The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-08-19


ton. crookedness. Likewise, three
words are used 10 describe Gods era
cious dealing with sin: II Is forgiven"
lifted up as burden; covered. and
SO hidden from sight: II Is not I'm
puted," but cancelled like a debt.
Men speak lightly OF forgiveness
until a deep sense of sin settles upon
them, then they wonder whether their
guilt may be put away; they no longer
question the Bible teaching on the
punishment OF sin. but find II difficult
TO believe in its forgiveness For such
troubled souls we have good news.
To begin with. the Bible revelation
OF God is full OF comfort for them. lie
10 the Lord God. merciful and gra'
cious. long suffering and abundant In
goodness and truth; keeping mercy for
thousands. forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin" God was re
vealed In Jesus Christ. and We knew
our Lords attitude to the penitent dur
ing the days OF his flesh. The woman
who bathed his feet with tears. the
shrinking adulteress, publicans and
sinners, all attest that there IL forgive
ness with the God and Father OF our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace Through the Cross
But II is at Calvary. especially. that
assurance for the penitent Is found.
Such a soul will not be satisfied light
ly. He demands that, for the awful
ness OF his sin. some awful reparation
be made. But the cross fully meets
this demand. Gods Son. our substi-
tute. holy and undefiled. hung there.
and all Gods waves and pillows swept
over him. Calvary tells OF love, indeed.
but II also tells OF wrath. for the
wrath OF God against sin exhausted IT.
self In the dark hour of the crucifix-
ion. This Is the meaning OF the sa-
viors cry. MY God. my God. why hast
thou forsaken me!'
That such provision has been made
Is further attested by the experience
Of men. Luther tells us that the pains
OF hell got hold upon him. but when
he looked to the wounds OF Christ he
found peace. John Wesley. after seek
ing rest for his soul for years. trusted
In Christ and felt his heart strangely
warmed and assured. Spurgeon was
SO happy when he experienced forgive
ness that he wanted to tell the crows
OF the field about II. These men we're
not deluded: the experience OF Luther
led to the Reformation. that OF Wesley
to the Evangelical revival and that OF
Spurgeon to years of a fruitful minis
try.
Sin Against the Holy Ghost.
But though so clearly attested. we
occasionally meet one who declares
this blessing Is not for him. for he has
committed the sin OF which Christ
said Il hath never forgiveness"-the
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. But
what Is this sin! As the result OF
careful study one writer gives this
definition: "The blasphemous mani
festation In word or deed OF an inter
nal state OF soul To which a man has
arrived by a continual resistance and
increasing opposition to the clearest
and most undoubted revelation OF
Gods spirit; which state. when once
attained, Ia one OF contemptuous and
malicious hatred OF all that pertains
to the Son OF God and which. by Its
very nature, is bound to manifest H.
self as such" We never met a soul,
troubled over this sin. who gave evil
dence OF having descended to such
depths OF willful opposition to Christ.
Indeed, one who has committed this
sin will not be distressed over II. and
the fact OF distress is itself an en-
couragement. Over against all our
fears stands the word OF Christ. Him
that cometh unto me will In no wise
cast out"
How we should love him who for
gives so much! the psalmist says,
There Is forgiveness with thee that
thou mayest be feared" fear here
meaning reverent love. A story Is told
OF General Havelock which illustrates
this text One OF his soldiers violated
regulations and continued to do 30 In
spite OF discipline. Someone asked
the general II he had tried forgiving'
the offender. and the suggestion was
acted upon. The soldier was sent for,
and came defiant. expecting another
reprimand. He was surprised when
his officer said kindly: tombstone. !
have determined in the queens name
to forgive you all these offenses." He
went away subdued and changed
man and gave no further trouble.