The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-09

chances to meet man who owed him 100 pence.
The pence here is, In the original, q deHarias,
worth about 163 cents One hundred amount
ed to $3.50. This was about one milli0nth
what the chief officer had owed his King. The
smaller debtor pleaded with his creditor in the
same words the chief debtor had used when
beseeching the King TO be merciful to him.
Compare v % with v. 26.) There was less
excuse for this greater debtor, from the fact
he was not pressed for money, since the King
had squared his accounts. But he was not
moved by the plea. With the beautiful exam
pie before him of the lenieney of the King, he
is nevertheless brutal, seiZing his debtor by
the throat, refusing even to extend the time
for payment and casting the poor man into
prison.
Both cases are heightened in interest by the
contrast. Compassion seems more pitiul, from
the fact mercileSsness is utterly cruel.
1t is easy to see the spiritual bearing of this
parable. God is our King. We are all his
debtors, and yet we are utterly bankrupt.
When conscious of our complete inability to pay
to God our debts of love and service we plead
his forgiveness, and never in vain. Then, after
God in his wondrous compassion forgives us our
debts to him, amounting to more than $l7,-
100000, we go forth into society, church, homo,
and meeting one who has offended US some
what, we are completely relentless; we will
not listen to his plea; we demand the $l650,
and refuse to show any mercy. Shame on us
Notice the effects of the contrasted acts of the
King and the two debtors.
l. On the King. Indignation. ". 80
2. On the fellow servants. Sorrow. ". 3D.
3. On the greater debtor Punishment in
prison. The tormentors were the jailors. ".
a. On the lesser debtor. He was probably re-
leased from prison and the debt cancelled.
8. On Us. We are warned. Our duty is to
IA arrtr, -41t1Sf ha
us to forgive.
The reporter Of this parable is st. Matthew.
We gather the following suggestions:
l. Forgive. Always be in kindly state OF
mind. Give no place to malice Hamlet's
charge to Polonius is as Biblical as Shakes
perean.
!" Hamlet-Good my lord, will you see the play
Polonius-My lord, viii use them according to
their desert.
Hamet-God's bodykius, man, much better
Use every man after his desert, and who should
'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor
and dignity; the less they deserve the more merit
Is in your bounty"
2. Away with human slavery. ". 25.) This
problem has been solved in our country. 1t is
one of the products of war a. grateful and use
full to the South as to the North.
3. Do not imprison for debt. Scion showed
he was wise man when ne abolished the
law consigning debtors to Jail. Seryius
Tullius prohibited such treatment of those
unable to meet their financial liabilities. In
1881 Silas N. Stillwell introduced into the
Legislature of New York State the bill now
famous as the "Stillwell Act" abolishing i'm
prisonment for debt. In 1886 the World of New
York did good work in mitigating punish
ments in civil cases. 1t is an admitted princi-
pie of law that no creditor has any vested
right or lien on the body of a debtor
3. Pray to God for forgiveness of sin. (Ys,
90, 29.)
A. Be utterly indignant at injustice. ". 3D.
| See how reused God is represented as having
been at the heartless creditor.
s. sympathize with those who suffer. ",
81
6. Rememberwe are accountable. God is our
King and we are responsible to him. There is
to be a reckoning in time. 1t will be easy for
us to be forgiven our sins against God, but he
will be very strict as to our treatment of those
who wrong US. Marcus Antonius said: II
thou art able, correct by teaching those who
Gin; but If thou are unable, remember that
indulgence is given to thee for this purpose
the gods, too, are indulgent to SUCH"