The parables of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ Done into familiar verse, with occasional applications, for the use and improvement of younger minds. By Christopher Smart |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. | PARABLE IX. The unmerciful Creditor.
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| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
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| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
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| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
| LVII. |
| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXIII. |
| LXIV. |
| LXV. |
| LXVI. |
| LXVII. |
| LXVIII. |
| LXIX. |
| LXX. |
| LXXI. |
| LXXII. |
| LXXIII. |
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 | The parables of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ |  |
PARABLE IX. The unmerciful Creditor.
How oft (says Peter) Lord, I pray,
Shall ev'n my brother err and stray,
And I forgive repeated crimes,
Must it be done till seven times?
Shall ev'n my brother err and stray,
And I forgive repeated crimes,
Must it be done till seven times?
Not until seven times a-day,
(The Man of Mercy cries) I say,
But until seventy times by sev'n.
Wherefore the reign of Christ from heav'n
Is liken'd to a certain king,
What time he set about to bring
His servants each to his account,
When one was found upon th'amount
Ten thousand talents in his debt,
Which sum as he could no where get,
His lord gave instant charge, that he,
His goods, his wife, and family,
Should in the public mart be sold,
And thence the talents to be told.
His servant then before his feet
Fell down his mercy to intreat—
“Have patience, Lord, thy wrath controul,
“And I will fairly pay the whole.”
His master soon inclin'd to yield
Compassion, not alone repeal'd
The condemnation of a slave,
But frankly all the debt forgave.
(The Man of Mercy cries) I say,
But until seventy times by sev'n.
Wherefore the reign of Christ from heav'n
Is liken'd to a certain king,
What time he set about to bring
His servants each to his account,
When one was found upon th'amount
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Which sum as he could no where get,
His lord gave instant charge, that he,
His goods, his wife, and family,
Should in the public mart be sold,
And thence the talents to be told.
His servant then before his feet
Fell down his mercy to intreat—
“Have patience, Lord, thy wrath controul,
“And I will fairly pay the whole.”
His master soon inclin'd to yield
Compassion, not alone repeal'd
The condemnation of a slave,
But frankly all the debt forgave.
Yet this same fellow, nothing taught,
Went, and another servant caught
Fierce by the throat in rank offence,
That ow'd him but an hundred pence;
“Let my debt instantly be paid.”
His brother therefore meekly pray'd—
“Have patience, and thy wrath controul,
“And I will fairly pay the whole.”
Yet he would not attend his plea,
But cast him into jeopardy,
His bondage not to be enlarg'd,
Until the total was discharg'd.
So all the household in disgust,
Of guilt thus cruel and unjust,
The matter to their lord relate,
Who calling in the base ingrate,
Cried, “Traitor, did not I forbear,
“Relenting at thine earnest pray'r,
“And should'st not thou have had the grace
“To weigh a less offender's case,
“And to his debt have pity shown,
“So late forgiven all thine own?”
Went, and another servant caught
Fierce by the throat in rank offence,
That ow'd him but an hundred pence;
“Let my debt instantly be paid.”
His brother therefore meekly pray'd—
“Have patience, and thy wrath controul,
“And I will fairly pay the whole.”
Yet he would not attend his plea,
But cast him into jeopardy,
His bondage not to be enlarg'd,
Until the total was discharg'd.
18
Of guilt thus cruel and unjust,
The matter to their lord relate,
Who calling in the base ingrate,
Cried, “Traitor, did not I forbear,
“Relenting at thine earnest pray'r,
“And should'st not thou have had the grace
“To weigh a less offender's case,
“And to his debt have pity shown,
“So late forgiven all thine own?”
Then justly wroth his lord ordains
For him the torture and the chains,
Till he should answer his demand—
Thus likewise shall the reck'ning stand
Betwixt my heav'nly Sire and you,
Unless your hearts all hate subdue,
And spare your brother ev'ry one,
Whatever trespass he has done.
For him the torture and the chains,
Till he should answer his demand—
Thus likewise shall the reck'ning stand
Betwixt my heav'nly Sire and you,
Unless your hearts all hate subdue,
And spare your brother ev'ry one,
Whatever trespass he has done.
| The parables of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ | |