Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

282 ST. MATTHEW.
faction. It is the very height of misery, for God
to leave the sinner in the hands of him to whom he
has sold himself; and this, to be under him not as a
proprietor, but executioner. A damned soul, who
has no longer any share in Christ, has not where-
with to pay his debts; and for this reason his pun-
ishment will have no end.
" 26. The servant therefore fell down, and wor-
shipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me,
and I will pay thee all."
A sinner, who sees his own poverty, has no other
remedy left but these four dispositions:— 1. A sin-
cere humiliation of heart. 2. A fervent prayer.
3. An application full of hope to the patience of
God. 4. A real desire and firm resolution of satis-
fying God to the utmost of his power by repentance.
It is no presumption in a man who has nothing, to
promise the payment of all, provided he depend, not
on himself, but on the patience of God, and the
merits of Jesus Christ. The value of these is in-
finite; and from hence the repentance of a Christian
receives all its worth. A man cannot have too great
hopes, when he is resolved not to spare himself, and
his heart is entirely devoted to God.
" 27. Then the lord of that servant was moved
with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him
the debt."
God, rich in mercy, shows it more abundantly
than we ask it, when we ask it as we ought. He
cannot, as one may say, withstand humility : this
disarms his justice, and opens the treasures of his
mercy. God never grants any thing short of a full
pardon ; he forgives the greatest debts as easily as