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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 XVIII. 271<br />

What is it to be an evangelical child, but to be<br />

pure in mind and body, to wish ill to n<strong>on</strong>e, to be<br />

ready to do good to all, and to have no projects for<br />

advancement, riches, h<strong>on</strong>ours, fortune, &c. ? This<br />

Christian childhood will make us great in <strong>the</strong> kingdom<br />

of heaven. How low do we debase ourselves,<br />

in order to be great <strong>on</strong> earth ! To be great in heaven,<br />

how little do we do ! The humility which pleases<br />

God is that of choice or of acceptance, not a natural<br />

meanness of heart and spirit. The first place is<br />

promised to that virtue which seems <strong>the</strong> most easy,<br />

and to <strong>the</strong> exercise of which external things are least<br />

needful : for this reas<strong>on</strong>, we are certainly <strong>the</strong> less to<br />

be excused if we want it.<br />

" 5. And whoso shall receive <strong>on</strong>e such little child<br />

in my name receiveth me.'*<br />

Jesus Christ is received in <strong>the</strong> pers<strong>on</strong>s of <strong>the</strong> poor,<br />

but especially of such as are good and virtuous. In<br />

<strong>the</strong> world, men glory in entertaining <strong>the</strong> great and<br />

<strong>the</strong> rich : under <strong>the</strong> gospel, <strong>the</strong> chief advantage lies<br />

in receiving those who stand in need of every thing,<br />

except <strong>the</strong> Spirit of Christ. These must be re-<br />

ceived, not out of human respects, nor ostentati<strong>on</strong>,<br />

nor for our own satisfacti<strong>on</strong>, but in <strong>the</strong> name, and<br />

for <strong>the</strong> sake of Christ. This renders our hospitahty<br />

truly Christian.<br />

Sect. II. Giving offence to he avoided. The Eye<br />

to be plucked out.<br />

" 6. But whoso shall offend * <strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong>se little<br />

<strong>on</strong>es which believe in me, it were better for him that<br />

a millst<strong>on</strong>e were hancred about his neck, and that he<br />

were drowned in <strong>the</strong> depth of <strong>the</strong> sea." [* Fi\ is<br />

an occasi<strong>on</strong> of falling and offence to.]

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