Use 2. Let us all be persuaded, if ever we hope for salvation, to pass by petty injuries and discourtesies, and labor to be of forgiving spirits. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13.
(1) Herein we resemble God. He is ready to forgive. Psalms 86:5. He befriends his enemies; he opens his hands to relieve those who open their mouths against him. It was Adam’s pride to resemble God in omniscience; but it is lawful to resemble God in forgiving enemies; this is a God-like disposition; and what is godliness—but God-likeness?
(2) To forgive is one of the highest evidences of grace. When grace comes into the heart, it makes a man, as Caleb, of another spirit. Numbers 14:24. It makes a great metamorphosis, it sweetens the heart, and fills it with love and sincerity. As a scion grafted into a stock, partakes of the nature and sap of the tree, and brings forth the same fruit—so he who was once of a sour crabby disposition, given to revenge, when ingrafted into Christ, partakes of the sap of the heavenly olive tree, and bears sweet and generous fruit; he is full of love to his enemies, and requites good for evil. As the sun draws up many thick noxious vapors from the earth, and returns them in sweet showers—so a gracious heart returns the unkindnesses of others with the sweet influences of love and mercifulness. "They repay me with evil for the good I do. Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I even fasted and prayed for them." Psalms 35:12-13. This is a good certificate to show for heaven.
(3) The blessed example of our Lord Jesus teaches this. He was of a forgiving spirit; his enemies reviled him—but he pitied them; their words were more bitter than the gall and vinegar which they gave him—but his words were smoother than oil. They spat upon him, pierced him with the spear and nails—but he prayed for them, "Father, forgive them." He wept over his enemies, he shed tears for those that shed his blood. Never was there such a pattern of amazing kindness. Christ bids us learn of him. Matthew 11:29. He does not bid us learn of him to work miracles—but he would have us learn of him to forgive our enemies. If we do not imitate Christ’s life--we cannot be saved by his death.
(4) The danger of an implacable unforgiving spirit. It hinders the efficacy of ordinances; it is like an obstruction in the body, which keeps it from thriving. A revengeful spirit poisons our sacrifice; our prayers are turned into sin. Will God receive prayer mingled with this strange fire? Our coming to the sacrament is sin--if we come not in charity—so that ordinances are turned into sin. It were sad if all the food we eat should turn to poison; but malice poisons the sacramental cup, men eat and drink their own damnation. Judas came to the Passover in malice, and after the sop, Satan entered into him. John 13:27.
(5) God has tied his mercy to the condition, that if we do not forgive, neither will he forgive us. "If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:15. A man may as well go to hell for not forgiving--as for not believing. How can they expect mercy from God, whose affections are shut up and are merciless to their trespassing brethren? "He shall have judgment without mercy--who has showed no mercy." James 2:13. "I cannot forgive," said one, "though I go to hell."
(6) The examples of the saints who have been of forgiving spirits. Joseph forgave his brethren, though they put him into a pit and sold him. "Fear not; I will nourish you and your little ones." Genesis 50:21. Stephen prayed for his persecutors. Moses was of a forgiving spirit. How many injuries and affronts did he put up with! The people of Israel dealt unkindly with him; they murmured against him at the waters of Marah—but he prayed for them. Exodus 15:25. "He cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet." When they lacked water, they chided with him. "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to kill us with thirst?" Exodus 17:3. As if they had said, "If we die, we will lay our death to your charge." This was enough to have made Moses call for fire from heaven upon them; but he passes by this injury, and, to show he forgave them, he became an intercessor for them, and drew water from the rock for them; ver 4, 5, 6. The prophet Elisha feasted his enemies: he prepared a table for those who would have prepared his grave. 2 Kings 6:23. Cranmer was famous for forgiving injuries. When Luther had reviled Calvin, Calvin said, "Though he calls me a devil a thousand times—yet I will love and honor him as a precious servant of Christ." When one who had abused and wronged a Christian asked him what wonders his Master Christ had wrought, he said, "He has wrought this wonder, that though you have so injured me, I can forgive you and pray for you."
(7) Forgiving and requiting good for evil is the best way to conquer and melt the heart of an enemy. When Saul had pursued David with malice and hunted him as a partridge upon the mountains, David would not do him harm when it was in his power. David’s kindness melted Saul’s heart. "Saul lifted up his voice and wept, and said--You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil." 1 Samuel 24:16-17. Such forgiving is heaping coals which melt the enemy’s heart. Romans 12:20. It is the most noble victory to overcome an enemy without striking a blow, to conquer him with love. When Philip of Macedon was told that one Nicanor openly railed against him, instead of putting him to death, he sent him a rich present, which so overcame the man, and made his heart relent, that he went up and down to recant what he had said against the king, and highly extolled the king’s mercy.
