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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 XXIII.<br />

365<br />

Sect. V. The measure of Iniquity, Jerusalem a<br />

murdering City.<br />

" 32. Fill ye up <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> measure of your fa<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

33. Ye serpents, ye generati<strong>on</strong> of vipers, how can ye<br />

escape <strong>the</strong> damnati<strong>on</strong> of hell ?"<br />

God cannot ei<strong>the</strong>r commend or approve of sin, be-<br />

cause he is infinitely good : but he can aband<strong>on</strong> and<br />

give up <strong>the</strong> sinner to his wickedness, because he is<br />

infinitely just. Miserable is <strong>the</strong> state of him who<br />

has filled up <strong>the</strong> measure of his crimes. To be deaf<br />

to <strong>the</strong> truth, to oppose it out of interest, envy, and<br />

jealousy, and to persecute those who preach it, are<br />

generally <strong>the</strong> last sins. There is a certain measure<br />

of grace and mercy, after which God leaves his justice<br />

to take its course: this measure is known <strong>on</strong>ly to him.<br />

When a man is about to commit any sin, he ought<br />

to fear that that very sin will be <strong>the</strong> last to fill up<br />

<strong>the</strong> measure; but after <strong>the</strong> commissi<strong>on</strong> of it, he<br />

should hope that it is not, and repent of it. This<br />

is <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>ly means to escape <strong>the</strong> damnati<strong>on</strong> of hell<br />

but how rare is <strong>the</strong> grace of repentance after a phari-<br />

saical life, such as our blessed Saviour has here re-<br />

presented it !<br />

** 34. ^ Wherefore, behold, I send unto you<br />

prophets, and wise men, and scribes ; and some of<br />

<strong>the</strong>m ye shall kill and crucify; and some of <strong>the</strong>m<br />

shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute<br />

<strong>the</strong>m from city to city :"<br />

The gifts of God in his saints serve <strong>on</strong>ly to in-<br />

crease <strong>the</strong> damnati<strong>on</strong> of those who are left to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

own blindness and wickedness. It is an instance of<br />

<strong>the</strong> favour and blessing of God <strong>on</strong> an age and coun-

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