Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XXIII. 363
filled the commandments of God, when they have
performed the outward part. Obedience to the law
must flow from the fountain-head, which is charity.
When the love of God is its inward principle, and
his glory its end, then the outside is clean : but with-
out this, it is nothing but hypocrisy and false right-
eousness.
" 27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites ! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres,
which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are with-
in full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."
How many Christians are there in name and in
appearance ; how few in spirit and in truth ! A great
many have not the virtues which they seem to have ;
and have even the contrary vices. There is nothing
of greater importance, than to examine and know
ourselves thoroughly in this regard; since it is con-
cerning this that we shall be examined and judged
at the tribunal of God. When this whiteness, with
which the wall is at present covered, shall be taken
off, and the naked heart appear as it is, my God !
of what use will it then be, to have deceived men by
concealing its rottenness, but only to overwhelm it
with greater confusion and a more terrible judgment !
" 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous
unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and
iniquity."
God leaves the outward appearance to men : the
heart he reserves for himself. This is the temple in
which he will be served and adored, and the seat of
Christian piety. Dreadful is the judgment, and
miserable the condition, when men are abandoned to
this passion of desiring to hide the filthiness of a cor-
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