The McArthur enquirer. (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1873-1884, 1873-03-19
The Golden Key.

Hatred and injury are like black
gates, locked, bolted, and barred;
and forgiveness is the key which
opens the gates. And, God has
taught us how to use the key; and
if he has used it for us, how much
more we ought to be disposed to
lse it for each other.
1t is sweet to forgive. An old
lroyerb says, forgiveness is
sweet revenge" That vile, bad,
yretched man, Titus Oates, OF
whom you have read in English
history, used to say that revenge
was Coils sweet morsel. 1t was u
dreadful saying, and revealed a
black, bad heart. But forgiveness
is Gods sweet morsel, and he par
cakes most of the Divine nature
Who is able most largely to forgive.
Whether your enemy will love you
II not, you must free your soul
rom the dungeon in which he is,
by trying the effect of the golden
key.
Try the golden key. All! if we
cannot forgive men their trespasses,
we are in the dungeon with them,
If we, | say, cannot get them out,
vt any rate let us 90 out ourselves.
Did you ever notice how you pray,
Forgive us, as we forgiven What
I terrible prayer that is for some to
put up; why it is invoking red-hot
lamnation on their own heads
speaking evil of their fellow-men-
engaged in fighting against their
fellow-men--cursing, unforgiving,
they will yet say, Forgive us, as
we forgive" Do not put up the
prayer thoughtlessly, but when you
say it, think, Do | forgive? Can |
forgive? Pray for the forgiving
spirit, and seek it's gracious and
constant exercise.
Try the golden key; butyou have
to be careful how you try to put it
into the lock. You must not say
lnything about the forgiveness
Jou bestow, Or that will not do.
Poor human nature does not like to
be forgiven-does noteven submit TO
De forgiven by Col; how should it
ihen submit to be forgiven by man.
[ rocolIect this once qnite upset a
'econciliation | was attempting to
ring about. A f1llOw-ambassador
,fpeaco u1watily happened to say,
Il believe Mr.--truly forgiv9s
'ou.' Mr.. better STOP
vas tlo reply, "vith his fotgjv9-
ess, till he's asi.l; forgiveness
lleell [ think Other people have
% fo'giv9 us well as he" | saw it
vas Of no use, and so | came away.
Now, oae COOL sign of the golden
Key is, that it goes into the lotk
ind makes no noise. A forgiving
spirit is "Pure, gentle, easy to be
2ntreated, without partiality, and
without Hypocrisy" OF all the
lngels that stand near the throne,
forgiveness is Coils most gentle
md loving one. All the ways of
forgiveness are pleasantness, an
I'll her paths are paths Of peace.
While grievous words stir up anger,
the words Of forgiveness are, like
oil, softening-and, like gentle rain,
refreshing.
There is an old proverb which
says, "Man forgives, but God for
gives and forgets." But we must
try, as much as in us lies, to dc
both. Forgetfulness is like the
heavy black velvet curtain that
covers all the faults; and if that is
the case, why the key lies behind
the curtain, it is not wanted and
cannot be seen. But we may re.
member, that if we cannot let the
curtain in all cases fall, we should
never allow the activity of our mem
ory to interfere with the activity Of
our graces, Keep the heart with
all diligence, established in love
and if malice or unchartiableness
try to close the gates Of other hearts
against us, try to open them with
Gods own Golden key.
BLIND AMOS.
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Scraps and Revival News.