The Pulpit Commentary — Micah — Section 131

modation to our habits of thought and expression, lt has constructed its theories upon the etymology of words. The truth and pertinence of this remark will be seen if, at the outset, we consider the very diversified forms In which the Bible represents to ua the doctrine of Divine forgiveness. Generally, indeed, I find it Bet forth under figures corresponding to the aspects in which sin stands before the mind of the writer at the time. For example- L WHEN SIN APPEABS AB A DEBT, Alf UJ!lll'ULFILLED OBLIGATION, TKEl!t PABDOII 1s BPOKEN OIi' AS A OillOELLING. Thus in the forty-third chapter of Isaiah Jehovah is represented as saying, "I, even I, am he who blotteth out thy transgressions; n and Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, exhorts hla vast auditory to " repent, that their sins may be blotted out.n When a man has paid his debts, or when some one elBe hu discharged them, the creditor takes his pen in hand and strikes from the ledger both the name of the debtor and the amount. But sin is a debt in a very figurative sense, and therefore such representations of pardon must not be taken In a literal meaning. II. WHEN BIN APPEABS AS AN ESTBANGEHENT FBOH GoD, TBD ll'OBGIVENEBB Ill BEPBEBENTED AB BECONCILIATION, But as the estrangement ia not mutual, it being exclUBively on man's part; in the reconciliation there is no mutual change of mind. God cannot change, and need not change, to be reconciled to the sinner. III. WBEN SIN APPEABB AB AN lh"'DICTMENT, FORGIVENESS IS SPOKEN 011' AS A JUSTIFICATION. But justification can in the nature of the case have but a very remote resemblance to the forensic term as used by men. In civil justification, for instance, the charge has been found false, the accused demands jUBtification as a right, and retires from the court with a high sense of insulted innocence. IV. WHEN BIN APPEABB AS A POLLUTION, FOBGIVENEBB IS BEPBESENTED AS A OLEillSING. Hence we read of Christ's blood cleansing from all sin. But it is only in a very fi.,.<rUrative senBe that you can employ the word "washing" to the mind, which is an invisible and impalpable power. V. WHEN Slli A.PPEA.BS AS A DISEASE, FORGIVENESS IS BEPBEBENTED AS A HEALING. " I will heal your backsliding;" "I am come to bind up the broken-hearted." VI. WHEN BIN APPEA.BS AS AN OBSTBUOTIOli BETWEEN THE SOUL AND 0oD, FOR- GIVENESS IS BEPBESENTED AS A CLEARING. The mounta.ine a.re levelled. the clouds are dispersed, the foes are crushed and are buried as Pharaoh and his host were buried in the depths Qf the see.. There are three points of contrast between Divine forgive- ness and human. L In human governmenta/()1'giveness '8 e:urcised witli most cautwu.s limitations. Human sovereigns, however generous their natures, can only bestow pardon on a few out of numerous criminals. Were forgiveness to llecome general, the power of the government to maintain order would be weakened. There is no such limitation to the exercise of tliht prerogative in God. He offers pardon to all. 2. In human forgiveneaa there la flO guarantee against future criminality. The prisoner pardoned by a human sovereign may be inspired by gratitude o.nd prompted perhaps to resolve upon a life of future obedience, and yet his heart remain unchanged. The principles that led to his crime may still be in him, and, being there, they may break forth a.gain. Bnt in Divine forgiveness it ia not so. The pardoned man is a changed man: he has a new heart put within him-a heart inspired with such love to the Sovereign as will secure a joyous and constant obedience. 3. Human /orgif1ffflUI can mver put the criminal ln such a good position a., he had bef<Yre his transgrmrion. Ho bas his freedom as before, but he has not his self-respect, he has not the same standing in society; his oontemporariee will never look upon him in the same light again. Some will shun him, others will suspect him, and few will venture to give him their coufi.denoe and their love. But in Divine forgiveness the criminal is raised to a higher status even than that of Innocence. I know not whether the angels would have been bis servants had he never fallon; but after his forgiveness they become so. They rejoice with him on his oonversion, they cheer him on his pilgrimage, they bear him on their pinions to their heavenly scenes. He is brought into an "innumerable company of angels." We see partially from his state in Eden what relations man would have eu tered Into with his Maker had he never 11U1ned; but I believe that he never would have had what the pardoned sinner has-the honour of seeing hie Maker, In the Person of Jesus, on the throne of the universe, gazed on by every eye and worshipped by eveq heart.-D. T. 134 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [cR, VII, 1-20~