The Mission hall being open all the time, serves as a place where the be- lievers ean go at any time, and where they can take others for personal dealings with them. There are almost always sev- eral there, any time of the day one may go. A well assorted line of Bibles, religious Spanish books, Hymn books, and Gospel tracts are kept for use, and sale. Over While we are not meeting at present so much as formerly with open opposition from rationalistic sources, yet there seems to be an under-current of indifference that is very hard to deal with. Won't you unite with us in prayer for the convict- ing power of the Holy Spirit upon this people. Brief Thoughts for Busy Teachers International Sunday School Lessons By J. H. S. 3000 tracts were distributed last month at the Plaza.
FORGIVENESS Lesson XI. December 15. Ma t t h ew 18:15-35.
a small thing, to set him right with God a g r e at one. Read " a g a i n st t h e e ," still t h is r ema i n s: I seek satisfaction not for m'y sake but for his soul and Christ. 2. I n company, "If h e will n ot . . . t a k e one or t wo , "—he may be (1) con- victed by their mo re skillful pleading, or (2) be persuaded by their disinter- ested mediation, or (3) shamed by s« ma ny witnesses to his stubbornness, b ut at least (4) he who will not own his f a u lt will lie, and it is well to h a ve -fit- nesses at the interview. Even c h u r ch memb e rs a re not always to be trusted. Wh at a pity! (B) Publicly. 1. "Tell it to t he c h u r c h ,—n ot the synagogue (as s ome ), but t he body of believers, organized, met as a church court, for discipline. T h e private group was not the church. Th o u gh " t wo or t h r e e" here constitute " t h e church," whose spiritual and pray- e r f ul sentence is ratified " in h e a v e n ." The promise to " t wo or t h r ee m e t to- g e t h e r" is to official not unofficial groups, however t r ue i t may be in other cases. 2. "As a n heathen, a p u b l i c a n , "— no mo re " a b r o t h e r" yet " n ot a n en- emy" (2 Thes. 3.14-15); you are to be his friend, but not his fellow. Note: Such wrongs are multitudi- nous; ma in cause of spiritual inertia. The Lo r d 's way, with meekness and charity would correct them, and breth- ren dwelling in unity mi g ht win t he world by their winning ways ( J no 1 7 : 2 1 ). Wh at hinders? (1) Self, not Chirst; (2) mu t u al guilt; (3) f e ar t h at discipline would deplete t he roll and the treasury. HI- HOW OFT TO FORG I VE AN OFFEND I NG BROTHER. 1. Ma n 's egotism. "Sin a g a i n st ME ," — " I " is t he individual of t he Universe,
I. THE LESSON LINK. 1. Onr last t a u g ht "Become chil- d r e n ." Children feel no resentment. 2. This teaches " Be me n ." Men feel yet forgive. Forgiveness is a ma n 's job. Revenge is weakness, pardon mag- nanimity, greatmindedness. It is easy to hold on to a grudge, h a rd to let go of it. n . HOW TO DEAL W I TH AN OF- FEND I NG BROTHER. ( A ) . Privately. 1. Alone. (1) "If t h y b r o t h e r" — i. e., a professed be- liever, since (a) liable to church cen- sure, (b) contrasted w i th h e a t h en (v. 17). Even b r o t h er wrongs b r o t h e r! Christian Christian! Note — Cain and Abel, E s au and Jacob, Joseph and his b r e t h r e n, Amnon and Absalom. (2) "Tell h im a l o n e" — "tell' is literally "convince," "convict." Hence, plead t he case with him judicially, reason with him. You mu st not browbeat him. To a t t a ck with the big stick is to aggravate t h e case. (3) "If h e h e a r ," — t h at would be a g r e at and double victory, first, because seldom won; second, be- cause over self and an offender. " F o r g i v e n e ss to t he i n j u r ed d o th be- long, But they ne'er p a r d on who h a ve done t h e w r o n g ." As another says, " T he offender never p a r d o n s ." (4) "Gained' t hy b r o t h e r" —t wo g r e at thoughts here, first, you ma k e a f r i e nd and slay an enemy, find a b r o t h er you h ad lost; second, you h a ve saved your brother, gained him f or God, by leading to repentance a nd con- fession. (a) Some manuscripts omit " a g a i n st t h e e" (A. R. V. ma r g . ), and read "If t hy b r o t h er trespass," t h us self drops out. T h at h e wrongs me is
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