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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 XI. 171<br />

unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell : for if<br />

<strong>the</strong> mighty works, which have been d<strong>on</strong>e in <strong>the</strong>e,<br />

had been d<strong>on</strong>e in Sodom, it would have remained<br />

until this day.'*<br />

The proud, who of all sinners are <strong>the</strong> most dif-<br />

ficult to be c<strong>on</strong>verted, shall likewise be <strong>the</strong> most<br />

humbled. Pride is a vice, which, instead of dimin-<br />

ishing, increases with time. Ye great men of <strong>the</strong><br />

world, ye rich men of <strong>the</strong> earth, who think of nothing<br />

but how to advance yourselves, and who are never<br />

satisfied with wealth, h<strong>on</strong>ours, and preferments, read<br />

here <strong>the</strong> sentence of your c<strong>on</strong>demnati<strong>on</strong> if you c<strong>on</strong>-<br />

tinue impenitent. Pride hardens <strong>the</strong> heart even<br />

more than <strong>the</strong> greatest sins of impurity. There is<br />

nothing more opposite to <strong>the</strong> Christian religi<strong>on</strong>, <strong>the</strong><br />

whole design of which is to make us humble. Every<br />

man has some degree of pride, and <strong>the</strong>refore ought<br />

to examine <strong>the</strong> progress or decrease of it.<br />

" 24. But I say unto you. That it shall be more<br />

tolerable for <strong>the</strong> land of Sodom in <strong>the</strong> day of judg-<br />

ment th^n for <strong>the</strong>e."<br />

There is a difference and inequality of pains in<br />

hell, answerable to that of sins. The c<strong>on</strong>tempt and<br />

abuse of preaching, and of <strong>the</strong> word of God, will be<br />

<strong>the</strong>re dreadfully punished. Men glory in having<br />

holy preachers: and it is this very thing which<br />

brings a severer judgment up<strong>on</strong> those who c<strong>on</strong>tinue<br />

in impenitence. Lord, humble us at present, ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />

than reserve us for <strong>the</strong> eternal humiliati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong><br />

reprobate.<br />

H 2

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