The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1906-02-23

The miracle was the signature OF God
to his nature and mission.
1t was quite as essential that the
man himself should know, as for the
people generally. He would need the
divine assurance that the promise of
forgiveness came from God. All the
blessedness and hope of his life de-
pended on it.
Arise" Which would be impossi-
BILE without miracle. "Tal1e up thy
bed" This would show the complete
ness Of the cure on the spot, which
would be impossible if the cure were a
medical result.
He arose, took up the bed, and
went forth before them ALL" A living
witness to Jesus, unimpeachable, and
making the cure visible illustration
of the work which Jesus came TO do.
"Insomuch that they were all amazed"
Luke adds, They were filled with
fear" The miracle awakened a re-
ligious awe in their minds, such as
men ever feel in the presence of a
great and mysterious power. Here
was one also who had unlimited pow
err; what might he not do to them?
Had they secret sins unforgiven? But
they also saw the goodness of God;
his forgiving love; his readiness to
help; and this, too, for the sinful and
helpless This was the most amazing
thing of all. This was like the an
gels song Of Peace good will to
men," 1t was the proof of the i'm
mortal revelation that God so loved
the world that he gave his only be-
gotten Son that whatsoever believeth
in him should have eternal life" "And
gloriied God" Luke adds, Saying,
We have seen strange things to-day"
They ascribed the honor and glory to
God, as the source Of this benehcent
power. The good deeds of Gods chill
dren honor God, and lead the souls of
men toward him Matt. 5:16).
VI. A Study of the Forgiveness OF
Sin. The Heart Of the Lesson.-As
exemplided in the healing of the par
alytic.
First, the Need of Forgiveness lies
ID in the fact that all have sinned.
No 'hattery mirror" can so deceive
the soul as TO make one believe that
his moral portrait is that of a perfect
man.
Forgiveness does not remove all the
consequences of sin. It cannot bring
back the slain. 1t cannot remove the
fact Of sin. 1t cannot Immediately re-
move the scarlet letter, as in Haw-
thornes romance. Ii leaves certain
marks and scars on the soul And
this is the warning against sin. 1t is
folly TO sin, imagining that it is easy
to recover from its effects.
1t does remove the penalty of sin.
It does bring back many blessings
that sin has forfeited. 1t does restore
the outward expressions Of Gods IA
vor. We cannot conceive OF a pardon
that goes on furnishing the same as
before. We do not forgive another if
it makes no change in our actions to-
ward him. We do not forgive a debt
If we continue to press for its pay
ment.
How can the Cain mark be removed
from our souls? VIII not the black
past be forever present, forever scent
One simple illustration has brought
comfort. l have seen black coal by
the roadside, the very essence of
blackness. l have seen the sun shine
on that black coal and / could no
longer see the blackness because Of
the suns radiance reflected from it.
It was no longer a black coal, but a
star of glory. So when we get to
heaven, the wondrous love and wis
dom Of God and of his Son Jesus in
saving such sinners as we have been
will make ourselves and every one
forget the sin in the shining of re-
deeming love. And even here the
splendid fight against sin, the glorious
victory over it, the good that has been
wrought in us by overcoming 1t, will
put the sin in the background, and its
blackness will be hidden by the light
of the victory. The dust and smoke OF
the battle will be forgotten in the
shining of the morning star, the re-
ward of him that overcometh.
Forgiveness is chiefly restoration
to the family and favor of God. And
this is far higher blessing than the
removal OF suffering. Sin has set us
in opposition to God, so that we do
not feel at home in his presence. For
giveness brings us close to the heart
of God, into oneness with him. It
gives us a new start in the spiritual
life. 1t gives a new meaning to the
love of God, new vision of righteous
ness and tender mercies and loving
kindness.
Forgiveness, therefore, is remission
of sin, deliverance from the love of
sin, heart that hates sin.
In the Lords Prayer the condition
of being forgiven is that we forgive
those who have trespassed against us.
For no one can be truly penitent, or
fitted to receive forgiveness from God,
unless he has a forgiving spirit to-
ward his enemies. Compare the par.
able of the two debtors.
Forgiveness comes through Jesus
Chrfcf