Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XVIII.
281
" 23. H Therefore is the kingdom of heaven
likened unto a certain king, which would take ac-
count of his servants."
If we consider the lives of the generality of men,
can we believe that they are persuaded they must
give an account of all their actions at death and judg-
ment ? It is with respect to this duty of forgiving
injuries chiefly, that a pastor ought to set before
his people's eyes the judgment of God ;
because, on
their performance of it, he has engaged to remit
every thing, and, on their refusal, he refuses to show
any mercy.
** 24. And when he had begun to reckon, one
was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand
talents :"
How many debts have we contracted towards God,
if we consider that all our time, all our thoughts,
desires, words, and actions are his due ! We
may
find on earth ten thousand talents—but where can
we find a sum sufficient to satisfy God's justice for
one single sin, unless he himself give us wherewith
to pay it ! Let us all look upon ourselves in the
person of this miserable debtor j and yet in him we
can see nothing but only a shadow of our own misery.
" 25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his
lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and
children, and all that he had, and payment to be
made."
There is no sinner but is utterly insolvent, in
respect of the divine justice, if he be judged without
mercy. God cannot sell the sinner, nor alienate the
right which he has over him : but the sinner sells
himself to sin and to the devil^ for a moment's satis.-^