The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-13

intimate friendship those in whom we
can confide as worthy of our affection, to-
ward those whose characters we know to
be destitute OF principle we will maintain
a proper reserve, but to sll men, good
and evil alike, we will try to illustrate
the mind which was in Christ Jesus"
and suffer no sense of personal injury to
destroy the charity which sufereth long
and is kind, or to hinder Us from those
actsof mercy which Christian benevolence
enjoins.
The forgiving spirit commended in the
text therefore is not inconsistent with a
proper regard for the rights of person,
property or reputation. It is not in.
compatible with soul keenly sensitive
to the demands of honor, or with tenn
per naturally irascible and afiek in its
resentments, but it implies pirit which
has learned to believe that is the glory
OF man to pass over transgression;
that he who can rule himself is better
than he who taketh city, and that it is
impious to snatch the sword of Justice
from the hand of Him who has said,
"Vengence is mine. I will repay"
But if it be objected that all this is too
answer is, it is not too much to expect
from the renewed nature. recreated by
divine power.
The disciples recognized the difficulty
of discharging the duty by their own un-
aided powers, but they had sense enough
to know wherein their weakness lay, and
honesty enough to seek in the proper
quarter for supernatural strength; so
they cried, Lord, increase our faith
1t need not be feared that we will for
felt our own respect or the respect of
those whose good opinion is'worth having
by sublecting ourselves to the divine law
of forgiveness.
Says Robertson, of Brighton: Men
cannot injure us except so far as they ex
asperate US to forget ourselves. No man
is really dishonored except by his own
act. Calumny, injustice, ingratitude-
the only harm these can do US is by max
ing us bitter, or rancorous, or gloomy; by
shutting our hearts or souring our affec-
tions. We rob them of their power if
they only leave us more sweet and for
giving than before. And this is the only
true victory. We win by love. Love
transmutes all curses and forces them to
rain down in blessings. Our enemies be-
come unconsciously our bG3t friends when
their ISLANDERS deepen intus heavenlier
graces. Let them do their worst they
can only give us the Godlike victory of
forgiving them
If, therefore, we fail to obey the in
junction OF the text we fail to obtain one
OF the best evidences of our own CONVEX
Fai1 10 h. q
on the community which belongs only to
those who exhibit in their own lives the
transforming power of divine love; we
fail to find access in prayer, and destroy
the possibility of true communion and
fellowship with God. In illustration of
this point l give you somewhat abridged,
passage from Jeremy Taylor, expressed
in the quaint style of his day, but in sub
ject-matter full of force end b, 4uty:
"Auger is a perfect alienation of the
mind from prayer, and, therefore, is con-
trary to that devotion which presents
our prayers in q right line to God. For
so have l seen lark rising from It's bed
OF grass, and soaring upwards, singing as
he rises, and hopes to get to heaven, and
climb above the clouds; but the poor
bird was beaten back with the loud sigh
ings of an eastern wind, and his motion
made irregular and inconstant, descend
ing more at every breath Of the tempest
than be could recover By the libration of
his wings, till the little creature was
forced to sit down and pant, and stay till
the storm was over, and then it made a
prosperous fight, and did rise and sing
as II it had learned music from an angel,
as be passed sometimes through the air
about MS ministries her below. So is
the prayer OF good iIan. But when
anger raised a tempest it over-ruled the
man, and when his prayer was broken
and his words went up towards cloud
his thoughts pulled them back again, and
made them without intention; and tie
good man sighs for bis infrmity, but
must be content to lose The prayer, and
he can recover it only when his anger is
removed, and his spFit is beoalmed
made even as the brow of Jesus, and
smooth like the heart ol God; and then
1T ascends to heaven upon the wings Of
holy dove, and dwell With God, till it
returns like the useful bee laden with
blessing and the dew o. heaven"
Let us remember thtl:
L. While anger under certain condi-
tlons is permissible, ard under certain
limitations is instrumental in guarding
personal safety and ia maintaining pub
lic justice, revenge uader all circum-
stances is forbidden.