Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

360 ST. MATTHEW.
with an obligation of divine right. And the fourth,
in overturning the order of rehgion and the duties of
it, and confounding the notions thereof. A casuist
ought to be entirely free from worldly interest, tho-
roughly instructed in religion, and extremely cautious
how he invades the least of God's rights : without
these qualifications he ruins all.
" 19. Ye fools, and blind !
for whether is greater,
the gift, or the ahar that sanctifieth the gift ?"
Every victim is sanctified by the ahar. The per-
son of the Word, to whom the holy humanity of
Christ was united, is as it were a divine altar, which
not only sanctifies the victim, but also renders it
divine and adorable. It is the business of faith, to
discover in this general maxim the foundation of the
church's religion and worship, which consists in ador-
ing God by Jesus Christ. Nothing is worthy of
God, but what is sanctified by this altar ; nothing
should be offered to him, which has not been purified,
elevated, and consecrated, by its union with Christ.
It is by the faith and charity of the heart which makes
the ofiFering, that this union is made; this is that
which we must always endeavour to establish and
perfect in souls.
*' 20. Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar,
sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21. And
whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and
by him that dwelleth therein. 22. And he that shall
swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God,
and by him that sitteth thereon."
We must be careful, not to swear even by the
creatures. They are more or less holy, in proportion
to the relation which they have to God ; and the oath