The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-07-27

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the petition is one
for forgiveness of
sins.
We are so ac-
customed to hear of Gods forgiveness
that we take it for granted. However,
Bishop Westcott has said that it is
an amazing thing that a holy God
forgives sin he is not surprised to
hear that the wrath of such a God
burns to the lowest hell against sin
ners, but that he has found a way to
be just as yet to justify the ungodly
is the very mystery of the Gospel.
And when God ~forgives he does it
fully and freely he blots out our sins,
remembers them no more, casts them
behind his back, buries them in the
sea.
Martin Luther's Experience.
There are many, even among pro-
Tossing Christians who do not enjoy
a true sense of the forgiving love of
God. y For them, the experience of
Martin Luther may be helpful. While
still a monk he would eXclaim, go
my sin! o my sin % AS he lay one
day on a couch in despair an old monk
repeated softly the words of the
creed, 81 believe in the forgiveness of
sins" and added, 1--WE are not merely
to believe that there is forgiveness for
David and Peter; the command of
God is that we believe that there is
forgiveness for u own sins"
This prayer for forgiveness is to be
uttered daily by the child of God. All
are included in 'us." Some have
thought they no longer needed to pray
this prayer, because of their attain
ments in grace. We suspect they are
lacking in that deep view of sin which
the Scriptures give us. eff we say we
have no sin we deceive ourselves and
the truth is not in u.s. Il John l :S).
Necessity of Forgiving Others.
The petition contains a clause over
which some have stumbled, ''as we
forgive or "have forgiven" Or. W. 1t
is pointed cut that this is legal ground,
that no reference is made to the
atOnsment and that the prayer was
given before the cross and hence
should not be offered by Christians.
We believe this objection rests on a
misrepresentation. Men have never
been forgiven on the ground of having
forgiven others, but on account of the
shedding of Christ's blood and this
has been true from the days of Abel.
AS does not mean ION the ground"
or sin the measure but "even as or
ssince." With reference to the
prayer having been given before the
cross so also was the Lords supper,
but no one would argue that the sup
per is therefore obsolete.
An Indians Forgiveness.
DIR. Egerton r. Young, an honored
missionary among the Indians of the
North, tells of once reading the Lords
prayer to a company of warriors.
When he came to Forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive them that
trespass against u.s." a chief asked,
'What does that mean?' Said Doctor
Young, "That means you will have to
stop looking for scalps!" eff that is
your religion" replied the indian,
"take it to the old women" and for
years he refused to listen to the
Gospel.
But one night he heard Doctor
Young preach on the crucifiXion and
tell how Christ cried. "Father forgive
Them" His heart was melted but he
said nothing. The next day a com
pany of Indians was seen approaching
and Doctor Young was advised to ride
off so that he might not witness h
tragedy which was likely to follow.
For, he was told, in that company was
the murderer of the chiefs son the
chief had Just learned the fact and it
was expected he would tear the of
fender limb from limb. Doctor Young
refused to leave but was apprehensive.
AS the band approached the chief rode
toward the murderer with tomahaWk
uplifted, eXclaiming, you killed my
boy, you betrayed my trust, you
robbed the tribe of its successor, you
have broken my heart. You deserve
10 die and you know 1t. Wei; for you
that | heard the missionary at the
campfire last night He told US we
must forgive if we want forgiveness;
so although you killed my boy and
you deserve to die, 1 am going to for
give you. 1 Danish you from my tribe,
but forgive you rs l hope to be for
given"
The chief wept like a ch'd. He
never went on the warpath agai , but
was willing to sit among boys eight
to ten years of age and study the
Bible. He became an earnest Chris
tian and a class leader.
"Be We kind one to another, tender
hearted, forgiving one another, even
as God for Christ's sake hath for
given you."-(Ephesians 4:32).