The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-02-26

t1On, ~roOkedneS Likewise, three
words are used to describe Gods gra-
cious dealing with sin: it is forgiven"
lifted up as a burden; covered" and
so hidden from sight; 1t 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 1t difficult
to believe in its forgiveness. For such
troubled souls we have good news.
To begin with, the Bible revelation
of Goo Is full of comfort for them. He
is the Lord God, merciful and gra-
cious, long suffering and abundant in
goodness and truth; keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sim" 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 is forgive
ness with the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace Through the Cross.
But it 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, ome awful reparation
be made. But the cross fully meets
this demand. Gods Son, u substi.
tute, holy and undefiled, hung there,
and all Gods wave and pillows swept
over him. Calvary tells of love, indeed,
but it also tells of wrath, for the
wrath of God against sin exhausted IT.
self in the dark hour of the crucitix-
ion. This is the meaning of the Sa-
vior's 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 h crows
of the field about it. These men were
not deluded; the experience of Luther
led to the Reformation, that of Wesley
to the Evangelical revival and that of
Sturgeon 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 it 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: 1.-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 u%ndoubted revelation of
Gods spirit; which state, when once
attained, is one of -contemptuous and
AldilNlOuo AdllCo VI oil thdL POI oAho
to the Son of God and which, by it's
very nature, is bound to manifest it
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 it, 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 1 will in nc 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 sc in
spite of discipline. Someone asked
the general if he had tried f%orgiying"
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, l
have determined in the queens name
to forgive you all these offenses." He
went away a subdued and changed
man and gave no further trouble.