The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08

seeds Of death 20 myrnids of victims or II IL
tho omen sore of the world in the awful slave.
trade of Africa Surely the dark places OF
the earth are filed with the habitations OF
cruelty even TO the bodies and earthly life OF
our fellow-men. such as We, in the comfort
and ease. and security of this happy iane'
little understand. Yet here Is the response
bilitv. not only for the temporal welfare, but
for The immortal souls OF our fellow-men.
Here is the fact that the world is daily grow
ING smaller that young lady in seventy
three days can travel around the GLOBE IN
no time in all the Christian centuries has the
providence of God been so plainly pointing TO
momentous events and changes. The present
century has cleared the way for rapid move
nent2Rev. DR.. J. H. Shedd. in the Mis-
sionarv Review of the World for March.
The Forgiveness of Sins.
The term forgiveness is used in common
language to designate three distinct acts or
processes First we use 1t 10 indicate a re-
mission of penalty. The father mas threaleii ZEN
ed his bov with punishment, but says Will
forgive You this time, meaning Will let you
on from the punishment This IS not I'M
common but is a loose and inaccurate use OF
the word. Second. we mean 10y forgiveness
change in the disposition OF the person IOr-
giving toward the person forgiven. Your
friend has offended you, and YOU are friends
no longer. BY and by he confesses his fauit;
and YOU restore him TO your confidence ana
affection You have forgiven him.. You re-
init no penalty. for you never intended 70 I'M
pose any penalty. Your forgiveness IS not
official or governmental II Is personals
its effect is not in some outward act,
but in inward disposition. Finally by Tor
riyenass Of sin is meant cleansing, purihca-
ton. remission Of the sin itself. The man Is
forgiven when he is changed from an unnght-
eous to a righteous person; This IS not pop,
ular use of the term: II Is the Scrlptural use OF
the term. Forgiveness in the Bible, and espe-
ciallv i'm the New Testament, signifies rarely
if ever. a remission of punishment, which may
or NAV not be included never primarily q
change in the Divine disposition, Tor Ood 5
disposition is always and unchanglngly one \
mercy. but a change in the character OF
the person shining, resulting, as "a matter OF
course. and without any Intervention 9ehg
necessary in his restoration 10 the commence
and affection Of his Heavenly Father. ms,
we saw. is the dominant If not the abso-
lutelv universal significance of forgiveness a.
il is used in the New Testament. In the
classical Greek we have remission or pen
altv.n never remission Of SIM" IN the New
Testament Greek remission Of sln,' never
remission Of penalty" Why Because the
| pacau got no further In the moral lie than 10
conceive of forgiveness as letting the crlu-
iual of from penalty, while the inspired
writer's saw that remission OF penalty would pe
DO Ealnlt SIN renamed, audlelcullOho Oh lclI"l y
no loss if sin was cleared away. 1t IS SIN, not
penalty. which is the worlds burden' It IS de
iverence from sin, not from penalty, which IS
Gods free gift 10 humanity. Christ Is called
Jesus because he saves his people from their
sins. lie is the Lamb Of God which Is ever
taking away the sins of the world. The cup
which he gives TO his disciples IS
tho New Testament in his blood. which
il shed for the remission of SINS.
In his blood we have redempton-even the
remission Of sins His faithtulness and Jus
tice RENTS our sins and clenses US from all
unrighteousness. The prophets saw and de
clare the same truth. 1t Is our sins which lie
buried in the depths Of the sea- our SINS
which he blots out az a thick cloud IN the
heavens: our scarlet and crimson sins which
he makes white as snow; our sins which he
removes from US as far az the east Is from the
west In these and kindred passages the
promise is not remission OF penaltyi IT IS lar
diviner-a remission Of sin itself. The mo-
mcnt the wicked man forsakes his wicked
WAYS and the unrighteoua man ms Thoughts $,
and returns 10 lGod. God receives him with
abundant forgiveness. There Is no change 20
be wrought in Gods disposition, as too often.
alas, in ours. Man can make no change III the
divinedisposition. Christian Union (EvanSel-
icqD.