66 Luke vi. 37. FORGIVE, AND YE SHALL BE FORGIVEN.” What is meant by forgiveness? Are we to forgive those who have grieved or injured us? Are persons to forgive their bitterest enemies? Who taught us the duty of forgiveness? Repeat some of our Saviour's exhortations to forgiveness. [Matt. v. 23, 24; vi. 14, 15; Mark xi. 25.] Do we need forgiveness? Are we taught to pray for it? In what prayer are we especially taught to ask it? And what words follow the petition "forgive us our debts" (or trespasses)? Matt. vi. 12. And what did our Saviour say immediately after He had taught this prayer? verses 14, 15. Is then your forgiving others a condition of God's forgiving you ? Can you be forgiven unless you forgive ? And what would become of you, if God should not forgive you? Do we often need His forgiveness? Is God ever weary of forgiving us? And should we ever be weary of forgiving another? What did our Saviour say to St. Peter, when he asked how often he was to forgive? [Matt. xviii. 21, 22.] By what parable did He enforce the duty of forgiveness? [Matt. xviii. 23—35.] What is the motive to forgiveness set before us, in Ephes. iv. 32; and Col. iii. 13? We have said that Christ peculiarly taught us the duty of forgiveness-did he set us the example of it? Can you remember any striking instance of this? Luke xxiii. 34. The life of Jesus was a life of forgiveness, for he was constantly persecuted: he exercised forgiveness in an eminent manner at His crucifixion; and the whole course of his abode on earth, was a manifestation of the divine forgiveness; his sufferings were endured in the spirit of reconciliation, and to obtain forgiveness for guilty man. If Jesus constantly manifested a spirit of forgiveness under contradiction and persecution ;— if, at his death, he prayed for his murderers ;if he died to obtain for us the forgiveness of the Father;-if the Father so loved a sinful world, as to send His Son to die for us-ought we not to be ashamed of the difficulty we feel in forgiving others? Is the grace of forgiveness, natural to man? May you be mistaken in supposing you possess it? The forgiveness which we behold in Jesus, and, which ought to dwell in us, is a grace of love and kind feeling towards others; it buries the greatest injuries, and seeks to "overcome evil with good." How may you obtain this grace? Pray earnestly for the spirit of forgiveness; pray for those who have injured you; meditate upon the life and death of Jesus: look upon Jesus till the meek influence of His Spirit flow into your heart. The view of His forgiveness, sufferings, and love, will have the greatest tendency to subdue in you, every unforgiving temper. Rom. xii. 10. "KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER." The meaning of these words is so plain you cannot mistake it. May such children as you are, be kind to each other? How may you be kind? If you have any thing, may you give another part of it? May you speak kindly to another? May you think kindly of another? May you try to do every thing you can to help another? When any one is in distress, what may you do? [The Teacher will have abundant opportunities of illustrating his meaning from the little incidents which are continually occurring. He may point out those actions which mark an unkind spirit, and encourage a spirit of kindness and affection.] Who was so kindly affectioned to us? Did He teach his Disciples to be kind and affectionate? Did He teach us? Did He intend we should follow the example He gave us? What did He say, John xiii. 15? What command did He leave? John xiii. 35; xv. Can we be as kind as He was ? 12. But should we not seek to have a portion of His Spirit? Why do you not always feel kindly affectioned to others? Can you be happy when you feel unkindly towards another? Do you desire others to be kindly affectioned to you? And what does our Saviour say, Matth. vii. 12; and Luke vi. 31-38? What great motive and inducement have we to be kind to each other? [The kindness and love of Christ.] Are we to be kind only to those who are kind to us? Matth. v. 44; Luke vi. 27-29. It is far more easy to be kind to those who treat us kindly, than to be kind when we are unkindly treated; but if you know your own heart, you will be sensible you are not always kind, even to those who shew you most kind ness. How may you obtain grace to be kind to all; to those who love you, and to those who do not? Beseech our Saviour to shed abroad in your heart the Spirit of his love. When you feel unkindly to a person, confess it to Jesus Christ, and pray for a better spirit. Watch for occasions of kindness, and let no one pass unimproved. Try to form a habit of affection and benevolence. It is the sentiment of a pious |