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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 XV. 239<br />

as are comm<strong>on</strong> and indifferent; and that which is<br />

most sacred and holy, he performs out of custom, and<br />

as it were by rote, traffics with it, makes it subser-<br />

vient to his passi<strong>on</strong>s and interest, and abuses it a<br />

thousand o<strong>the</strong>r ways.<br />

Sect. III.— The Woman of Canaan,<br />

"21. 5f Then Jesus went <strong>the</strong>nce, and departed<br />

into <strong>the</strong> coasts of Tyre and Sid<strong>on</strong>."<br />

This journey of our blessed Saviour seems to be<br />

taken without any particular design ; and perhaps it<br />

was <strong>on</strong>ly for <strong>the</strong> sake of this <strong>on</strong>e soul, since he leaves<br />

<strong>the</strong> place as so<strong>on</strong> as ever he has healed it. So w<strong>on</strong>derful<br />

is <strong>the</strong> goodness and kindness of <strong>the</strong> S<strong>on</strong> of God<br />

towards souls ! One<br />

al<strong>on</strong>e ouoht to be dear to a true<br />

pastor, and deserves his whole care and applicati<strong>on</strong>,<br />

bow despicable soever it may appear.<br />

" 22. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out<br />

of <strong>the</strong> same coasts, and cried unto him, saying. Have<br />

mercy <strong>on</strong> me, O Lord, thou s<strong>on</strong> of David ; my<br />

daughter is grievously vexed with a devil."<br />

We see here in this woman <strong>the</strong> picture of a sin-<br />

ner, deeply sensible of <strong>the</strong> misery of his soul, and<br />

truly penitent. Such a <strong>on</strong>e ought to begin, by re-<br />

moving from <strong>the</strong> occasi<strong>on</strong>s of sin, by turning toward<br />

his Saviour, putting his whole trust in him, and<br />

praying heartily to him. How proper is this prayer<br />

for a penitent ! It is short, humble, full of faith,<br />

fervent, respectful, rati<strong>on</strong>al, relying <strong>on</strong>ly up<strong>on</strong> God's<br />

mercy, modest, persevering, not presuming to pre-<br />

scribe to God, &c. Can he, who looks up<strong>on</strong> him-<br />

self as a slave of <strong>the</strong> devil, beg with too much ear-<br />

nestness to be delivered ?

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