When the storms of trial lower, J. D. BURNS. THE ABSOLUTION. Then shall the Priest (or the Bishop, being present) stand up, and turning himself to the people, pronounce this Absolution. ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of His great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE heart-emptying confession, in which we have poured out our very souls before God, is immediately met by this free and entire absolution, or God's declaration of the forgiveness of sins. It is as when David, pierced to the heart by Nathan's parable, confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord,” and the prophet answered him, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." Every word breathes pardon and peace. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, etc.—We are still as children in the presence of a loving Father, who declares His almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity. He delights in mercy. The blood sprinkled way is open. The Holy Spirit is ready to seal forgiveness on the a 2 Sam. xii. 13. penitent believer's heart. And here we plead His royal word of promise, such exceeding great and precious promises as these: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." a "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." "Our God will abundantly pardon."¿ "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven." "They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." d Have mercy upon you. We have just prayed in our confession prayer, "Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father." This voice of absolution is like the prompt echo from the throne of grace, even as when the leper cried to Jesus, "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean; and Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be thou clean," and immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Pardon and deliver you from all your sins.-Pardon and deliverance both are needful; the remission of the guilt of sin, and rescue from its thraldom. So when the healed leper came to be ceremonially cleansed, the priest took of the blood of the trespass-offering and put it upon the ear and hand and foot of the suppliant, in token of forgiveness. But Isa. i. 18; xliv. 22; lv. 7. d Rev. vii. 14. a Ps. ciii. 12. this was not all: he poured the sacred oil into the palm of his own left hand; and having sprinkled some of it with his finger seven times before the Lord, the rest he put upon the ear and hand and foot of him that was to be cleansed, upon the blood of the trespass-offering; and what remained was poured upon his head: thus the priest made an atonement for him before the Lord." The blood and the oil, these well may be our watchwords at the throne of grace; the blood of Jesus for pardon, the oil of the Holy Spirit's grace for deliverance from the power of sin. Confirm and strengthen you in all goodness.There is no empty aching void left. The love of the Father expels the love of the world. The beauty of holiness takes the place of the pride of life. The hunger and thirst after righteousness overcome the lust of the flesh. The joy of the Lord causes the pleasures of sin to pale. The glory, honour, and immortality set before us in the Gospel are more than all time has to offer. And bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.-We are children, and if children, then heirs, for God has no portionless sons: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, who is the Heir of all things. Here the largest desires of the soul are met and satisfied. It is our Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom. He who a Lev. xiv. 14-18. has given us His own and only Son will with Him also freely give us all things. "Ye shall find rest unto your souls.”—Matt. xi. 29. Jesus, I rest on Thee, In Thee myself I hide : 'Tis on Thy meek and lowly breast Thou Holy One of God, Pleads evermore for me : The curse is gone; through Thee I'm blest : The slave of sin and fear, Thy truth my bondage broke, Thy light and easy yoke : The love, which fills my grateful breast, Makes duty joy and labour rest. Soon the bright glorious day, J. G. DECK. |