
repeated, F. came at last to see what
was wanted--with not a very geod
grace however. The two brethren
face to face once more, j. began his
speech: brother F. have come to
tell you that we must settle our diff
Guilty. We are injuring the cause of
Christ; we are destroying our peace
as men and as Christians; we are about
to involve the church in a great
trouble. We must, I repeat it, make
an end of this matter. / told you
Brother F., at our last interview, that
! would sue you. have done so. IF.
looked sullen.) Last night l carried
your case before the Lord, and got
verdict against you. You have done
wrong, my brother, but listen to me, 1
forgive yoG ahe wrong; from my heart
I forgive you. Keep the wheat,
Brother F., and the money too; the
whole of it is not worth making fuss
about. | am sorry that / ever allowed
myself to be troubled about it at all.
If | have done you any wrong, my
brother. l am sorry for it, and 1 ask
your forgiveness During this
speech, F. had wonderfully softened
down in his feelings. Before it ended,
his hands were over his eyes, and the
great tears were chasing each other
down his cheeks. When able to speak
he said, Brother j., have done
wrong. want you to forgive me.
will send you the wheat" .sNo,' - said
". II don't wantthe wheat. forgive
you all the debt" yes" said F., but
youmust have it. Twill send tito You
this very evening"
Need we say, that Brother j. and F.
parted as brethren should dol Need I
We say that they had no church triels-
that brotherly love was restored be-
tween them!