3.— “Forgive”

Forgiven! There is a delightful sweetness in that word that none but the justified know. Yes, saith the psalmist, “there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared; for thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all those that call upon thee.” Once more our eyes gaze back on Calvary’s cross, and, amidst its cruel anguish and sorrow, the loving voice of the dying Saviour is heard pleading for His foes, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” Though nineteen centuries have rolled away since that memorable prayer, God’s grace, like a mighty river, still flows on through a forgetful and utterly careless world; and the gospel message still goes forth, “Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Such is the free, unmerited mercy of God, announced to all of Adam’s race, and happy are all they who believe and accept it to the praise of Him, through whose sufferings and death alone could such blessings be so freely offered. “Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets. Behold! ye despisers, and wonder, and perish.”
How is it with you, dear reader? If, alas! you are conscious that you have forgotten and forsaken God up to this present moment, let me implore you, before it is too late, to turn to that precious Saviour, who is both willing and waiting to save you now; and He will welcome you with those ever-gracious words, “Thy sins are forgiven; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
If, however, you still persistently go on in your sins, you will be forgotten by men, forsaken by God, and forever in hell. How much better for you to be forgiven now! S. T.