Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER IX.
125
to disengage us from them out of mercy, sometimes
out of justice to punish us, for having acquired or
preserved them, either by covetousness or injustice.
** 34. And, behold, the whole city came out to
meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they besought
him that he would depart out of their coasts."
The wicked choose rather to lose Jesus Christ,
than their temporal goods and the objects of their
lusts. Blind and ungrateful wretches, who cannot
discern the time and the grace of this visitation of
the Lord !
There are but too many, whom the fear
of some loss, disgrace, or reproach, blinds and inti-
midates so far, as to make them ashamed of Christ,
his gospel, his truth, and his servants. Continue
with us, O Lord, for thou art all things to us, and
art alone sufficient for us.
CHAPTER IX.
Sect. l.—^The Paralytic healed,
*' \, And he entered into a ship, and passed
over, and came into his own city."
Wo to those whom God hears as he heard the
Gergesenes, abandoning them to their own desires,
and to temporal felicity, according to their wishes !
Miserable condition, to imagine we can be happy
when Jesus Christ departs from us, or withdraws his
light, his ministers, &c. because they disturbed our
false repose and our passions.
*' 2. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick
of the palsy, lying on a bed : and Jesus, seeing their
faith, said unto the sick of the palsy. Son, be of
good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee.'*