Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/578

 ing to  the  custom  of  those  days,  to  explain  His meaning by  a  parable. " The  kingdom  of  heaven," He says,  "  is  likened  to  a  king  who  would  take  an account  of  his  servants." God is  our  King  and  we His  earthly  kingdom,  exiled,  it  is  true,  like  the Israelites in  the  desert,  but  hoping  like  them  to  reach one day  the  promised  land. An exiled  nation  we, homeward bound,  some,  loading  ourselves  with earthly spoils  beneath  which  we  fall  and  perish;  and some trudging  bravely  on,  indifferent  to  everything, to everything  except  the  glory  to  come;  each  led  on by  the  all-absorbing  idea — our  happiness. But even the worst  among  us  pause  betimes— our  better  moments— when  the  still,  small  voice  of  conscience speaks and  we  enter  into  reckoning  with  our  God. And oh! how much  we  owed  even  had  we  never sinned! How immeasurably  have  our  sins  increased that debt! How small  our  funds  wherewith  to  pay; and how  hopeless  the  task  of  earning  more! The servant, in  the  parable,  owed  his  king  ten  thousand talents, that  is,  ten  million  dollars. If we  suppose  a million  dollars  to  be  the  reward  for  keeping,  and  fine for breaking,  one  of  God's  commandments,  many  of as,  alas! are hopelessly  in  debt,  and  many  of  us,  thank God, are  in  a  fair  way  to  become  multi-millionaires in the  kingdom  of  heaven. But we  sinners— ^those of us  who  have  run  our  sinful  course  through  the Decalogue, not  once  but  hundreds  of  times — what an enormous  debt  is  ours! Ah, we  may  pray: " Lord,  have  patience  with  me,"  but  it  would  be  folly to add:  "and  I  will  pay  Thee  all." We have  not,