D. H. LAMSON by D. H. Lamson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1871

D. H. LAMSON

By D. H. Lamson

Implacable.

The definition of this term as given by Webster is, “Not to be appeased; that cannot be pacified; constant in enmity.” The apostle in his letter to the Romans, chap. 1:31, gives this among many other things as a characteristic disposition of the ungodly, and furthermore declares that its possessor is worthy of death. The true Christian is said by the Scriptures to be conformed to the image of God’s Son by the renewing of the mind. The works of the flesh are no more manifest. Rom. 8:21; 12:2. Thus is the tree become good and the fruit good. This transforming process, however, is often a slow work and is too seldom fully accomplished for want of care and watchfulness and complete submission to God’s will.

Implacability is so tenacious of life, so hard to root out of the heart, that it has been necessary for the Saviour to give special directions and warnings in regard to it. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matt. 6:14, 15.

Peter asked the Lord, “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. Matt. 18:21, 22. God is merciful to us. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Could we call to mind our iniquities and number all our transgressions we would not dare to so much as lift our eyes toward Heaven, yet God’s blessings distill upon us like the dew. May the Lord help us to deal as gently with our fellows as he has in all the past dealt with us. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. If we love those that love us we do no more than others. We are to love our enemies and lend, hoping for nothing again. By doing this our reward is to be great, even to be called the children of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. But what does this mean, To lend, hoping for nothing again? Simply that to receive as much again should not be our object in lending, but to do good, not hoping for reward; and let love to all be the mainspring of our action. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him. Well, says one, if my brother will do this, I will forgive; but if not, what then? Then the Saviour’s example makes duty plain; and surely we ought not to pray the Father for what we are unwilling to do ourselves. Luke 23:34.