Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-01
4ASATURDAY
G1R NIGHT
\ SERMONS
By
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT
THE SPARK DIVINE.

passes your Heavenly Father viii also
forgive yours. Matt vi, ~
Peter. once upon q day. IN a very
gracious mood. asked the Lord. How
oft shall my brother sin against me
and forgive him TIL seven timesf
To err Is human; TO forgive Is divine
Peter Is always intensely human inI
his errlng; he would now be divine in
his making up" Some one has hurt
him. lmpulsiye people get many al
knock. just al this time Christ and
his disciples ARE IN II storm center of
abuse. Insult. SANDER. miSreprescntn
ton. was nm everyday event Under
many burning sting they felt like
John. Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire
come down from heaven and con.
suIne:" Now Slmons got another
jolt. What should he do get even.
pay back. tit for tat. mn eye for All
eye. tooth for n tooth keep tn,
wound green or forgive? But II has
happened more than once The rab.
bis say. Forgive three times" He'll
do better than Extraordinarily How
ever. he will see what the Master says
How oft shall | forgive: Seven
tines Christ smiles, looks into his
heart aud gives him heart standard
Until seventy times seven Love l.
not to he limited by the multiplication
table. We should pardon rs long rs
we love. indefinitely. Ike the love Of
God. forgiveness IS the Christians
finest grace. It's the spinal column of
his spiritual body. ont Of which grow
the ribs of every other virtue
A Parable Stated.
~ certain king" Christ il n won
derful preacher. Never man spake
like this" The master artist draws a
few rare strokes They see the pic.
ture of an eastern court The pashas
collectors of the royal revenues. arr
being summoned before the royal DIES
pot to render their accounts One
looks uneasy. He casts dread Chances
toward his sovereign Vice Iialah
Punshon has outshonc himself nj his
villa with boon companions. The sto
ries OF his excuses at the metropolis
show dazzling productivity. In spite OF
princely salary and outrageous cxtor
ton in his province he t. now bank
rupt aud II defaultcr. Nothing left
for him hut damp dungeons. convict
chains. possibly beheading The way
OF the transgressor Is never easy I'll
he ever gets ont of this scrape he'll
be different man. He filings himself
PROSTATE before his monarch He
begs forgiveness. My, how man will
plead for his life, The royal heart Is
touched by his apparent pcniteuce
The sccpier 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 God
Sin Is debi. The penalty of sin Is
death. How quickly. how cheerfully.
God forgives- above all. how often.
GraeeIessness Of the Graceless.
What's the confusion over In the poor
quarter Of the town; Who's that pom
pous looking official throttling that poor
fellow: Hear him shout. "lay me thu
thou owcst"' His victim, blood stream.
ing from mouth and nostrils. Is ri his
feet. beseechng. Have patience with
me. and | will pay thee all" But. no.
face black with hatred. he belaborS
him and drags him Off 10 prison. stay.
thou wretch TIN thou pay me the hun
dred pence TO the cold. Shiny. yer
min filed prison for $i5. Who Is this
mercilc~s prosecutor: Father II mer
cies. its the kings servant, Rajah
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
ful outrage His kindly royal face now
blazes with Indignation The unforgN
ing creditor H. summoned Thou
wicked servant. shoudst thou not also
have compassion. even MS | had pity on
thee There's rush OF guards. RI,
tie OF chains. aud the unforgiving one
IL hustled 10 the tormeutor unforgiven,
$50 likewise shall my Heavenly Fa-
Their do unto you II We forgive not ev
cry one his brother their tresrasses.
century disciple The parable has only
one meaning. Sins ARE debts Hath not
God forgiven you: Aud you forgive
not.
-Forgive-Forgetl
Forbearance Is rare virtue. and for
gIveness Is twin gem IN the same SET
ting rnforgiyeness suurs ana darken,
our lives. The unforgiving nun is IN
hell or on the way there. for there's ne
mercy for the merclless. no forgiveness
for the unforgiving There's no sin
against which Jesus more solemnly
warns An unforelvng man Is lost.
He has barred heavens door against
himself Gods mercy cannot reach (
him. He's n billion miles away from
heaven though he live next door the
church Aud the man who remembers !
buffers also II isn't easy 10 forget, Some |
Christians forgive. but they never for |