are remitted.”  Now perhaps, it will be replied to this, that that promise belongs to the apostles; that they were supernaturally gifted to distinguish genuine from feigned repentance; to absolve therefore, was their natural prerogative, but that we have no right to say it extends beyond the apostles.

We therefore, bring the question to a point by referring to an instance in which an apostle did absolve.  Let us examine whether St. Paul confined the prerogative to himself.  “To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also:  for to whom I forgave anything for your sakes, forgave I it in the person of Christ.”

Observe now:  it is quite true here that the apostle absolved a man whose excommunication he had formerly required; but he absolved him because the congregation absolved him; not as a plenipotentiary supernaturally gifted to convey a mysterious benefit, but as himself an organ and representative of the Church.  The power of absolution therefore, belonged to the Church, and to the apostle through the Church.  It was a power belonging to all Christians:  to the apostle, because he was a Christian, not because he was an apostle.  A priestly power no doubt, because Christ has made all Christians kings and priests.

Now let us turn again, with this added light, to examine the meaning of that expression, “The Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.”  Mark that form of words—­not Christ as God, but Christ as Son of man.  It was manifestly said by Him, not solely as divine, but rather as human, as the Son of man; that is, as Man.  For we may take it as a rule:  when Christ calls himself Son of man, He is asserting His Humanity.  It was said by the High Priest of Humanity in the name of the race.  It was said on the principle that human nature is the reflection of God’s nature:  that human love is the image of God’s love; and that human forgiveness is the type and assurance of divine forgiveness.

In Christ Humanity was the perfect type of Deity, and therefore Christ’s absolution was always the exact measure and counterpart of God’s forgiveness.  Herein lies the deep truth of the doctrine of His eternal priesthood—­the Eternal Son—­the Humanity of the Being of God—­the ever Human mind of God.  The Absolver ever lives.  The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment to the Son—­hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.

But further than this.  In a subordinate, because less perfect degree, the forgiveness of a man as man carries with it an absolving power.  Who has not felt the load taken from his mind when the hidden guilt over which he had brooded long has been acknowledged, and met by forgiving human sympathy, especially at a time when he expected to be treated with coldness and reproof?  Who has not felt how such a moment was to him the dawn of a better hope, and how the merciful judgment of some wise and good