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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 VIII. 117<br />

" 16. f When <strong>the</strong> even was come, <strong>the</strong>y brought<br />

unto him many that were possessed with devils ; and<br />

he cast out <strong>the</strong> spirits with his word, and healed all<br />

that were sick :"<br />

O my God, make <strong>the</strong> sinner thoroughly sensible,<br />

that he falls into <strong>the</strong> power of <strong>the</strong> devil when he<br />

refuses to have <strong>the</strong>e for his Lord and Master. The<br />

possessed with devils are not to be seen without<br />

horror : but what is this possessi<strong>on</strong>, if compared to<br />

that of <strong>the</strong> soul, and beheld with <strong>the</strong> eyes of faith?<br />

How terrible to <strong>the</strong> devil is <strong>the</strong> word of Jesus<br />

Christ! Let us with faith and c<strong>on</strong>fidence employ it<br />

against his temptati<strong>on</strong>s. Let us bless God for<br />

having left this word to his church, to be <strong>the</strong> scourge<br />

of <strong>the</strong> devil. It is Christian prudence, by c<strong>on</strong>stant<br />

reading, to fill our heart <strong>the</strong>rewith, to <strong>the</strong> end that<br />

<strong>the</strong> devil may always meet <strong>the</strong>re with this safeguard<br />

and defence. That which <strong>the</strong> word of God, in <strong>the</strong><br />

mouth of Christ, performs in a moment, it performs<br />

by degrees in <strong>the</strong> sinner who feeds up<strong>on</strong> it. O <strong>the</strong><br />

goodness of Christ, not to reject any sick pers<strong>on</strong> !<br />

O w<strong>on</strong>derful power, to heal <strong>the</strong>m all! Let n<strong>on</strong>e<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore despair under <strong>the</strong> sight and sense of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

miseries.<br />

" 17. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken<br />

by Esaias <strong>the</strong> prophet, saying, Himself took our<br />

infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."<br />

We see here <strong>the</strong> immense charity of <strong>the</strong> good<br />

Shepherd. To bear <strong>the</strong> infirmities and frailties of<br />

our brethren, is to imitate him. We cannot indeed<br />

cure sicknesses; but we can assist, relieve, serve,<br />

visit, and comfort <strong>the</strong> sick. We take up<strong>on</strong> us <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

infirmities, when we compassi<strong>on</strong>ate <strong>the</strong>m by charity.

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