(8) Forgiving others is the way to have forgiveness from God, and is a sign of that forgiveness.
[1] It is the way to have forgiveness. "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Matthew 6:14. But one would think other things would sooner procure forgiveness from God, than our forgiving others. No, surely nothing like this to procure forgiveness; for all other acts of religion may have leaven in them. God forbade leaven in the sacrifice. Exodus 34:25. One may give alms, and there may be the leaven of vainglory in it. The Pharisees sounded a trumpet, when they gave alms, to gain applause. Matthew 6:2. One may give his body to be burned—yet there may be the leaven of false zeal in this; but to forgive others who have offended us can have no leaven in it, no sinister aim. It is a duty wholly spiritual, and is done purely out of love to God; hence God annexes forgiveness to this, rather than to the highest and most renowned works of charity which are cried up in the world.
[2] It is a sign of God’s forgiving us. It is not a cause of God’s forgiving us—but a sign. We need not climb up into heaven to see whether our sins are forgiven. Let us look into our hearts, and see if we can forgive others. If we can, we need not doubt but God has forgiven us. Our loving others, is the reflection of God’s love to us. Oh, therefore, by all these arguments, let us be persuaded to forgive others. Christians, how many offences has God passed by in us! Our sins are innumerable and heinous. Is God willing to forgive us so many offences--and cannot we forgive a few? No man can do so much wrong to us all our life--as we do to God in one day! But HOW must we forgive? As God forgives us.
(1) God forgives SINCERELY. God not only makes a show of forgiveness--but he really forgives, he passes our sins into oblivion. Jeremiah 31:34. So we must not only say we forgive—but do it with the heart. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you, unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:35.
(2) God forgives FULLY. He forgives all our sins. "Who forgives all your iniquities." Psalms 103:3. Hypocrites pass by some offences—but retain others. Would we have God so deal with us as to remit only some trespasses, and call us to account for the rest?
(3) God forgives OFTEN. God multiplies pardon. Isaiah 55:7. Peter asks the question, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22. If he say, "I repent," you must say, "I remit." But this is one of the highest acts of religion; flesh and blood cannot do it. HOW shall I attain to it?
(1) Let us consider how many wrongs and injuries we have done against God. What volume can hold our errata? Our sins are more than the sparks in a furnace.
(2) If we would forgive, let us see God’s hand in all that men do or say against us. Did we look higher than instruments, our hearts would grow calm, and we would not meditate revenge. Shimei reproached David and cursed; but David looked higher. "Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him." 2 Samuel 16:11. What made Christ, when he was reviled, revile not again? He looked beyond Judas and Pilate, he saw his Father putting the bitter cup into his hand. As we must see God’s hand in all the affronts and incivilities we receive from men—so we must believe God will do us good by all, if we belong to him. "It may be the Lord will requite me good, for his cursing this day." 2 Samuel 16:12. He who injures me shall add to my reward; he who clips my name to make it weigh lighter, shall make my crown weigh heavier. Well might Stephen pray for his enemies, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Acts 7:60. He knew they did but increase his glory in heaven; every stone his enemies threw at him, added a pearl to his crown!
(3) Lay up a stock of faith. "If your brother sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, ’I repent,’ you shall forgive him." Luke 17:3-4. The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith," as if they had said, "We can never do this without a great deal of faith; Lord, increase our faith." Believe God has pardoned you--and you will pardon others! Only faith can throw dust upon injuries--and bury them in the grave of forgetfulness!
(4) Think how you have often wronged others; and may it not be just with God that the same measure you mete to others, should be measured to you again? Have you not wronged others, if not in their goods—yet in their name? If you have not borne false witness against them—yet perhaps you have spoken falsely of them; the consideration of which may make Christians bury injuries in silence.
(5) Get humble hearts. A proud man thinks it a disgrace to forgive an injury. What causes so many fights and murders, but pride? "Be clothed with humility." 1 Peter 5:5. He who is low in his own eyes--will not be much troubled, though others lay him low; he knows there is a day coming when there shall be a resurrection of names, as well as bodies, and God will avenge him of his adversaries. "And shall not God avenge his own elect?" Luke 18:7. The humble soul leaves all his wrongs to God to requite. "Vengeance belongs to Me--I will repay, says the Lord." Romans 12:19.
Use 3. For comfort. Such as forgive, God will forgive them. You have a good argument to plead with God for forgiveness. "Lo, I am willing to forgive him who harms me. Will not God forgive me, who has received forgiveness in Christ my surety?"
