Dean Trivett at Mattins on July 10
Texr:—"Who is a God like unto thee. by the transgression of the remnant of his Jor ever because he delighteth in mercy." that pardoneth iniquity and passeth heritage...he retaineth not his anger Micah 7: 17-18.
THERE are some texts which seem particularly applicable to certain people, or to people on certain occasions, There are comfortable texts that speak peace to the anxious or the sorrowing. For instance our Lord's words to Martha as she sorrows for her brother, those words which have brought comfort to mourners all down through the ages, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: ang whosoever live th and believeth in me shall never die.
And there are great statements of Christian doctrine that light up the darkness of doubt or unbelief.
For instance Luther's famous text which came to him as the answer to all his questionings in regard to good works' and penances as the means of salvation, "The Just shall live by Faith."
But the text I have chosen this morning has a universal appeal. For there is one thing that we all, Saint and _seapegrace alike, need, and that Is God's forgiveness. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is no difference, except in degree of sinfulness, and the best has fallen so far short that he merits only punishment. How full we are of self-love, and selfishness. We shirk responsibilities and scamp duties. We are continually doing and saying blundering, thoughtless, and cruel things, We have sins of commission to answer for, and sins of commission, We do a host of things we should leave undone, and leave undone a hundred duties. In the sight of the holy and righteous God, our lives must present a sorry appearance, We do well to come, as we have come this morning, in the General Confession humbly confessing our sins, and begging for forgiveness, and thanks be to God if we are truly penitent, we may be conscious here and now of full forgiveness. "For if we confess our sins," as we were reminded in the opening sentence, "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Yes, we all—the best as well as the worst of us—need forgiveness. And thank God, we can get it from our heavenly Father, who is indeed a God "that pardoneth iniquity, But we must also learn to forgive. Jesus teaches us to pray, "Our Father forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.