Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-01
.FORClVING THE ESSENTIAL
Dr.. Allen breaches on What He Considers
objectionable Sin.
TWO PARALLELS USED TO ILLUSTRATE
All Who Expect to Ne Forgiven Must
He Rendy To Forgive ns
~Frceiy-God'a Goodness
10 Mnn.
TWO PARALLELS USED TO ILLUSTRATE

Rev. Il. w. Allen, formerly pastor OF the
First Christian church of this city, who is
visiting here, preached at both services yes
terday at the Tabernacle, on both occasions
being greeted with congregations that com
pletcly filled the Tabernacle. In the morn
Ing Mr.. Allen took as the subject of his
discourse. Forgiven but not Forgiving: or.
~Inhumanity the objectionable SIM" and his
text from Matthew xviii, 22-35. He said:
The parallels Of the erich Mar and Lag
arus" and the "Unmerciful Servant" are
bound together by Christ to show that i'm
placability and inhumanity are the unDar-
donable sins. The genius of a religion is
revealed not only by what it loves. but
what it heartily hates and regards as UNI
pardonable sin. With Christianity 1t is the
selfish wording who cares for nothing but
his own comfort who goes to the place of
woe. II is the unforgiving man whom the
Father does not forgive. Where love is
regarded as the supreme principle there a
loveless spirit must appear the thing above
all things hateful and damnable.
The moral of the "Unmerciful Servant
is found in that last sentence, 80 likewise
shall ms Heavenly Father do also unto You
If ye from your hearts forgive not every
one his brother their trespasses.' This par
able is the fitting conclusion of Christ's
conversation with His disciples upon the
subject of greatness in the kingdom of
heaven. That dispute of the disciples
showed the presence among them of the
spirit of ambition, whose characteristic ten
dency II is to be prone to do wrong and to
be unforgiving toward wrong done by
others. Jesus, therefore,, takes the occasion
to warn His disciples against giving offense,
especially to the weak, and to instruct
them how they are to behave when they are
the offending and not the offended. In short,
His advice is to them TO be meek, to be
merciful, not to resent, not hard to appease,
but to be good and ready to forgive.
Forgive II Every Time.
Peter interposes, But how often must l
forgiven" Jesus answers, unlike the rabbis,
Until seventy times seven'-that is, with
out number as frequently as the offense.
He illustrates His reason By this parable.
In the kingdom Of heaven we are all for
given men. How odious and criminal, then,
is an implacable temper So this becomes
a parable of grace, the teaching of a king
dom among whose blessings pardon oCcu-
pies a foremost place, a kingdom, there
fore, whose ambitions and vindictive pas
sions are unseemly and intolerable. This
parable has for its specific aim not merely
to inculcate the general duty of forgive
ness, but to inCulCate that duty on men pho
are themselves forgiven of God. Hence the
unforgiving man is himself represented as
the object of pardon. Note the apparently
exaggerated statement of tie amount OF
pardon, nearly 81, 900, 600 of our money. Why
is such a magnate chosen? 1t is Il most
striking statement of suggestion Of mems
Indebtedness TO God as compared with tie
insignificant extent of the moral indebted
ness of any man to his fellow. The maSni
tude of the debt forgiven is a just tribute
to the gracious magnanimity OF God, VINO
abundantly pardons the greatest sinner. No.
tice also a seemingly highly exaggerated anc
improbable conduct of the king. At fist he
seems unduly severe. then unduly lenient
Is it credible to think that one who would
issue such an order would Afterwards tur1
the debt into a gift?
The sale of a debtor was common Law
among the Hebrews, as indeed among al
ancient people and without noticing the per
sonal feelings Of the king it is TO be OBJ
served that he was acting according to Law
and custom. But in the pardon we see ms
neral individuality. A very unusual hu'
manity, indeed, and because unusual 1t MT!
J represents the mercy of God. Divine mag
nanimity passes all human m 40
the love of God is broader than the measure
of mans mind Such an act OF clemenc,
ought to produce a tender, penitent spirit
But does the result justify the expectation
Is now the conduct of this servant fresl
from the gracious presence of his forgivinl
| sovereign to seize a fellow servant by tn
| throat and thrust him into prison forsoot
) because he owes him n miserable plttance
/ is ii a highly improbable and eXaggerate
conception of the utter depravity of tn
2 man? Alas, 1t ought to be so, but wha
think you? Has not Christ here eXactl
t portrayed human conduct as seen ever
day? Do we not in conscience bear wit
= ness to the truth of this picture? Motto
3 that the wrath of the king is now for tn
first time excited. He calls the olende
wicked" not because of his former deb
but because of his later conduct 1t wer
merciless in any one, but 1t is utterly in
human in him. Having shown no mercy n
shall receive none. $50 likewise shall m
Heavenly Father 40 also unto you, If y
from your hearts forgive not everyone hi
brother their trespasses,"