The New York herald., 1877-10-29
ST. JOHNS. CHAPEL.

THE DUTY OF fORGIVENESS-SERMON BY REV.
SULLIVAN H. WESTON.
ST. Johns Chapel Trinity Church, In varicK street,
is one OF those landmarks OF old New York which,
though now situated u quarter far removed from
tho seat OF wealth and fashion OF which it the
centre former years. still retains the aectionate
loyalty OF It's uptown attendants Rev. Sullivan H.
Weston preached there the theme Of forgive
ness, taking for his text, ..Then Peter MIN
and said, Lord, how Oft shall my brother against
me, and l forgive hlm? TIL seven times? Jesus
satin unto him. say not unto thee seven times, but
until seventy times seven" rho reverend gcntle-
man explained that this expression meant forever,
tor all We needed forgiveness every day from
the Lord tor trespasses Should we, then, SGT
limit forgiveness Tor the yrcspasses OF
neighborsY Tho difference In the number Of times
winch Peter and the Saviour thought were proper Tor
the forgiveness illustrated the differences
their dispositions IL was hard to attain the divino
ideal, however. We all were ready to overlook the
nrst second offence, but, as the modern proverb
put IT, the time arrived when, In our opinion, 'or
bearanco ceased to be virtue" But whore In the
was pagan, certainly not Christian IN It's spirit.
How should We iiko our heavenly Master
prayed Him every day TO forgive trcspassesY
Not only should there bc limit TO this spirit OF
Christian iorbearance. out tho Gospel taught also
that II should be sincere We should not meet our
brethren home IN the social circle, III the church
or business, and with smiles on our faces carry
hatred and malice IN our hearts Ho mad often I'D
mired the dlssim ulation with which mon aud women
particularly women, howeverquarrcIled politely aud
hid thor enmtics under smooth smiling faces 1t
was deemed vulgar quarrel outright and
sidcred webred 10 be u living lie.
FORGIVE AND PoRGBT.
Another maxim which modern society seemed TO
have largely adopted was 'Forgvc, but do not for
get;" other words, people sad, II forgive him
Christian, but owe II to myself as u man not 10
forget" There were certain offences deadly, cer-
tain injuries inspired by such diaboica malice, that
IL seemed impossible to most men 10 clacc their recol
lection from their mnda But while II was undoubt-
cdy most dhcut atlan the divine ideal set by our
Saviour should yet all try hardest to reach II
as far AZ we could. We talked about tho great
evils that afflicted modern society--frivolity, sccp
tcism, extravaganza, luxury, the betrayal OF high
Lusts--Dut thero was probably nothing which
had shpwrccked SO many Christians as this
stubborn spirit OF revenge, oi desire 10
retallate for injuries donc What would be tho
consequence II the divine Savour's command VAS
faithfully carried out by menY We should zee no
armies, then. engaged III sanguinary conflict on the
Danube; and navies would be dissolved, tho
would 10 turned into the poughsharo; inaeed,
he would almost say That tho millennium had arrived.
We should remember that while It Is sweet 10 humbea
proud arrogant enemy aud to realiac tor grevous
wrong cannot be done without oreiting that divine
forgiveness vi which stand IN such imminent need.
We should 1--we, then, SO that we may trutnIuly DO
able pray every day "Forgive our trespasses AZ
We forgive thoso that trespass against us /"