Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-08-15

TO others are OFTEN the very cOndemna-
tons with which we ourselves shall
be condemned by our fellow men.
But the text has a deeper and wider
meaning than merely the Interpretation
which implies that if we utter condem-
nation against our brother, our breth-
rem will in turn speak sinIs.ar condem-
nations against us. 1t means that if we
condemn our brethren Christ will con-
denim us. 1t means that if we do not
speak kindly of those who have gone
wrong Christ will not become our di-
vine advocate and plead for our for
giveness. What does the Bible say in
order to impress this truth upon our
hearts? Christ gave us the Lords
Prayer as the model of our supplica-
tons. Our Father, which art in
heaven, hallOwed be thy name Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done in
earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us
our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against u.s." In other words,
we must pray that as we are ready to
forgive the sins Of others SO may God
forgive us our own trespasses. My
Lord and my God, if thy pardon is to
be dependent upon our willingness to
forgive and pardon others what chance
have most of US Of thy forgiveness!
The older l grow the more l believe
that thousands and hundreds Of thou
sands Of Christian men and women are
barred from the divine joys Of higher
Christian service because they are
harsh in their criticism upon the errors
of their fellow men. You know that
some people make the sinful boast that
IL an injustice or a wrong has ever
been done against themselves they will
never forgive. How can such persons
expect Christ's pardon when they are
willfully refusing to obey Christ's COM
mand to judge not, so that they shall
not be judged?
We Must Forgive to BE Forgiven.
Mr.. Moody was the evangelist, l
think, who once illustrated the impOssi-
bility of receiving Christ's pardon for
sin unless at the same time we are will
ing to forgive the sins Of others by tell
ing an incident that happened at one of
nAn AGAAN4 a. AACClAAASns II MOulun WAS
under deep conviction Of sin. She felt
that Christ was ready to pardon. She
felt that she was a sinner, but for some
unknown reason she would not be par
dOned. At last the great evangelist
came to her and said MADAM, there
is some sin in your life which you are
unwilling to give up, What Is it? VIII
you confess the sin to meT eyes"
answered the lady, 81 will. want to
be saved. feel that Christ is willing to
save me. But every time begin to
pray for pardon l think Of woman
who has done me in the past a great
wrong. l cannot but condemn her and
judge her very harshly, Then, az !
pray for pardon, Christ seems to say to
me, viii you pardon and forgive your
sister if pardon and forgive you? and
/ say, No, cannot forgive her. Then
Christ, with a sad face, seems to say,
Then ! will not forgive YOU" Mr.,
Moody said to the lady, "Will you kneel
down here by this seat and let me pray
for your She answered, 81 will" Then
the evangelist prayed that God might
soften her heart toward her sister; that
he would help her to forgive, as she
wanted to be forgiven. And in the
midst Of the prayer the erFlng woman
sObbed, 10 Lord, / forgive, fOrgivep
and she was saved. So, my brother, il
you are not ready to deal gently will
those who have done you wrong and
also ready to forgive others Christ will
not forgive you. Judge not, that We bC
not judged, for with what Judgment "
judge, We shall be judged. And will
what measure We mete it shall be meas
ured unto We again."
But | have one thought more to de
Yelop. and then l am done. No maj
has right to condemn his brother, be
cause after the condemnation is one
spoken it often happens that it caI
never be recalled, no matter how mucl
no may repent. Our judgments ar,
nearly always spoken judgments
therefore those evil words whicl
speak to others about an absent frien,
or enemy will in all probability be re
Deated to a second and a third IN,