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the least ready to forgive. Now do look into the matter, and see if you are truly' ' in love and charity with all men. It is no use trying to explain away your daily words, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us," for Christ Himself has explained and emphasized them. He said, But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.' There is no evading this. There is absolutely no forgiveness for you, if you do not forgive; for who can forgive sins but God only?”

And it is no use saying, 'Well, I will forgive, but I can't forget!' You know quite well in your heart that the very tone in which you say that, shows that you are not really forgiving, and God knows what is at the bottom of your can't forget!'

Don't turn round fiercely, and say, ' But if I can't, I can't!' For the things which are impossible with men, are possible with God."

Read the 45th of Genesis, and see how Joseph forgave ;" and remember that the same Spirit of God which was in him is freely promised to you for the asking.

And then look at the still greater example of perfect forgiveness,

hear the

3 Matt. vi. 15.
• Gen. xlv. 1-15.

smitten King in His lonely death-agony saying, Father, forgive them!" 'For He knew that forgiveness would raise them to the very level of His throne; so He must have literally loved His murderers with the love wherewith His Father loved Him.' Oh, it is not hard to forgive anything, when one looks away to the forgiveness of Jesus.3

2

Then come and offer thy gift.

.1 Luke xxiii. 34.

2 John xvii. 26.

$ Eph. iv. 32.

FOURTEENTH DAY.

The Entreaty to Come.

'Come near to me, I pray you.'-GEN. xlv. 4.

HERE stood no man with him, while

Joseph made himself known to his brethren. And he wept aloud." They had hated him, conspired against him to slay him, very nearly killed him, sold him into exile and slavery, and here was the brother's recompense for all this- love! No such exquisite story of love and forgiveness was ever imagined by any writer; no such climax of tenderness as Joseph's words through his tears, Come near to me, I pray you.' Only one thing surpasses the type, and that is the antitype.

Our Elder Brother was more than 'very nearly killed.' He poured out His soul unto death.' We are not innocent of His blood;' for 'He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniqui

1 Gen. xlv. 1.

2 Isa. liii. 12.

Zech. xiii. 6.

ties." 'Christ died for our sins." Mark that, not merely for us,' but 'for our sins,' for yours. And where has been the love and gratitude that you have owed Him all this time? Where has been the mere acknowledgment of what He has suffered for your sins? He did this for you, and because of you. And what have you done for Him, and because of Him?"

And what could you now expect from Him? What did Joseph's brothers expect after their behaviour to him? Well may the Lord say, I know the thoughts. that I think towards you-thoughts of peace, and not of evil." For just as Joseph's words to his brethren were not, Go away, I will have no more to do with you,' so the Lord Jesus' upbraideth not,' but says, Come near to Me, I pray you.'

His whole life says it. It is the epitome of all He said and did,-winning, beseeching, entreating the far-off to come nigh, giving His own blood that they might be made nigh.'

What is the eloquence of those wounds in Thine hands '? Are they not always saying, I pray you'? For all day long

I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."1

'All day long,' while you are dressing, and eating, and talking, and laughing, and working or amusing yourself, Jesus is stretching forth His hands to you, calling you, waiting for you, looking for the first little thrill of recognition from you, saying, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest,2 whom thou neglectest, whom thou grievest.'

3

Joseph's brethren were troubled at his presence. Do you reply, 'Therefore I am troubled at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him'? Would you, honestly, rather flee from His presence?' Stay and listen.

Come near to Me, I pray you.'

There is forgiveness with Him; will you not come and receive it ?-Forgiveness for you, though every sin of yours that is forgiven had to be borne in His dying agony.' His love has not changed. from the moment when He said, ' Father, forgive them." What must that love have been! And what must it be for you and me, for whom He cannot make the

1 Rom. x. 21.
4 Job. xxiii. 15.
7 Pet. ii. 24.

2 Acts ix. 5.
5 Ps. cxxxix. 7.
8 Luke xxii. 34.

8 Gen. xlv. 3. 6 Ps. cxxx. 4.