Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

170 ST. MATTHEW.
and all those of our Saviour to the eyes of our faith.
Let us take to ourselves these reproaches of our
Lord, since his miracles also are designed for us.
" 2L Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! woe unto thee,
Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works, which were done
in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."
An impenitent Christian is worse than a Pagan ;
and his heart is more insensible to the divine word
and to miracles, than an infidel's. Let us adore the
judgments of God in the distribution of his gracious
dispensations, without desiring to pry into the rea-
sons of them ; and let us not cease to thank him,
that his great goodness to us has suffered no ob-
struction from our extreme ingratitude. Sackcloth
and ashes are the emblems of painful and mortifying
exercises. Heretics are under a delusion in exclud-
ing these out of repentance, and reducing it to no-
thing, but bare sorrow of heart, and change of life;
contrary to the doctrine and usage both of the Old
and New Testament.
*' 22. But I say unto you. It shall be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment
than for you."
How terrible are God's judgments on the impeni-
tent ! Every thing will help to overwhelm them at
the tribunal of God—the benefits and favours which
they have received, as well as the sins which they
have committed. The divine mercies, which the
sinner now buries in oblivion, shall be then rendered
present to his mind, in order to his confusion and
condemnation. Let us prevent this misfortune.
" 23. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted