The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

SCENE III.-When the king heard of the
unmerciful manner in which his minister
whose heavy defalcation had so recently
pardoned, had treated a fellow-servant who
was indebted to him an insignifcautly small
amount, he summoned him into his presence
and denounced him as wicked servant. He
had proved himself unworthy of the great
favor he had received. Having had his own
large Indebtedness mercifuly RENTED when
he could not pay, he ought to have shown
the same mercy to his unfortunate debtor
who implored his indulgence, promising to
pay. Not having done this proves that he
was an unprincipled wretch who was capable
of having embezzled the royal funds, and by
false pretense obtained the royal pardon.
The disclosure aroused the indignation of
the king, who, exercis sing his royal authority,
revoked the pardon he had SO mercifully
granted, and condemned him to be tortured
until he should pay all that was due. Pris-
oners for debt were actually tortured for the
purpose of inducing them to disclose any
hidden treasure they may have concealed to
defraud their creditors. The kings default
ing minister who had shown himself to be
been suspected of having hidden away treas
ures belonging to the royal revenues.
APPLICATI0N.-"So &c." says JESUS, twill
my heavenly Father do to you. if you do not
from your hearts forgive each one his broth
err" The disciples could not receive and ex-
perience the Divine forgiveness while they
were unforgiving toward each other. To
forgive from the heart is to truly and sin
cerely forgive. forgiving spirit qualities
for the privileges and blessings of the king
dom of heaven, whose principles apply to the
inward life rather than to the outward con-
duct, which may be insincere and hypocriti-
cal. A forgiving spirit is necessary to the
experience and enjoyment of the Divine for
giveness. A feeling of enmity against men
raises barrier between the soul and GoD.
Alienation from man implies alienation from
GoD. GoD is forever exercising his forgiving
spirit toward us. To be GoD-like is to put
ourselves in the current of Divine events,
and so enter into the felicities of the Divine
administration. To be unforgiving is to
transgress the law of the operation of the
Divine Spirit, and thus to forfeit the bless
ing of the Divine forgiveness. Human for
giveness is not the ground of, or reason for,
the exercise of the Divine forgiveness, but
Qualities for its experience, and may be the
evidence of its realization in the soul. The
king of the parable represents GoD in the
administration of His family government of
mankind, who is mercifully disposed toward
His children who " sin against Him." that is,
transgres3 His law, and "who will abuni-
an.ly pardon;' but the blessings of whose
pardoning love and forgiving spirit may be
forfeited by those who do not forgive their
fellow-men, whose sin against them is so
much less than their own sin against COP,
which he so freely forgives. The punishment
declared in the parable was to continue till
the debt was paid. The debt of man TO COB
is obedience, which we all owe. He will pun
ish till that is secured. He employs punish
ment to secure obedience. He seeks the
reconciliation of His sinful children, and has
sent His Son, JESUS, to win and lead them to
repentance and obedience. We affirm and
teach that all mankind will finally be brought
to obedience of COP through the influence of
the Gospel. We ought to seek earnestly to
promote the Divine kingdom among men,
and by the exercise of forgiving spirit re-
feet the Gospel in our own lives.
"Deal gently with the erring one,
As Con hath dealt with thee"
1t 1.-THE parallel does not teach us, GER
tainly, that a foreiving and loving spirit is
the meritorious cause of the Divine forgive
ness and love. Such an idea would be, as it
were, turning heaven and earth upside down.
But it does teach us that there is no ethical
fitness for heaven in the heart of him who is
unsympathizing, unforgivinR and unkind.
The man who is lovely and compassionate
only to himself is utterly unlovely and un-
holy. He has nothing of heavenliness in
him.-James Morrison, d. d. :" A Practical
Commentary"