Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-27
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'oRGIvINo AND BEING FORGIVEN.
Matthew S;21-35,-JuIy 81.

consider the church on the score OF orr
ginal sin. It is not the thought that orr
ginal sin may be cancelled on account or !
prayer The penalty of original sin
needed to be paid, not by the prayer or
the sinners, 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 direlict as SER
want of God AS follower Of Christ he
had come far short, The time of reck-
oning came. He realized 1t and be-
sought Divine favor and mercy. promis-
ing to. do all he could to make up for the
deficiencies. He was heard; the SEN
tence upon him was stayed But when
he went forth to find a fellow servant
who owed him trifiing sum. and would
have no mercy upon him. his master
was very angry and declared that he,
too, must be harshly dealt with and re-
ceive no mercy. because he had shown
none his fellow servant. His lords
words were. "Shouldst 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 Covenant relationship. as
a servant who was also a debtor from
the time he became a servant.
The Lords words concluding the para
BILE are, so shall also my heavenly
Father do unto you. IL We from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother
his trespasses." In another text our
Lord inculcates the same thought In din
erent words, saying: "If We forgive
men their trespasses your heavenly
Father will also forgive you"
The purpose and object of our heaven
ly Father in thus dealing with us seems 4
not clear to ALL 1t Is not that he wishes
to retaliate. 1t is not that he would say
to us. IF you are mean towards others
I will be mean towards you" Rather
the lesson is this "I am kind to the nf-
thankful: 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 his position for special purpose
and you will not be fit nor be prepared .
for the service I desire for you unless
YOU learn the lesson of forgiveness and
generosity: hence for your sake I make
the rule that I will be no more generous =,
to you and your imperfections than you r
are generous toward your brethren In /.
their imperfectons I do this in order
70 lesson which cannot
be so well learned in any other way.
What I am seeking In you as my ser
want is perfection in my character-like-
ness. You are inclined to look at the
justice of my character and to copy 1t
and to deal severely with others who are
your debtors I wish to make clear to :
YOU that the grandest elements of my
character are Illustrated from the stand
point of nv love and sympathy. my
kindness and forbearance. Because 1 de-
sire YOU to progress in this character.
likeness and come to the position =
where 7 can use you in my service moro
abundantly therefore | rule that you
must be forgiving and gracious one to-
ward another even as l have already
been gracious toward you. and even as
I propose yet further to be gracious to
YOU, if you will abide in harmony with
NV spirit of love and seek to walk IN
nv way I am ready to forgive the low
ing and generous who are seeking TO
copy nv character I am ready to be
kind and generous and forgivng to the
greatest degree.
.'The kindest and the happiest pair
Will find occasion to fOrbear,
and something every day they live CO.
To pity and perhaps forgive. .,..