Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

38 ST. MATTHEW.
thers, if they make (some) amends for the past, or
preserve them from vain joys for the future !
Sect. III. The Return out of Egypt.
" 19. 51 But when Herod was dead, behold, an
angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt,"
A true child of God adores and imitates the
humble dependency of Christ on his Father, whose
commands he receives from time to time, not by
himself, but by an angel, and by Joseph. Let us
learn of him, not to take one step, but either by the
command, or in the way of God. As to all common
and ordinary duties, his command is sufficiently
signified to us by the obligations of our state and
condition. To him who is not wanting in relation
to those, God will not be wanting on all extraordi-
nary occasions.
" 20. Saying, Arise, and take the young child
and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for
they are dead which sought the young child's life."
Thus the designs of God concerning his elect,
his church, and his truth, seem to depend upon
human and natural events ; whereas, in reality, God
disposes and orders these events according to his
own designs. God humbles himself, to give a reason
for his conduct towards his Son ; and he hum-
bles his Son, by making him seem unable to save
his life but only like other men. The malice and
power of men endure as short a time as their life
God alone, almighty and eternal, is terrible in his
anger. To wait quietly and patiently, till either
the anger of men, or they themselves pass away, is