THE COLLECT. LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
TRINITY xxii THE error of the unmerciful servant in Christ’s parable is that he asserts his rights. He has a right to the recovery of his debt, and a right to the assistance of the law. He insists on having what is due to him, and he gets his due--he gets the prison and the torment. Perhaps hell is for those who ask for it; to those who claim their rights God gives their deserts, the rest he handles not in accordance with their merits but in accordance with his mercy. We all think we have rights--rights to so much pleasure and ease, rights to be let alone, rights to spend most of our money on ourselves, rights to receive apologies, rights to get our own back, rights to neglect other people's cares and concerns unless we have a fancy to meddle with them. Having rights is damnation; salvation is the receiving of Christ’s body and blood, as paupers existing on the dying charity of the Son of God. We are not our own; we are bought with a price.
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