t he is
exposed to constant suffering and great danger, the more afflictive
his situation the more grateful love will he feel for affection and
benefits received under such circumstances. If his circumstances were
such that he could not relieve himself, and such that he must suffer
greatly or perish, and while in this condition, if another, moved by
benevolent regard for him, should come to aid and save him, his
affection for his deliverer would be increased by a sense of the
danger from which he was rescued.

"The greater the kindness and self-denial of a benefactor manifested
in our behalf, the warmer and the stronger will be the affection which
his goodness will produce in the human heart."

And this further statement by Walker will be at once accepted by all
honest seekers after truth:--

"Here, then, are two facts growing out of the constitution of human
nature. First, the soul must feel its evil and lost state, as the
prerequisite condition upon which alone it can love a deliverer;
secondly, the degree of kindness and self-denial in a benefactor,
temporal or spiritual, graduates the degree of affection and gratitude
that will be awakened for him."--_Walker, in "The Philosophy of the
Plan of Salvation."_

V

THE SINS OF GOD'S CHILDREN--FORGIVENESS--CHASTISEMENTS

"Our Father who art in Heaven ... forgive us our sins."--Luke
11:1-4.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins."--1 John 1:9.

"Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto
sons. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor
faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he
whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastening,
whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and
we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection
under the Father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few
days chastened us as seemed right to them; but he for our profit,
that we might be partakers of his holiness."--Heb. 12:5-10.

"Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the
earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my cove