It is no part of the bargain that we are never to commit trespasses. The
bargain is that if we would be forgiven we must forgive them that
trespass against us. Nor again is it part of the bargain that we are to
let a man hob-nob with us when we know him to be a thorough blackguard,
merely on the plea that unless we do so we shall not be forgiving him his
trespasses. No hard and fast rule can be laid down, each case must be
settled instinctively as it arises.
As a sinner I am interested in the principle of forgiveness; as sinned
against, in that of retribution. I have what is to me a considerable
vested interest in both these principles, but I should say I had more in
forgiveness than in retribution. And so it probably is with most people
or we should have had a clause in the Lord’s prayer: “And pay out those
who have sinned against us as they whom we have sinned against generally
pay us out.”