The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-19

He realized as few do the real difficulty
 with the majority of sinners, Behold,
 l was shapen in iniquity, in sin did my mother conceive mel exclaimed the
 Prophet. We are sinners by heredity
 We have inherited partially depraved
 minds, partially unbalanced brains and
 morals
 St. Paul. speaking of the very noblest class, declares: We . cannot do the
 things which we would,'-any of us,
 hence all humanity are sinners" There Is none righteous, no, not one" There fore it is merely a question of the de- gree of sinfulness, and the degree Is often measured by the degree of in- herited weakness, or the degree of sur- rounding temptations. The really rep- rehensible and blameworthy sinners arc those who sin wilfully, deliberately, deliberately, knowingly, intentionally. Hut 1t Is not ours to judge which these are. Indeed, we are incompetent to judge; we cannot read the heart. we cannot fully appreciate the degree of the temptation and the weakness of the tempted. Hence the Master said: Judge nothing before the time.' In due time the saints will judge the world but not now.
 Jesus had accepted an invitation to dine at Pharisees house. The dinner had begun. Resting upon one arm they used the other for handling the food. After the custom of the times, they re- olined upon low tables or eouches. their heads toward the center where the food was placed. While the dinner was pro- gressing, a woman who was a sinner, "a hnrlot,p deeply penitent, entered. She had in her hand some precious per fume. with which she intended to an- oint the Savior's feet, as was sometimes done with dignitaries of that time. Her heart was full, and tears gushed from her eyes while she sought to open the bottle; they fell like rain upon Jesus' feet, evidently quite contrary to the woman's intention. She was dishonoring the very feet she intended to honor. Loosening her hair. she used 1t as a towel. entirely regardless of the fact that for a woman at that time it was considered dishonorable to let down her hair in public but intent upon her err rand she dried the feet and poured the precious perfume upon them, presum- ably as an honor to the One from whom she had heard Wonderful words of llfe'-words of divine compassion and pity for sinners, words of hope for her. self
 Two Debtors and Their Love
 The host of the occasion watched Je- sus to see how He would receive this of loving devotion. say ing in his heart. If this man were He would know that the won- an offering Him this honor is disrepu- ia ble. He would denounee her and bid her. "Begone~ and not to touch him | Jesus knew his thoughts, and answered. him in parabolic form, saying, "A cer- tain creditor had two debtors. one owed 800 pence and the other 50 Neither could pay and he forgave them both. Which of them will love him most?" The Pharisee replied 'I suppose he to whom most was forgiven" Jesus agreed with him.
 Then Jesus made application of tho matter: turning to the woman, He said 10 His host, ''Seest thou this woman, who washing My feet with her tears. and wiped them with her hair? You are the host of tho occasion, yet you did not offer Me water for the washing of My feet, as is customary in our land to dc 10 those whom we desire to honor. You gave me no kiss" as is custom- ary amongst friends, but this woman has repeatedly kissed My feet You did hath anointed my feet with oint- ment Wherefore. her sins. which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much: but to whom little Is forgiven, the same loveth little. And He said to the worn- an, Thy sins are forgiven
 Is not this to some extent an illus tration and an explanation of why 1t is that the majority of those who love the Lord most are such as realize their own sinful and fallen condition most, and who appreciate most the forgiving love of God manifested in Jesus? Is it not true today also that those who are most moral, and therefore might be said to have less to be forgiven, have corre- less love?
 This should not be the case, however. The less degraded ought naturally to be the more able to love and to appreciate divine goodness and love, and the more willing to present their little all in di- vine service.