Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-08
ASATURDAY
AnA NIGHT
\ SERMONS
By
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THE SPARK DIVINE.

gracious MOOD, hAkeu the LDfu. HON
oft shall my brother sin against NJ
and forgive him til seven times:
To err Is human: to forgive is divine
Peter Is always intensely human IL
his erring: he would now he divine Il
his making up" Some one has hur
him. lmpnlsiye people get many M
knock just at this time Christ AN.
his disciples are In n storm center d
abuse. Insult. SANDER, misreprescnta
ton. was an everyday event Under
many a burning sting they felt lik.
John. Lord, wilt thou that we bid iire
come down from heaven and con
sumei' Now Simon's got another
Jolt. What should he do-get even
pay back. tit for tat. an eye for a.
eye. tooth for tooth. keep the
wound green or forgive? But II has
happened more than once. The rab
bis say, Forgive three times" He'll
do better than that-outwardly. How
ever. he will see what the Master says
How oft shall forgive? Seven
umesf' Christ smiles, looks into his
Until seventy times seven" Love l.
not TO be limited by the multiplication
table. We should pardon as long rs
we love. indefinitely. like the love Of
God Forgiveness is the Christians
finest grace. It's the spinal column OF
his spiritual body. out OF which grow
the ribs of every other virtue
A Parable Stated.
"a certain king" Christ is won
derful preacher. "Never man spake
like this" The master artist draws a
few rare strokes. They seq the pic
ture Of an eastern court The pashas
collectors of the royal revenues. are
being SUMMONED before the royal dss
pot 70 render theif acc6mts One
looks uneasy. lie casts dread glaifices
toward his sovereign. Vice Rajah
Punshon has outshone himself at his
| villa with boon companions. The sio
rfes OF his excuses at the metropolis
SHOW dazzling prodignlity. In spite OF
princcly salary aud outrageous extor
ton In his province he Is now bank
| for him but damp dungeons. convict
chains. possibly beheading The way
| OF the transgrcssor IL never easy. II
! he ever gets out of this scrape he'll
be different man. He filings himself
| PROSTATE before his monarch. He
begs forgiveness. My. how a man will
plead for his life. The royal heart Is
! h.s
The seepter Is extended. The bonds
are loosed. The enormous debt Is for
given. not In part, but the whole. Say.
sinner. doesn't that sound like Cod
! Sin Is debt The penalty Of sin Is
1 death How quickly. how cheerfully
4 God forgives above all. bow often.
I Graeeiessness Of tho craesiess.
whnt's the confusion over III the poo,
quarter of the town: Who's that pom
pous looking official throttling that poor
/ fellow? Hear him shout. "pay me thar
/ thou owest." His victim. blood stream
/ Ing from mouth and nostrils. is AT his
4 feet, beseeching. Have patience will
me, and | will pay thee air But. no
/ face black with hatred. he belahors
him and drags him OF 10 prison. stay
thou wretch. till thou pay me the hun
I dred pence" To the cold. Shiny. yer
/ min filed prison for SIS. Who IL thi.
merciless prosecutor? Father OF mer
cies. It's the kings servant, Rajai.
4 Punshon, just forgiven. coming from.
the very heat OF his own experience
+ Oh, thou hard hearted creditor
"Shame. shame.' cry his fellow sery
ants. The king hears Of the migrate
full outrage. His kindly royal face nov
blazes with indignation. The unforgiN
Ing creditor Il summoned. ''rho'
/ wicked servant. shouldst thou not ais
have compassion. even as | had pity %
thee:" There's rush Of guards. II RAJ
tie OF chains. and the unforgiving on,
IL hustled TO the tormentor- unforgiven
80 likewise shall my Heavenly Fa
\ ther do unto you II ye forgive not eN
cry one his brother their trespasses.
Read that again. unforgiv Ing twentieth
century disciple The parable has oni.
one meaning. Sins are debts. Hath no
God forgiven you? And you forlis,
not.
Forbear-Forgive-Fo
Forbearance Is rare virtue. and fof
giveness Is II twin gem in the same SCI
ting. Unforgiveness sours and darLen
our lives The unforgiying man IL II
hell or on the way there, for there's ne
mercy for the merciless. no forgiveness
for the unforgiying. There's no sii
against which Jesus more solemn,
warns. An nnforgiving man Is lost
He has barred heavens door agans'
himself Gods mercy cannot reach
him. He's billion miles away fror
heaven though he live next door III,
thurch. And the man who remember
suffers also. II isn't easy to forget. SIM
Christians forgive. but they never for
get themselves nor give others a chance
a. forget. Some who have difficulty
with their brethren say they have bur
led the Ratchet, but they know where