The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-27

with His personal ompassion. There is
that large relation than which nothing Is
more sublimely grand. But just as eacn
child likes to feel his individual relation to
his father, and as the father enjoys the
personal confidence of each of his chill
dren, so may We enjoy, and so should we
enjoy, the personal benefits of divine COM
passion.
Divine mercy is not measured by mans
mind. Man is incapable of such measure
ments. His sense OF his own guilt has sep
arated him from God. God has never driv-
en- man away. Man merely shuns the one
he has abused. And he attributes Ven
geance 10 God, whereas il is man himself
VINO must be reconciled. Moreover, when
man harbors untruth, malice, infdelity. he
suspects others whose minds are pure.
How wicked are the iInaginings of his evil
mind! How he posonS the world about him
with suspicion. How he bedaubs it with
the slime OF insincerity, How maliciously
he drags down everything beautiful. wheth-
er human or divine, BY the imaginings or
his guilty mind. Such mind cannot meas
ure or understand infinite compassion.
Nor is 1t measured by mans deserts.
However high your estimate of man, you
may well assure yourself God has far over
blessed him. Whatever your doctrine of
sin. II Is clear that man is sinner. Like
wise the average men of any age is stub
Dorm against Gods laws. If he embraces
some bit Of divine grace and favor II IS
usually in a mercenary spirit. in order for
him to gain reward and escape punishment
OR he clamors for the fatherhood OF God,
out refuses TO do his part in the essential
consequent, the brotherhood of man. Man,
being offended, holds his fellow-man to
the sternest and most rigid Justice We
pray 10 be forgiven, but VIII not forgive
We beg for mercy, but show none. or, If
mercy be shown, its recipient is reminded
frequently of his former condition. What
does man deserve?
In contrast with such unmerciful human
compassion divine mercy forgives and for
gets, and He even puts His hand upon the
scar. God help the prodigal to forget his
Thoughts
ter ways of eternal life and truth.
The only measures We can find for d.
vine compassion are the human need ana
the divine nature. AS regards the higher,
truer and nobler things of life nothing is
more marked than mans inability TO attain
thereunto. Full of weakness, of wicked
Ing, he needs mercy. God from higher
plane or goodness than we comprehend,
showeth mercy TO His children, and mercy
to all because all His children have such
great need of mercy; mercy to all because
all are His children.
And L see i'm all the world about me
that God has arranged for the supply Of
all these great needs. There are sunshine
and showers for tina lily; there are insects
for the hungry bird. the fish has fins In
stead of feet, and the mole has shovel
claws instead of wings. There's fear
instinct for the fox and q milk-filled udder
for the newborn lamb Open your eyes
and your heart, mani See how the mercy
of God answers to every great need! My
God SHALL likewise, supply all your need.
Mote also the fact that God is love.
1t is just like God to be merciful with an
infinite compassion. It Is His nature, and
from His alI-love nature there is in
herent continual appeal to His children.
The best we can say Is that Like as a
father pitieth his children, the Lord
pitieth them that fear Him. But some
times the fathers pity loses Its tears and
its tenderness. Not so the heavenly Father.
His mercy is from everlasting to everlast-
ing He anticipates our needs as parent
does the childs needs. And as long as man
has such great need, and long as God is
love, so long will the Lord be merciful and
gracious. slow to anger and plenteous In
mercy.'"