Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

46 ST. MATTHEW.
in himself the marks, effects, punishment, and remedy
of sin. If Christ, being innocence itself,
notwithstanding chooses to bear the shame of sin, in
passing for a sinne**, to subject himself to (a sort of)
public penance, and oblige himself by this ceremony
to all the duties of a true penitent ; let us be
ashamed of our pride, injustice, and impenitence.
** 14. But John forbade him, saying, I have need
to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me ?"
How holy and lovely is that contest, which arises,
on either side, from nothing but humility ! The
designs of God are incomprehensible, even to the
saints. There is no person but has need of being
purified by Christ : let us go to him with confidence
every moment, because every moment we have need
of his grace. An important lesson this, which God
here, at the very first, delivers to us by his apostle;
the necessity which we have of a Saviour and of his
grace, were we as innocent and as penitent as
St. John.
" 15. And Jesus answering, said unto him. Suffer
it to be so now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
rifjfhteousness. Then he suffered him."
The humility of Jesus could not but surmount
that of St. John. In the former, it is firm and
persevering, without heat or obstinacy ; in the latter,
obedient and submissive, without flagging and grow-
ing weak. He who is truly humble, lets slip no
opportunity of humbling himself, without improving
it. Those who are to preach this virtue, ought to
make it appear in their life and conversation. Chris-
tian righteousness is almost all included in humility
and repentance; because these include all sorts of