Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XXIII. 339
suspected, who recommends those good works most,
from which he receives most advantage. A man
ought to take great care to purify his intention, and
to secure himself from the least suspicion of acting
by motives of interest, when he solicits offerings,
foundations, gifts to the church, &c. which he must
not do, but when there is a necessity for them.
" 17. Ye fools, and bhnd ! for whether is greater,
the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?"
Jesus Christ gives covetous ecclesiastics particu-
larly, the names of fools and blind, because it is the
most apparent blindness of mind, and the most de-
plorable corruption of heart, to make religion sub-
servient to avarice, to value that most in it which it
teaches them most to despise, and to form all their
notions of it according to their own irregular desires.
In all true religion, the temple is the fountain of the
sanctity which is therein : in the Jewish, the temple,
where God was present ; in the Christian, Jesus
Christ the true temple, wherein the fulness of the
Godhead dwells, from whence every thing which is
offered to God, and even the heart which offers it,
receives its sanctification ; in the religion of heaven,
" the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, who are
the temple" of glory, and the source of consummate
hohness. (Rev. xxi. 22.)
" 18. And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar,
it is nothing; but whosoever svveareth by the gift
that is upon it, he is guilty."
A blind casuist is guilty of four sins. The first
consists in authorising irreligious oaths, and dissem-
blinfj the abuse of them. The second, in turnincr
both to his own advantage. The third, in dispensing