Evening journal., 1910-07-30

but by the precious blood of Christ
But after having our sins forgiven
through turning from sin and faith in
Christ. and through conservation to
the Lord and begetting of the holy
spirit, then we are his servants. and
the parable relates TO these only.
The first servant mentioned In the
parable had been very derelict as a
servant OF God As follower Of
Christ he had come far short. The
time of reckoning came. lie realized
II and besought Divine favor ana
mercy. promising to do all he could
TO make up for the deficiencies. He
was heard: the sentence upon him
was stayed But when he went forth
TO find a fellow servant who owed him
a trifing sum, and would have no
mercy upon him, his master was very
angry and declared that he. too. must
be harshly dealt with and receive no
mercy, because he had shown none to
his fellow servant His lords words
were, "Shouldest not thou also have
had compassion (mercy upon thy
fellow servant even as / had mercy
on thee?" And his lord delivered
him to the tormentors until he should
pay all that was due" The amount
due would not include any part of the
penalty of original sin. but merely
the penalty for the short comings OF
the transgressor as respects his Gov
enant relationship, as a servant who
was also a debtor from the time he
became a servant.
The Lords words concluding tho
parable are. 80 shall also my heav-
enly Father do unto you, If ye from
your hearts forgive not every one his
brother his trespasses." In another
text our Lord inculates the same
thought in different words. saying
IF ye forgive men their trespasseg
your heavenly Father Will also forgive
you"
The purpose and object of our
heavenly Father in thus dealing with
us seems not clear to all II is not
that he wishes to retaliate. II Is not
that he woulG say to us. "If you are
mean towards others / will be mean
towards you" Rather the lesson Is
this, 81 am kind to the unthankful;
have been very gracious TO you in
the forgiveness of your original sin
and in accepting your conservation TO
be my servant and In bringing you
into my familyNhut l have called YOU
. into this position\for a special pur
+ pose and you will not be At nor per
. pared for the service I\desire for yo
e. unless you learn the less9p OF torgly
I eness and generosity; hence. Tor You
r sake I make the rule that | will bl
n no more generous to you and youi
] imperfections than you are generou.
e toward your brethren In their imper
y fections. ! do this In order TO teact
e you a great lesson which cannot be
i so well learned I'm any other way
? What | am seeking In you as my SER
! want is perfection I'm my characters
: likness. You are inclined to look at
the justice of my character and to
copy II and TO deal severely with
others who are your debtors J wish
TO make clear TO you that the grand
est elements of my character are i'll
ustrated from the standpoint OF my
love and sympathy, my kindness and
forbearance. But desire you TO
progress in this likeness
and so come to the position where I
can use you in my service more abun-
dantly. therefore ! rule that you must
be forgiving and gracious one toward
another even as ! have already been
gracious toward you, and even as
propose yet further TO be gracious
to you. If you viii abide in harmony
with my spirit of love and seek to
walk in my way. / am ready to for
give the loving and generous who are
seeking to copy my character; / am
ready TO be kind and generous and
generous and forgiving to the & eat
est degree"
The kindest and the happiest pair
y Will find occasion to forbear,
And something every day they live
To pity, and perhaps forgive"
Spend Sunday In baltimore.
| Snnrinl aNcnrsinn. Inlv 81. via Fem