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God's forgiveness is full, free, and thorough. Yet, forgiving, He does not forget. God remembers forgiven sins, but He does not, will not, remember them against us. We should remember them.

I. THE MEMORY OF FORGIVEN SINS IS FAVOURABLE TO HUMILITY. Spiritual pride is a sin to which the eminently holy, gifted, and useful Christian is peculiarly liable. Let the first remember how he formerly defiled himself; the second, to what unworthy objects he directed his noble faculties; the third, that his pardoned sins may be — probably are — working fatal mischief in the world; and where is there room for pride? How much reason for self-abasement? Why did Paul describe himself as "less than the least of all saints"?

II. THE MEMORY OF FORGIVEN SINS IS CONDUCIVE TO WATCHFULNESS. Forgiveness has not destroyed our liability to sin. Forgiven sins have left weak places in our souls. He who keeps in view those remitted sins which had the strongest hold on his nature, will vigilantly watch against the return of "the unclean spirit."

III. THE MEMORY OF FORGIVEN SINS IS PRODUCTIVE OF COMPASSION. We pity sinners. The unforgiven are the unforgiving, the unmerciful and stony hearted.

IV. THE MEMORY OF FORGIVEN SINS AWAKENS GRATITUDE. We are in danger of forgetting "all" the Lord's "benefits," but we cannot if we remember our sins.

(The Homilist.)

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KJV: Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

WEB: although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.