The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-07
.DR, SIMPSON TALKS
 ON FORGIVENESS Large Congregation Present at Methodist Church NO SERMON IN MORNING He Says It Is Serious Thing for Any One to Offend the Children of
 God-The Lord Will
 Forgive.
NO SERMON IN MORNING

the Birmingham district filled the pulpit at the night service at the First Metho- dist church yesterday. It being commun- l ion. there was no sermon in the morn- ing MT. c. B. Riddick, who has been called to the pastorate of the church, was expected to be in Birmingham yes terday, but he will not arrive here from California until next Friday.
 Large congregations were present at both services, and the music was excep- tioEally we'll rendered. At the close of the night service a collection was taken 1 up to go towards the deaconness work in Birmingham, this being established here last June.
 The sermon of Dr. Simpson was on Forgiveness" his text being taken from the fifth and sixth verses of the seven- teenth chapter of the Gospel according to Luke He told of Jesus preparing hls disciples for the work they were to do in His name, after He departed from them. saying that they must preach only the gospel of truth.
 l Dr. Simpson said Jesus told his twelve disciples that they would be subjected to l injury because they were to preach the word of God, and that they might ex- pect such III treatment, but that they must forgive
 A Serious Injury.
 The minister said that it was quite a serious thing for anyone to offend the l children of God. He said the Lord would forgive injury heaped upon Himself. but that he was jealous and would not allow his children to be ill-treated. 1 Anyone will resent an injury done their 1 children quicker than they would resent an injury to themselves" said Dr. Simp- son, and in speaking of trouble between reighbors over their children, he said: "A child will come home and tell it's parent that Johnny threw a rock at him, strik- ing him on the head. The mother of the injured child will naturally investigate. The first step taken will probably be to see the mother of Johnny. The mother only goes out to protect her child. It is the same way with our Heavenly Father. He will splendidly avenge His own"
 "The hardest thing in the world" de- clared pr. Simpson, Ifs to forgive one who has offended you, voluntarily. The 1 first instinct is to resent an injury. But. | brethren, the law of nature is not for | Christians. The law of grace is opposed to the law of nature. Do not believe. however, that I think the Lord Jesus Christ intended that his followers should have no selfrespect When you see a man forgive voluntarily. for any injury done him you may know that he had what we Methodists call religion. To hold an in- Jury against man until he repents is not Christian spirit.
 God Was Reconciled.
 The minister dwelt upon the verses For God so loved the world that he gave his own beloved son, that whoso- ever believeth Him should not perish but have everlasting life,'' saying that He died for us when we were sinners. And when Jesus died on Cavalry God was reconcied''
 | He said the gospel teaches that one can enjoy all of the pleasures of forgiving an injury done by fellow man. Should fellow man injure you, he said, and pass away. the Lord will never forgive you until your forgive your departed brother. l Tn the first year of my ministry" said i Dr. Simpson, "I was riding my circuit in | Southwest Alabama There was a woman who had been greatly sinned against. She quit the church which was just across 1 the road from her home. l had little ex- perence then and called on her. Some times I think, too, that experience Is not altogether necessary in such cases. went to her house and spent the night 1 there. I had a long talk with her. She 1 told me that she had prayed to God that she might be able to forgive the one who had disgraced her home. I asked her the question deep down in your heart do you want to forgive this person. She fairly hissed mo- If she could have heard the l walls of her offender in hell 1t would have been sweet music to her ears. told her then If you do not forgive him you are sure to go to hell. for there is no place in Gods province for sucn per- son as you
 The Manly Man.
 "The manly man is the one who can for l give" said Dr. Simpson. No man can af- ford not to have forgiving spirit. It is like eating thistles for supper and laying down with porcupines to possess such a l SplIlt ftHtHiDtT lHe BOOu ana forget the evil"
 | When you hear anyone say I will for give you but I cannot forget the injury ! it sounds like saying I will forgive you 1 now but If I ever get a chance will get even with you It Is like burying the blade of hatchet and leaving the han i dle above ground.
 "If you have faith as of grain of mustard you can remove mountains. [ When the Lord said this he did not refer | to the size of the mustard seed He re- | ferred to quality and not quantity. If you have faith as of mustard seed, you can do marvellous things. You must not sit 1 down and wait for 1t to work but must | put it to work. Use that which you have. l This Is the only way to develop 1t. You 1 will never take one step towards the end, until you put to use the faith you now ! have God never does anything for man 1 that he Is able to do himself.
 Faith Says Lead On." Dr. Simpson said faith comes when l there is darkness all about you. It comes | taII.x hot ic iu ah