TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

FORGIVENESS.

EPHESIANS IV. 32.

Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

THIS verse out of St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, is a fit commentary on that beautiful parable of his Master, which comes before us in the Gospel for this Sunday--the parable of the unmerciful servant.

In that parable, as in my text, we have the most perfect teaching on the subject of forgiveness. Therein is it made clear that we are to put no limit to the exercise of this most truly Christian grace.-We are not to say, I will forgive the man who wrongs me-once, twice, or even the seventh time, but to be ready always and at all times, on his seeking it of us, to grant pardon. And this teaching is, moreover, made binding upon us, by its being based upon the dealing of Almighty God with ourselves. It is because God is rich in mercy towards us, that we are to shew mercy to one another. It is

because He for Christ's sake hath forgiven us, that we are
required in our dealings with an offending brother to
be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving one another. This is the
subject before us to-day-why we must abound in this
grace of forgiveness. Let us at once proceed to observe

how it is enforced in the parable which we have already

The opening of the parable exhibits the largeness of God's mercy towards us, the readiness with which He forgives a king with his debt-bound servant.-The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, which would take acus our trespasses-as set forth in the dealing of I count of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord comImanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him and forgave him the debt.

the King in the parable-begins to reckon with us: when He awakens our conscience, and sets our sins before our face, calls to our mind the innumerable offence

When God-for He is

pen

which we have been guilty from our youth upwardsthe bad words we have spoken-the bad deeds we have done-our sins of commission, and our sins of omissionwhen God thus reproves us, and sets before us our doings, how are we in a better plight than was the convicted man in the parable? The greatness of our debt is overwhelming-we cannot deny it or excuse it. It were nothing but justice if that happened to us which was threatened him. God might give orders for us to be dealt with according to our sins. He might lay on us the terrible penalty of His violated law.

And note, further, another point of likeness between ourselves and the servant in the parable. His cry was, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all! It was an impossibility, but in his agony he was ready to promise it. And so it is with ourselves, brethren. "This," says Luther-and he spoke that which he knew, and testified out of his own deep inward experience" this-is the torment of all consciences when sin comes and gnaws them, they run hither and thither, seek help here and there, and presume still to do a great deal in order to pay God!"

Yes," in order to pay God!" As if He were to be bought off! As if we could ever wipe away by our imperfect efforts the guilt of past sin!

And yet how common the error is.-The monk by his penance--the priest by his treasure of other men's merits, what is it that these propose but compensation to the Almighty? Their cry is the same as this-Have patience with me and I will pay thee all!

Now, brethren, let us put this notion utterly out of

our minds. We can never pay God what we owe Him. We can never redeem our own souls. We can never work off the debt of past sins by any labour however earnest and incessant of our own. After we have done our utmost there will still remain the burden untaken away.

But then, you will say, what shall become of us? What shall hinder our being sold, wife and children, and all that we have in satisfaction of the claim?

I answer nothing but the infinite pity and unspeakable love of our God-God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!

Here, then, is our refuge. Here is the Name by which we must be saved! To Christ we must go-to Christ crucified-to be purged of our sins!

Instead of promising to pay all if God will have patience our prayer must be when He comes to reckon with us" Lord, have mercy upon me, for Thy dear Son's sake, and in consideration of what He has done and suffered, forgive me my trespasses-wash me thoroughly in His Blood from all my wickedness-clothe me in His righteousness!"

That, I repeat, must be our plea-our one plea when God calls us into account. Nor will it ever be made in vain. No one who in true penitence and sorrow comes before God for pardon on this ground, will ever be rejected. Be our sins ever so numerous, ever so aggravated, they will not any more be imputed to us. God at the naming of Christ's dear name will be moved with compassion-He will loose us from our bond, He will forgive us our debt!

And here I anticipate an objection. It will be said that this abundant goodness on the part of God-this ready and free forgiveness of sins, however deep and many, might lead men to think less about sin, and to be careless how they lived.

But surely just the contrary is the truth. A sense of gratitude will prevent it where men really feel that they have been in great danger, and have been beyond their hopes delivered, they will naturally love their Deliverer, and the greater their escape, the greater will be their love!

It is the self-righteous only who feel little need of forgiveness, that love God little-but to whom much has been forgiven, the same will love Him much.

We can now turn to the second part of the parable— that which in a notable example shews how lacking we are in love towards one another. And this is made the more remarkable by contrast with what goes before-the love that God hath for us-His kindness towards us in and through Christ Jesus.

That same servant-the very man who had just met with such forbearance-who had received a full and free remittance of his vast debt from his lord-went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence : and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest!

Observe there is not only no forbearance in the man,. but not even a civil demand for payment. Without a word of notice, he lays violent hands upon his fellow-servant. And then, when that fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying—in the very words of his