The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-30
An AFFECTING THOUGHT.


AN AFFECTING vuor,crrr
There are many in this congregation who
practically say just that, and who, therefore,
put themselves out of the reach Of text like
that Of this evening. For, at the first glance
you will sec that these words arc addressed to
those who arc concerned about their sins and to
whom the thought that God Is holy, and that
they arc unholy in His sight, is an infinitely
solemn and awful thought. II is addressed TO
those TO whom an assurance that God will blot
out the transgressions, will he an inestmable
comfort, the best news which they can hear.
And it is very affecting thought to me, that
many of you, this evening therefore, leave your
selves out Of the range Of this text, by your
unconcern, by your disregard of the great fact of
sin aIiaESu 'Es.n,. You H", .;r Si,o % wy
| 10 be frankly approached this evening by the
| three words? How many humbly, seriously, con-
| 6iing Your need Of having your transgres.ions
blotted out, will take in the promise of the
| text? "I-cyen lam He that blottcth out thy
transgleSsion'
| Consider what the promise is, what God pro.
| poses to do--To blot out the sin. Let us give
| place to that expression a few moments in
our thoughts "Blottcth OUT? How much is
| lett of anything that is "blotted out?" Write
| upon a blackboard an account with some GUS
| toner. and when he pays it rub it of. Is
| there anything left there? The words "blot
| out" az used here in the text. is defined to
| mean TO obitcrate; TO chacc, to erase, to can.
eel" In every case it means that whatever it
| iS-a STAIN a charge, a spot, a disgrace, a sin,
| it is gone. There is nothing LETT of it, You
| are not sure about your account with some
| merchant; you so to him and ask him how
| it stands; he opens the ledger and tells you
| that your debt is cancelled, that YOU have paid
| all; the books balanced; there is nothing
| against you. You are not slow TO comprehend
| his meaning. You have nothing TO pay. And
| that is Just what God proposes TO do in this
| text, and in the whole offer Of salvation. And
| it is that which makes the Christian minister's
| message such glad tidings; to blot out, IA
| put out OF mind your sns--to bring them nc
| more 10 remembrance.
| r,p pprc,o,-s noo,, ro ,
"r '"r''oo' nooN ~ MAN
| Does that seem small thing TO offer? an
| ihSlghifcaht boon from GodY There is nothing
| better thah thlS' nothing SO precious as this OF
Ter Whlch God makes in the text. 1t is not vel
| 10 take our ieelhgS about II, an Indifference "a
| II, OF any measure OF its value. There are
many things that operate to make worthless
our estimate OF IT from our feelings. Whs,
| II we do not feel that it is valuableH Doe.
| that make II OF no value? What il we do moi
| realize, DO not feel that 1t is the pearl OF great
| price" Does that make it a worthless baube'
MOL No! God alone stands where a fair estmat,
| OF the WOTth OF Delhg saved OF having our SIM
"blotted out" can be made, and He viewing
Heaven AMI He'll; He, looking at life omniscient
| ly, says that there is nothing in all thu
world nothing in the universe with so much to
sinner, to soul that never die, and that
without sins bottcd out can never be happy, a.
TO have Gods forgiveness. And once in awhil,
men are conscious OF it, once in while thcy
are brought where the thought that their SIM
are not blotted out, darkens the sunlight, anC
fills the soul with anguish
Once, while | was in my study working hard
tmd rap took me to the door A man and wo
man, strangers TO me, desired to see me- Thinking
that they might be among that class of pcopl,
who live by fraudulent begging. who have abou
the same story to tell. that their tickets wer,
| lost they were on their way east or west anC
desired help to get on further 10 friends vht
we're waiting for them and would be so muc,
Obliged TO me IL would advance the means I,
help them on, that they would return the none,
by the next mail
| 7 was ready to give them short notice. for
| have considerable money invested in that ,y,v
and am satisfied to make no further ipvostnents
when, what was my deliaht to learn that .,