16. I see some ground on which I may comfort not some few only, but the multitude of
Christians: and I know that ye are longing to hear it. Christ hath said, “Forgive, that ye may
be forgiven.”1999 And what do ye say in the Prayer which we have now been discussing?
“Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” So, Lord, forgive, as we forgive. This
thou sayest, “O Father, which art in heaven, so forgive our debts, as we also forgive our
debtors.” For this ye ought to do, and if ye do it not, ye will perish. When your enemy asks
pardon, at once forgive him. And is this much for you to do? Though it were much for thee
to love thine enemy when violent against thee, is it much to love a man who is a supplicant
before thee? What hast thou to say? He was before violent, and then thou hatedst him. I had
rather thou hadst not hated him even then: I had rather then when thou wert suffering from
his violence, thou hadst remembered the Lord, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do.”2000 I would have then much wished that even at that time when thine
enemy was violent against thee, thou hadst had regard to the Lord thy God speaking thus.
But perhaps you will say, He did it, but then He did it as being the Lord, as the Christ, as
the Son of God, as the Only-Begotten, as the Word made flesh. But what can I, an infirm
and sinful man, do? If thy Lord be too high an example for thee, turn thy thoughts upon
thy fellow-servant. The holy Stephen was being stoned, and as they stoned him, on bended
knees did he pray for his enemies, and say, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”2001 They
were casting stones, not asking pardon, yet did he pray for them. I would thou wert like
him; reach forth. Why art thou for ever trailing thy heart along the earth? Hear, “Lift up thy
heart,” reach forward, love thine enemies. If thou canst not love him in his violence, love
him at least when he asks pardon. Love the man who saith to thee, “Brother, I have sinned,
forgive me.” If thou then forgive him not, I say not merely, that thou dost blot this prayer
out of thine heart, but thou shall be blotted thyself out of the book of God.
17. But if thou then at least forgive him, or let go hatred from thy heart, it is hatred from
the heart I bid thee forego, and not proper discipline. What if one who asks my pardon, be
one who ought to be chastised by me! Do what thou wilt, for I suppose that thou dost love
thy child even when thou dost chastise him. Thou regardest not his cries under the rod,
because thou art reserving for him his inheritance. This I say then, that thou forego from
thy heart all hatred, when thine enemy asks pardon of thee. But perhaps you will say, “he is
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playing false, he is pretending.” O thou judge of another’s heart, tell me thine own father’s
thoughts, tell me thine own thoughts yesterday. He asks and petitions for pardon; forgive,
by all means forgive him. If thou wilt not forgive him, it is thyself thou dost hurt, not him,
for he knows what he has to do. Thou art not willing to forgive thine own fellow-servant;
1999 Luke vi. 37.
2000 Luke xxiii. 34.
2001 Acts vii. 60.
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On the Lord’s Prayer in St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chap. vi. 9, etc. to the …