October 28

Psalm cxli.—1. Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice when I cry unto thee.

2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting-up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3. Set a watch, O Lord! before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

4. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

5. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

Matthew xviii.—15. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of

two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17. And, if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but, if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

18. Verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19. Again I say unto you, That, if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.

To avoid giving offence is not easy; and so much offence comes of hasty speaking, that every one has used to set a watch before his mouth. To accept a deserved reproof with meekness, and even with thankfulness, is not easy to average human nature; but he who receives rebuke in the true spirit will find it an excellent oil, that does not break, but heal. Hardest of all is it to forgive those who offend us.

No doubt Peter imagined himself very magnanimous in proposing to forgive seven times. It is said that the rule laid down by the rabbins was to forgive three times, and no more. But we read in Proverbs that "a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again;" and "seven times" is a standard expression in the Bible for that which is large, much, or complete. But the gospel teaches that the spirit of forgiveness in our hearts should be unlimited; for the injunction to forgive has respect, not to the nature or number of the offences, nor to the character and disposition of the offender, but to the effect upon our own minds of an unforgiving temper. We must forgive in the measure in which we pray to be forgiven. But it is our duty also to seek a reconciliation with the offender, and endeavor to bring him to a proper frame of

mind; and we owe duties to the community, which, in certain kinds of offence, we are not at liberty to omit. One may forgive a personal wrong, and have no spirit of revenge, and yet be bound to bring the criminal to justice for the protection of society.

In cases of offence between members of the same church, our Lord requires that we shall proceed upon the assumption that the offender is a Christian, and will be sorry for his fault when it is brought to his notice. Therefore we must not blazon his fault abroad, nor shun his acquaintance, but go to him in the candor of love with a view to heal the difficulty. Not until this has been honestly tried, and has failed, are we at liberty to speak of the offence to another, and then only to invoke his good offices for a reconciliation. If both these efforts fail, the matter should be brought before the Church in the same spirit of love and reconciliation. But the Church is bound to cast out from its communion one who refuses to confess and renounce an offence against a brother. Christ vested the supreme power of discipline in the assembled Church, acting solemnly and prayerfully in his name. No pre-eminence was here given to Peter, nor to the apostles as a body.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

O God, who hast spared our lives, and brought us to the beginning of another day! we lift up our hearts to thee. We thank thee for rest during the past night; for life preserved, and strength renewed; and for the many tokens of thy loving-kindness which surround us. May we ever have true gratitude for thy mercies, and never grieve thee by a hard and unthankful heart!

And now, O Lord! prepare us for the duties and trials which this day may bring. Give us grace to take up, each one of us, our peculiar cross; to exercise constant self-denial; and in all things to follow the Master. Make us more like him in lowliness and meekness; tender-hearted, forgiving one another; ready to bear each other's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Prayer.

[Nos. 53, 63, 96.

Let not the world with its cares and vanities fill our hearts, and so make us forget the worth of our souls, the love of our Saviour, and the nearness of eternity. Whilst we are busy in the world, may our hearts rise above it!

Lord, watch over us, and all who are dear to us, this day. Defend our souls from the assaults of the Wicked One, and preserve our bodies in health and safety. May we walk in the light of thy countenance, and know the happiness of those who have the Lord for their God! Finally, prepare us to depart and be with Christ. Hear us, heavenly Father, and when thou hearest forgive, for the sake of Jesus our Saviour; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.