Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

58 ST. MATTHEW.
it is for the good of the soul, and to promote our
eternal salvation ; and that the power which he
makes appear in healing them, is a sure pledge of
the power of his grace in healing our souls.
CHAPTER V.
Sect. I. The Eight Beatitudes.
" 1. And seeing the multitudes, he went up inta
a mountain; and when he was set, his disciples came
unto him ;"
Since all Christians are the disciples of Christ,
they have all a right to hear his word. To this
end they must have a disciple's heart, humble, full
of respect, teachable, swift to hear, eager to learn,
and faithful to obey. To go up with Christ, is to
lift up one's heart from the earth, in order to hear
the truths of heaven. To sit down, is to hear them
with calmness, peace, and repose of mind. To come
unto this divine Master, is to be united to him, and
to hear him with faith, attention, and love for his
word.
" 2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them,
saying,"
How great is the mercy of God towards man, in
that wisdom herself is sent to instruct him, not by
angels nor by prophets, nor in dreams nor in figures,
but with her own mouth, and in her own words.
When we open the New Testament, it is the mouth
of Christ which is opened for us. It is no other
than to shut it from Christians, either to wrest this
holy book out of their hands, or to keep it closed