speak against us, say unkind things of us, and spread false reports about us. Everything is known, everyone is watched; there are constant envyings and jealousies one of another, and those who would do right are constantly being spoken against.

"It is far easier to do what is right in the town than in the country," a young man once said to me, "" people are so busy about their own affairs that they have not so much time to talk about those of others. They let me go my own way, and don't interfere and laugh at me as they do in the country."

But town life too has its temptations. Wherever people live closely together, there will be evil speaking, slandering, and many unkind words and actions will have to be bravely and patiently borne by those who would be true followers of Christ.

"Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Truly these words should ever be kept in

mind in all our intercourse with our friends or neighbours. What a different place our homes would be if we remembered them oftener. How changed the village, or the street we live in would become if we could all try to follow them more closely.

Let us especially notice the last words of this beautiful text, "Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." There lies the true secret of forgive

ness.

We often feel that another has treated us unkindly, or has spoken ill or falsely of us, and we are vexed and wounded. Angry thoughts rise in our hearts, we feel as if it would be impossible ever to forgive one who had so deeply injured us. When we are tempted to such thoughts let us kneel down. at once before God, or else lift up our hearts to Him, if others are near.

Let us think not of our neighbour's sins against us, but of our far greater sins against God. Let us think of His great love in pardoning us again and again when we have sinned against Him. "If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord,

who may abide it.

Thee."

But there is mercy with "Be ye therefore merciful, as your

Father also is merciful."

Think of our Lord's beautiful words in that touching parable of forgiveness-"Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?" "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us."

Which of us, thinking of these words, can dare to cherish unforgiving thoughts against any who may have injured us?

Our great poet Shakespeare reminds us of this in the following noble words :

Why, all the souls that are, were forfeit

once;

And He that might the vantage best have took

Found out the remedy. How would ye be, If He, which is the top of Judgment, should But judge you as you are? O think on that; And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new-made."

People are very fond of saying they may forgive, but they cannot forget. But this is

only half-forgiveness, and will not be accepted by God Who sees our hearts.

Let us see how God forgets as well as forgives our sins, and let us try to be more like Him.

"Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back." "I, even I, am He, that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Now if God is so loving, and so willing to forget our sins, and to remember them no more, surely we ought to do the same towards others.

If you wish and try to forget, as well as to forgive, then God will help you. When thoughts of the unkindness of others come into your mind, and you feel disposed to cherish them, pray at once for God's Holy Spirit of Love to help you to put away such thoughts at once. Do not let your mind dwell on them, do not harbour them. Pray for all who have injured you. Remember the words of our dear Lord, Who forgave His enemies, even when they condemned

Him to a cruel death upon the cross. "Love ye your enemies and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest, for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

It is a solemn thought to remember that life is very short. Forgive before it is over. You cannot tell how many or how few days you, or those who have injured you may have to live; and think how awful it would be if death was to come upon you suddenly, before you had forgiven one another. How should you dare to meet your Judge? how could you plead for His forgiveness, if you had not forgiven a fellow sinner while you lived on earth?

Not long ago there lived in a village in England two brothers, middle-aged men. For some slight cause they quarrelled, and each declared that he would not forgive the other. And they kept their word. Day by day went on, week by week, year by year, but they never spoke to each other: all efforts of their friends to reconcile them failed. They lived near together, they passed each other constantly in the village street, saddest of all