_MASCULINE FORGIVENESS_
COLOSSIANS iii. 12-17.
True forgiveness is a very strong and clean and masculine virtue. There is
a counterfeit forgiveness which is unworthy of the name. It is full of
"buts," and "ifs," and "maybes," and "peradventures." It moves with
reluctance, it offers with averted face, it takes back with one hand what
it gives with the other. It forgives, but it "cannot forget." It forgives,
but it "can never trust again." It forgives, but "things can never be the
same as they were." What kind of forgiveness is this? It is the mercy of
the police-court. It is the remission of penalty, not the glorious
"abandon" of grace! It is a cold "Don't do it again," not the weeping and
compassionate goodwill of the Lord.
"_Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye._" That is to be our motive,
and that is to be our measure. We are to forgive _because_ Christ forgave
us. The glorious memory of His grace is to make us gracious. His tender,
healing words to us are to redeem our speech from all harshness. In the
contemplation of His cross we are to become "partakers of His sufferings,"
and by the shedding of our own blood help to close and heal the alienation
of the world.
And we are to forgive _as_ Christ forgave us. Resentment is to be changed
into frank goodwill, and filled with the grace of the Lord.