I cannot forgive him: therefore do not forgive me let me also remain unforgiven!' What an awful prayer! And yet, so long as you are unforgiving, you put up this very prayer day by day.

Now, one would think that a Christian, to whom mercy has been shewn, would at least feel mercy for others-that having been forgiven himself, he would be ever ready to forgive his brother. Is it so? Alas! if we look around us, there are too many proofs that the spirit of forgiveness and long-suffering is sadly wanting, even among Christ's people. There was need then of the latter part of the Parable as well as the first part.

But you will say, 'It is hard to bring ourselves to forgive.' Yes, I know it is hard. For our wicked hearts love to take revenge. Our proud hearts will not stoop to pass by injuries. And, in this respect, what a difference there is between God and men ! When we forgive, it costs us an effort: but God delighteth in shewing mercy.

In St. Luke xvii., Jesus says to His disciples, 'If thy brother trespass against

thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.' When Jesus said this, His disciples exclaimed, 'Lord, increase our faith!' They felt how difficult it was to carry out so loving a precept, and they asked therefore that more faith might be given them from above.

Yes, it is hard to forgive our brother, if he has wronged us-I mean, completely to forgive him. We will forgive him in part, but not entirely-not all the debt. We will forgive him perhaps, if he will humble himself before us, and own himself wrong. This will be some amends to us: it will satisfy our pride. Or we will forgive him in words, so that nothing more is demanded of us. We will say that we bear him no ill-will; us much. But our

for this will not cost Lord requires more;

for He speaks, at the close of the Parable, of heart-forgiveness being necessary; 'If ye from your hearts forgive not.'

Let us ask God then to grant us a forgiving heart-such a patient, tender,

loving spirit as Jesus has shewn towards us. It is hard, I say, to forgive-hard for flesh and blood-hard, unless grace has gained the victory in our hearts. But if our unforgiving temper has been subdued, and a Christlike spirit has been given us, then how sweet it is, how blessed, to shew mercy to others!

Was that servant happy when he went out and cast his fellow-servant into prison? And are you happy when you bear malice in your heart against your neighbour? Can you be really happy, when you know that there is in this wide world even one whom you cannot look upon with a feeling of kindness and love?

'I

Oh, there is a joy in forgiveness. What joy there would be in going to the prison cell of some debtor, with a pardon in your hand; and especially if say, you could know myself what it is to have been a prisoner. I have tasted the sweets of liberty.' Truly there is a joy in forgiving. Then let us not shut ourselves out from that joy. Let us taste often of that happiness by cultivating a spirit of forgiveness towards all around us.

Try and carry out in your daily life the lessons which Jesus teaches us in this Parable. If there is any one who has wronged you, heartily forgive him. If you have borne any secret ill-will in your heart, immediately put it away. If there is any malice or bad feeling, lurking like a little grain of poison in a hidden corner of your bosom, at once cast it out.

Call to mind often your own guilt, and what a gracious God has done for you. Constantly think of His tender mercy towards you. This will prevent you from being harsh and unfeeling. This will keep your heart right. This will make you 'kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.'

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

MAT. XXII. 15-22.

Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him and went their way.

In this twenty-second chapter we are told of no less than three attempts to make our Lord condemn Himself out of His own mouth.

First, as we read in the Gospel for today,