The Yale expositor., 1902-03-14

corrupt and destroyed past ana loau
up with gratitude and faith and holy
determination. We do not please God
by the cultivation OF the miserable.
lie would rather see us happy than 10
see us depressed. You would rather see
your children laugh than 20 see them
cry. and your Heavenly Father has no
fondncss for Mysteries.
Not only forget your pardoned trans
grossions. but allow others 90 forget
them. the chief stock on hand OF
some people is 20 recount in prayer
meetings and pulpits what big scuun-
drels they once were. They not only
Will not forget their forgiven deficits.
but they seem 90 be determined that
the church and tho world shall not for
get them. n you want 10 ccclare that
YOU have been the chief of sinners and
cXtol tho grace that could save such a
wretch as YOU were, do so. but do not
80 into particulars. II you have any
scars got In honorable warfare. show
them. but II you have scars got In igno-
Die warfare do not display them.
know you will quote the Bible rerer-
cnce TO tho horrible pit from which
you were digged. Yes. be thankful for
that rescue. but do not make displays
OF the mud OF that horrible pit or
splash II over other people. Some
times have felt in Christian meetings
discounted and unfit for Christian
service because had done none OF
those things which seemed 20 be. In
the estimation or many. necessary for
Christian usefulness. for never sworo
a word or ever got drunk or went 20
compromising places or was guilty OF
assault and battery or ever uttered n
slanderous word or ever did any one a
hurt. although | knew my heart was
sinful enough. and said TO myself
There Is no use OF my trying 20 do
any good. for ] never went through
those doprayed experiences" But
afterward | saw consolation In the
thought that TO one gained any ordi-
nation by the laying on OF the hands
OF dlssoluteness and infamy.
And though an ordinary moral life,
ending In a Christian life. may not be
as dramatic a story to tell about. let Us
be grateful 10 God rather than worry
about Il II we have never plunged into
outward denominations. II may be ap-
propriate IN n meeting OF reformed
drunkards or reformed debauchces TO
quote for these not reformed how des-
pcrate and nasty you once were. but do
not drive scayonger's cart into as
semblages OF people the most OF whom
have always been decent and respect
able. But | have been sometimes In
great evangelical meetings where peo-
pie went into particulars about the sins
that they once committed, so much so
that felt like putting my hand on my
pocketbook or calling for the police
lest these reformed men might fall
from grace and go at their old business
OF theft or drunkenness or cut-throat-
cry. II your sins have been forgiven
and your life purified forget the way
wardness OF the past and allow others
10 forget 70.
But what most want In the light OF
this text 20 impress Is that we have n
sin-forgetting God. Suppose that on
the last day-callcd the last day be-
cause the sun will never again rise up
on our earth. the earth itself being
flung into fiery dcmolitiOn-sup
that on that last day a group II in
fcrnal spiglt5 should somehow get near
enough the gate OF heaven and chal-
lcnge our entrance and say: How
carst thou. the Just Lord. let those
souls into the realm OF su9erlal glad
ness? Why. they said n great many
things they never ought 20 have said.
and they did great many things they
ought never 60 have done. Sinners
are they--sinncrs all"
And suppose God should delgn 20 an
swer lie might say: Yes. but did not
ms only SON die FOR their ransom? Did
ne not pay the price? Not one drop OF
blood was retained IN his arteries.
not ono nerve OF his that was not
wrung In the torture. lie took In his
own body and soul all the suffering
that those sinners deserve. They plead
ea that sacrifice; they took the full
pardon that I promised % all who
through my Son. earnestly applied for
u. end q passed out OF my mind that
they were offenders. l forgot al tbout
Il. Yes. forgot all about q. Their
sins and their iniqulties do | remem-
her no more" a sln-forgettIng God.
That Is clear beyond and far above n
sin-pardoning God. How often we
hear Il said. Il can forgive. bat / can
not forret" That Is equal TO saying
II verbally admit Il Is all right. but
will keep the old grudge good" There
/ is something in the demOanor that
seems TO say: II would not do you
harm. Indeed wish you well. bat
that unfortunate affair can never pass
out Of my mind There may no hard
words pass between them. but until
/ death breaks In the same GOODNESS re-
mains. But God let's our pardoaed OF.
/ fenses go into oblivion. lie never
throws them up TO us again. re feels
as kindly toward ms as though we had
been spotlcss and positively angelic all
/ along.
/ Many years ago n family consisting