Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER V. 75
plies the occasions of perjury, lays snares for the weak
and ignorant, and sometimes makes the name and
truth of God subservient to the designs of the wicked.
Sect. VI. Patience,
" 38. f Ye have heard that it hath been said,
An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth :"
How many Christians are there worse than Jews,
who carry their revenge to the utmost extremity, and
return even more evil than they have received !
There is a great deal of difference betwixt what the
law appointed to the Jews for the public safety, and
what charity requires of us for our particular perfec-
tion; betwixt the duty of a judge, who ought to pun-
ish according to the law, and the temper of a Chris-
tian, who ought to pardon according to the gospel.
" 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not
evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also."
Patience, and true Christian charity, incline a
raan to quit, to do, to give, and to suffer all things.
First, in his person, all sorts of affronts, at least in
the disposition of mind. We are allowed to demand
justice; but never to avenge ourselves, never to de-
sire punishment for itself, but either for the public
good, or for the welfare of private persons. Chris-
tian patience, and evangelical prudence, must concur
to regulate the use of this counsel; for it is not al-
ways expedient to do that publicly, which it is always
necessary to be disposed to do at the bottom of the
heart. We ought to take care not to deprive our-
selves of this blessing by too much reasoning, or by
the delusion of self-love.
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