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Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

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CHAPTER V. 63<br />

<strong>the</strong>re are who, up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> account of <strong>the</strong> former, sacri-<br />

fice <strong>the</strong>ir ease, <strong>the</strong>ir interest, and <strong>the</strong>ir fortune. But<br />

what !<br />

cannot <strong>the</strong> kingdom of heaven make us suffi-<br />

cient amends for what we suffer up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> account of<br />

righteousness, as well as up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> account of faith ?<br />

" 11. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you,<br />

and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil<br />

against you falsely for my sake."<br />

Persecuti<strong>on</strong> for righteousness and truth includes<br />

in it c<strong>on</strong>tempt, mockery, injuries, and c<strong>on</strong>tradicti<strong>on</strong>s,<br />

suffered in serving God, at <strong>the</strong> hands of <strong>the</strong> wicked<br />

and of worldly men. Whom shall we believe ?<br />

Ei<strong>the</strong>r Jesus Christ, who places our present happi-<br />

ness in this; or our own self-love, which fixes it in <strong>the</strong><br />

esteem, <strong>the</strong> praises, <strong>the</strong> caresses, and favours of <strong>the</strong><br />

world ? The cause of God and of Christ is <strong>the</strong><br />

cause of faith and <strong>the</strong> gospel, of truth and righteous-<br />

ness, of God's glory and our sanctificati<strong>on</strong>, of <strong>the</strong><br />

church and her interests.<br />

" 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great<br />

is your reward in heaven : for so persecuted <strong>the</strong>y <strong>the</strong><br />

prophets which were before you."<br />

Is <strong>the</strong>re any thing greater, than by means of per-<br />

secuti<strong>on</strong> to enter into fellowship with <strong>the</strong> prophets<br />

and apostles, even in this life; and to expect God<br />

for our reward in <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r ? This is a subject not<br />

<strong>on</strong>ly of joy, but of an excess of joy and of rapture.<br />

A joy not of sense, but of faith and hope, which does<br />

not stifle <strong>the</strong> percepti<strong>on</strong> of pain, but feeds up<strong>on</strong> it,<br />

and causes us to embrace it ;<br />

which does not distract<br />

<strong>the</strong> heart, but unites it to God. How precious and<br />

valuable is this communi<strong>on</strong>, by which we are ad-<br />

mitted to a fellowship in sufferings, not <strong>on</strong>ly with

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