The Detroit times., 1910-07-23

st. Peters query, Lord, how often
shall my brother sin against me ana
forgive him, until seven timesE Is
query that comes TO many. II Is
question that at some time ana IN
some manner or form is quite sure 10
come TO all the followers OF CHRIST.
imperfect ourselves and surrounded
by others who are imperfect We con
tinually have need TO exercise mercy,
benevolence, forgiveness. There Is
something In the human mind which
naturally appreciates justice ana
takes special note OF injustice done
toward us. IL is also remarkable now
many people take a delight in met
ing out Justice TO an offender against
the law IL Is this spirit which has
been noted In mobs. Men and Wo-
men and children work themselves
into a very frenzy, as advocates OF
Justice, in expressions against guilty.
, wretch who escapes the clutches OF
the law and just penalty, and insist
upon taking vengeance into their own
hands. IL would appear that many OF
those who participate In mobs have
at times been guilty OF nearly or
quite as great crimes as those which
they reprchend in another and would
punish. 1t would appear that there Is
a craving in the fallen flesh TO DO
violence TO another, or TO see violence
done. IL only there could be an eN-
cuse for IL on the score of justice.
Alas, poor creatures. how wrong such
condition OF heart, how repre-
hensible in the sight OF God, And yet
those who thus wrongfully give loose
rein TO their passions. quiet their own
consCiences, at least, by concluding
that they are viewing the matter like
God, loving justice and hating
iniquity.
II is true that Justice is the foun'
dation OF Divine Goyernment-that
God Is Just: but IL is also true that
God Is loving and kind, and that He
accepts to Himself the very name OF
love. for God Is love" Such should
learn that to be in the Divine likeness
is TO govern ones self and ones
course by the rules of Justice, but to
measure the course Of others by the
rule OF love and sympathy, generosity
and forgiveness.
In answer TO st. Peters question.
our Lord said that we should forgive
brother not only seven times, but
seventy times seven. What a breadth
of generosity is here suggested. How
it tells US OF the loving mercy and
forgiveness OF him with whom we
have to do, But let us remember an
other statement Of this same matter,
where IL is implied that before the
forgiveness Is granted. It is TO be at
brother trespass against thee seven
times in a day and seven times in a
day shall say, I repent thou shalt
forgive him"-or to the extent OF sew
enty times seven. We must even as
sumo that the Lord meant that in
our hearts we should already forgive
the brother his trespasses, even
though We might wisely wait to eX-
press our forgiveness until his atti-
tude manifested some desire for II.
The disciples Of Christ are TO be con-
tinually I'm the attitude Of generosity
and filed with the spirit Of forgive
ness as is the heavenly Father-ready
and waiting 10 be gracious, and under
proper conditions, to manifest that
readiness.
To illustrate this matter the Mas
ter spoke a parable. He said, The
kingdom Of heaven is like unto Ger
tain king. which would take account
OF his servants" Tvs 23). But as we
understand Him. He meant that the
church at the present time Is the en-
bryotic Kingdom and is being dealt
with by the Lord after the manner OF
the illustration In this parable. IL Is
not therefore an illustration OF Gods
dealing with the world lie Is not
dealing with the world at all. He is
not calling them His servants in any
sense OF the word--only believers,
consecrated ones. occupy this favor
able position OF Divine relationship
and only these are meant In the par
able. Furthermore, the parable does
not even consider the church on the
score OF original sin. IL Is not the
Thought that original sin may be can
ceIIed on account OF prayer The
penalty for original sin needed to be
paid. not by the prayer OF the sin
ners, but by the precious blood Of
Christ. But after having our sins for.
given through turning from sin and
faith in Christ. and through consecra-
ton 10 the Lord and begetting OF the
holy spirit, then we are His servants,