Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

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more and more the hatred of the human heart on
the one hand, and gaining converts and readers al-
most innumerable, on the other, Satan would not
let this state of things continue. The real grace of
God, though mixed with error, was maintained, and
maintained boldly, in the <strong>Reflections</strong> ; man was laid
low; the Saviour was exalted; the power of fallen
nature to recover itself was denied; the Holy Ghost
was honoured ; the world and its pleasures were un-
compromisingly exposed ; a new and holy life was de-
lineated and insisted on; heaven and hell were plainly
exhibited. This was enough : nothing could redeem
such unpardonable faults in the eyes of the Jesuits.
They could not endure the strong light thrown on
the nature of man, and the one person of the Saviour.
They saw acutely enough, (though perhaps <strong>Quesnel</strong>
did not) that such principles went to undermine Po-
pery. They began their schemes anew. They at-
tempted to detach the powerful defenders of Pas-
quier. The cardinal de Noailles was rudely assailed.
<strong>Quesnel</strong>, undaunted, prosecuted the improvement of
his book, and wrote a prodigious number of occasional
pamphlets. He composed also several larger Trea-
tises, on the " Priesthood and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ
—Elevations of heart towards Jesus Christ in his
passion and death—The Blessedness of the Chris-
tian's death— Christian Prayers—Prayers to our
Saviour Jesus Christ, for young people and those
who desire to read the word of God, and especially
the Gospel—Tradition of the Romish Church on
the Predestination of the Saints, and on Efficacious
Grace."
These productions only augmented the rage of