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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 XXV.<br />

401<br />

he sit up<strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> thr<strong>on</strong>e of his glory : 32. And be-<br />

fore him shall be ga<strong>the</strong>red all nati<strong>on</strong>s ; and he shall<br />

separate <strong>the</strong>m <strong>on</strong>e from ano<strong>the</strong>r, as a shepherd divideth<br />

his sheep from <strong>the</strong> goats :"<br />

In vain does <strong>the</strong> sinner endeavour to avoid <strong>the</strong><br />

presence of his God : he will be forced <strong>on</strong>e day to<br />

appear before his tribunal. See here a spectacle<br />

very dilFerent from that of <strong>the</strong> cross, where <strong>the</strong> S<strong>on</strong><br />

of God, naked and disfigured, forsaken by his dis-<br />

ciples, encompassed with his enemies, and seated<br />

between two thieves <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> thr<strong>on</strong>e of his humiliati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

and ignominies, did in those two exhibit an emblem<br />

of <strong>the</strong> separati<strong>on</strong> here described. What an object<br />

is this to exercise our faith ! What a large field of<br />

reflecti<strong>on</strong> and meditati<strong>on</strong> is here before us—to c<strong>on</strong>sider<br />

Jesus Christ as a God in his majesty, as a King<br />

up<strong>on</strong> his thr<strong>on</strong>e, as a Judge <strong>on</strong> his tribunal, and as<br />

a Shepherd amidst his flock, wherein <strong>the</strong> goats c<strong>on</strong>-<br />

tinue mixed with <strong>the</strong> sheep even to <strong>the</strong> last day !<br />

" 33. And he shall set <strong>the</strong> sheep <strong>on</strong> his right<br />

hand, but <strong>the</strong> goats <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> left."<br />

The last functi<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> Prince of pastors to be<br />

performed <strong>on</strong> earth is, to make this dreadful separa-<br />

ti<strong>on</strong> of mankind for eternity. Let us strive to be of<br />

<strong>the</strong> number of <strong>the</strong> sheep, by our meekness, humility,<br />

tractableness, and innocency of life. Such as we are<br />

at our leaving this world, such shall we be for ever<br />

ei<strong>the</strong>r sheep, to drink at <strong>the</strong> very fountain of eternal<br />

truth ; or goats, to become <strong>the</strong> prey of devils. O<br />

pure and spotless church, society of elect al<strong>on</strong>e, im-<br />

mortal body composed of n<strong>on</strong>e but living members !<br />

in vain do we seek for <strong>the</strong>e <strong>on</strong> earth : it is <strong>on</strong>ly in<br />

<strong>the</strong> land of <strong>the</strong> living, and after this great divisioa

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