05.04.2013 Views

Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

154 ST. MATTHEW.<br />

instructors of <strong>the</strong> faithful. The church has now no<br />

more hidden mysteries, nor secret truths; and it is<br />

now <strong>the</strong> time to reveal all <strong>the</strong> knowledge and srace<br />

which Christ has committed to her. It is to injure<br />

religi<strong>on</strong>, to imagine that it c<strong>on</strong>tains some truths or<br />

mysteries which ought to be c<strong>on</strong>cealed. It is to do<br />

wr<strong>on</strong>g to Christians, to deprive <strong>the</strong>m of that which<br />

is designed for <strong>the</strong>ir sanctificati<strong>on</strong> and salvati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

This is to resist <strong>the</strong> Holy Ghost, who is given to<br />

<strong>the</strong> church <strong>on</strong> purpose to teach it all truth.<br />

Sect. V. God <strong>on</strong>ly to be feared and trusted,<br />

" 28. And fear not <strong>the</strong>m which kill <strong>the</strong> body, but<br />

are not able to kill <strong>the</strong> soul: but ra<strong>the</strong>r fear hira<br />

which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."<br />

It is prudence, to deliver up <strong>the</strong> body in order<br />

to save <strong>the</strong> soul : this is to cast <strong>the</strong> lading of <strong>the</strong><br />

vessel into <strong>the</strong> sea, to preserve <strong>the</strong> men from destruc-<br />

ti<strong>on</strong>. A man loses nothing, when he loses that <strong>on</strong>ly<br />

which must perish. That which is visible in me is<br />

in <strong>the</strong> power of men; but it is not by this that I am<br />

what I am. Let us fear n<strong>on</strong>e but him, who can<br />

make <strong>the</strong> invisible and immortal part of us suffer and<br />

die. My God is my life: I die not, but when I<br />

lose him. What strange blindness is it, to expose<br />

that part of ourselves which should enjoy God eter-<br />

nally, to save that by which we enjoy nothing but<br />

<strong>the</strong> creatures, and <strong>the</strong>m <strong>on</strong>ly for a moment! It is<br />

not hell which we must fear, but that Almighty Being<br />

who <strong>the</strong>re punishes those eternally, who have been<br />

so far from loving hira above all things, that <strong>the</strong>y<br />

have preferred a mere trifle to him.<br />

*' 29. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!