Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XVIII. 285
The goodness and indulgence of God towards us
is a pattern, which we ought to follow in respect of
others, and a law which obliges us thereto. God
forgives all, and that at the entreaty of the criminal
himself: but to induce a revengeful person to for-
give, what pains, what endeavours must be used?
Can rigour in exacting temporal debts, and in treat-
ing without mercy such as are unable to satisfy them
—can this be allowed to a Christian, who ought to
imitate his God and Father,—to a debtor, who has
been forgiven only on the condition of forgiving
others,—to a servant, who should obey his master,
and to a criminal, who is in expectation of his judge
and final sentence?
" 34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him
to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due
unto him."
There is no mercy for him who will not show
any. Nothing raises the divine anger and vengeance
more than the spirit of revenge in men ; because by
this we neglect the condition of our reconciliation
with God, violate the sacred covenant of Christian
prayer, and invade the rights of the supreme Justice.
No refuge, no remedy is to be found, when once a
man is delivered to the tormentors, of whom these
are but a faint resemblance. Death puts an end to
every thing on earth : but nothing has an end, in
that place, where a man can never see any end of
his debt, and where death itself is immortal.
" 35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not
every one his brother their trespasses."
We must forgive, not only with our lips, but