seen by his God when he could say to Him in childlike confidence, "Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back" (Isa. xxxviii. 17). Sins cast where God's omniscient eye, in love, would not see them; and with an Infinite God between him and his sins, Hezekiah, looking at the light of God's reconciling countenance, could see them not. Oh, the stupendous heights and the astounding depths of forgiving mercy. 66 We now are privileged to glance at a few evidences of, and associations with, the enjoyment of sins forgiven. Turn to that sweet declaration in Ps. xxxii. 1— BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." The Father has blessed the forgiven sinner with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ-blessed him with oneness with Christ which can never be dissolved-with redemption complete-salvation with eternal glorypardon beyond recall-forgiveness for ever-justification unalterable-acceptance unimpeachable. The forgiven is blessed sooner or later with the enjoyment of death destroyed-hell's gates barredheaven opened-fellowship with the Father-intercourse with the Beloved-communion with the Spirit -and the anticipation of the King's welcome, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matt. xxv. 34). Blessed prospect! Blessed forgiveness! Blessed man! FAITH is the companion of the blessed, forgiven sinner, "for he that cometh to God must believe that He is" (Heb. xi. 6). Come with me to Acts x. 43, where Peter declares to the house of Cornelius, "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." What is faith? It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things. 66 not seen "(Heb. xi. 1). It is simple trust in the word of the living God brought home to the heart by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is only mine in living oneness with my Living Head. Apart from Him I have it not. Faith is the fruit of eternal union. It is the faith of a Believing Father communicated to His children. "Have the faith of God" (Mark xi. 22, margin). It is the work of God in the living members of the body of Christ (John vi. 29). It is the faith of the Head exercised in His members under the Anointing (Rom. iii. 22; Gal. ii. 20; Phil. iii. 9). It is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. v. 22). It works by love (Gal. v. 6). It purifies the heart (Acts xv. 9). It overcomes the world (1 John v. 4). It is a grace of marvellous solicitude in the heart of Jesus for His tried and tempted disciples (Luke xxii. 32). It has eyes never satisfied with Christ out of sight. It has ears on the alert for the sound of His voice. It delights in the fragrance of His saving Name. It opens its mouth wide for Him to fill. It feels after Him and for Him. It has for its entail "the salvation of the soul," which can never be cut off (1 Pet. i. 9). Sweet associate! Blessed evidence! REPENTANCE is ever the associate of the blessed, forgiven, and believing sinner. This we see in the words of repentant Peter in Acts v. 31, "Him hath God exalted with His right hand a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." In this precious verse we see repentance and forgiveness hand in hand; aye, still more-blended together in the same heartexperience by the Indwelling Spirit of our Prince and Saviour. You will also find faith and repentance stepping together in the path of life. They are honest companions all the way to glory. While one lives the other cannot die. The tear of true repent ance glistens in the eye of God-wrought faith. What is repentance? Many would answer-Godly sorrow. No. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of" (2 Cor. vii. 10). Repentance is a clean turn round-a change of mind. Two New Testament words describe this princely grace. The first denotes change of mind with regret for the sins of the past. The second implies sorrow for past sins working care for the future (Matt. xxi. 29-32; 2 Cor. vii. 10, 11). Godwrought repentance is a clean turn round in which each of the Eternal Three are engaged. The Father gives it (2 Tim. ii. 25). The Son secures it (Acts v. 31). The Spirit exercises it in the hearts of the Israel of God (Zech. xii. 10). Precious, pierced Saviour, show Thyself to me, that I may hasten. from all to Thee. Joy-God's forgiveness is a wellspring of joy. Come with me to that sweetly interesting wordpicture in Matt. ix. 1-7; also in Mark ii. 1-12. Four dear men blessed with the faith of God's elect"mutual faith" (Rom. i. 12), exercised equally in each and all, are seen carrying their paralysed companion to One Whom they evidently knew could heal him. To His feet they would bring their afflicted burden, for love made their burden light. A crowd hinders their progress, but damps not their ardour. The selfish mass moves not, but faith moves in the face of the mass. The faith of the four could not be foiled-it was the faith overcoming the world-the faith laughing at impossibilities, and saying, "IT MUST BE DONE." Look at them. What are they after now! Having located the very spot where Jesus stood, with their burden they mount the roof, and over the exact spot the tiling is removed. They let their loved burden down in the right place ―at the feet of Jesus. Wonderful! "When Jesus saw their faith." Nothing is said of the sick man's faith. Nothing is said of the sick man's prayer. But when Jesus saw His own faith-the faith common to His own elect exercised in the devoted four-He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, BE OF GOOD CHEER; thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matt. ix. 2). Incarnate Wisdom knew well the soul's deep need, and spoke forgiveness first. Then health and strength to the palsied frame were commanded. The joy of the LORD was his strength. He was of good cheer. He joyed in the joy of his God in the experience of sins forgiven. May this be the blessed lot of each of us here present. "A Bleeding Saviour seen by faith, A hope that triumphs over death, LOVE-This is what we may well style the fairest associate of" the forgiveness of sins." "Love I much? I'm more forgiven; I'm a miracle of grace." For another illustration of this let me direct your attention to yet another word-picture of exquisite beauty at the close of Luke vii. A Pharisee asks Jesus to eat with him. Being truly courteous he complied with the request. While thus engaged, a woman, branded with infamy and held in abhorrence, astonished the guests by her appearance. Uninvited, and regardless of all etiquette and forms of civility, she hastened to the side of the One Object of her heart's affections. Love found vent in God-given tears, which fell abundantly upon His sacred feet; she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment she had brought. Did not she love Him? It is evident she did. Why? Simply because she felt and enjoyed His love in the sweets of full forgiveness. Simon looked on with feelings of disgust. If his Guest were a Holy Prophet, why should He resign Himself to the attentions of a polluted harlot? Simon did not know Him as the Friend of sinners. But she knew and loved Him. Jesus said to His host, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors, the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.” Precious Gospel! "Tell me, therefore, which of them will love Him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And He said unto him, thou hast rightly judged." Then He contrasted the glowing love of the forgiven trespasser with the cold attentions of His self-righteous host, adding, "Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Here sin abounded, but grace did much more abound, and love in return was graciously abundant. In the enjoyment of forgiveness so great, so rich, so full, so free, we need not hesitate to confess-"We love HIм because He first loved us" (1 John iv. 19). Yet, often we can simply sigh-and we thank God for the sigh "Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint ; Oh, for grace to love Thee more! " FEAR-Not "the fear of man, which bringeth at snare" (Prov. xxix. 25); but, "the fear of the LORD, which is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Prov. xiv. 27), is the fruit of Divine forgiveness. Turn to Ps. cxxx. 4: "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." Forgiveness and fear as inalienable companions are blessedly set forth in Jer. xxxiii. 8, 9: "I will pardon |