Year: 1873

said or done, it is stNl true, that where
in in the past we failed to- do our duty
still we ought to have done it, and SC
long as this can be said which will be
forever our debt is not paid.
! 4. Our debts may be forgiven, new.
er paid, indeed for then there would
be no place for pardon. Who would
think Of going and praying for pardon
for debt which had been already paid.
But they may be forgiven God is not
anxious to exact the payment, nor to
infict a penalty. On condition of
confessing our debt and beginning now
to fulfill our present obligations, we
may have the gracious favor of the
king and he will freely pardon, not
| that this makes it just the same, or
just as we'll, as if we had never sinned.
No; nothing can do that, but it may
relieve US Of all fear Of punishment,
and assure US Of the sympathy and
good will of our Father in heaven,
which may encourage US to be very
careful and faithful in the future
But


s. We mast goto our Father and
confess oar debts. Indeed -"Forgive
US our debts is much more a cofession
than anything else. 1t is the acknowl-
edgment of the debt and of the inabil-
ity to pay 1t is this confession no
doubt which the Lord seeks as the
manifestation on our part of state of
mind, which makes it possible for US
to receive into our hearts his forgiving
love.


Not that Gods .forgiuiny lore de-
pends on our confessing, but our re-
ceiuing it and being saved by it does.


There is ever an ocean Of love in the
heart Of God and we cannot doubt that
he yearns to pour it into the hearts of
his sinful and miserable children but
they cannot take it, until penitent and
broken, and ready to confess. Confes-
sion means taking down the bars and
throwing wide open the doors. When
this is done, the Fathers love pours in
like a food that has pressed on every
side for entrance.


6. THIS confession must be connect
ed Gas it ever will be when real) acith
an exercise Of .torgiviny love toaoard
those vho are debtors.


Gas we forgive our debtors is not
indeed the measure of Gods love to US.


Nor is it the reason of his forgive
ness, but it is the experience Of spirit
Of forgiveness which shows the truth
and honesty Of our confession, and
prayer. Our Father will not allow
that we mean what we say, when we
confess and seek pardon, unless we are
ready to show to others the same sort
of love that we hope to find in him as
toward us.


You may perhaps think of asking
now one or two questions


First: If our debts are not paid, #
Christ did not pay them, chat did
Christ do? He came here to live,
teach. work miracles of healing, suffer,
die, and rise again that he might so
reveal Gods love, and by contrast,
mans sin, that men would be won to
repentance and love, that God might
torgipe their debts.


Second-some may ask are aoc to
foryire ear debtors whetler they wish
as to do tt ornot2 Be like our Father,
in this Have the hing-the forgiving
love always in your hearts, then if any
want It, there it is. If your debtors
will not repent, it may indeed keep
them from taking and enjoying yoar
forgiving love, but it need not keep
you from having it. And there is
nothing like this love to win others to
be peaitent What is the story Of the
cross, bat the story Of the effort of
Gods aboundlng forgivingness to win,
hard and careless ones to penitence,
that they might enjoy his loving par
don.


IF He had said, when they repent
I'll forgive them and had done no
more, would any have reuented? Not,
one. 1t is the forgiving love Of God
that wins us to onfession.


Monument to Fanny Fern