It is a fallacy of Satan’s to argue from the sinfulness of our duties, to the non-acceptance of them. ‘Will God,’ says he, ‘take such broken groats at thy hand? Is he not an holy God?’ Learn here, to distinguish. There is a twofold acceptance.1. A thing may be accepted, as a payment of debt; or, 2. As a proof of love. – God, who will not accept of broken money in a way of payment, will, nevertheless, kindly accept of it from his friends as a testimony of gratitude.

It is true, O Christian, the debt thou owest to God must be paid in good and lawful money; but here for thy comfort, Christ, and Christ only, is thy paymaster. Send Satan to him; bid him bring his charge against Christ, who is ready at God’s right hand to produce a clear account, and show his receipt in full for the whole debt. As to thy performances and obedience, they fall under a quite contrary class; as mere tokens of thy love and thankfulness to God. And, so gracious is thy heavenly Father, that he accepts thy bent sixpence, and will not throw away thy crooked, broken mite. Love refuses nothing that love sends.

—William Gurnall