Thou knewest that I was an austere man,— Didst thou know, &c.? "Thou hast been slothful in the highest degree;—for, to argue with thee, on thine own base principles,—if thou really hadst believed me to be the rigorous person thou sayest I am, thou wouldst certainly have been at the pains to lend out my money;—a method of improving thy talent which would have occasioned thee no trouble at all.
Thy excuse therefore is a mere pretence." In like manner, all the excuses which wicked ministers offer in their own behalf, will stand them in no stead at the bar of God; whether they be drawn from the character which they affix to God, or from their own inability, or from the difficulty of his service, or from any other consideration whatever.