Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

422 ST. MATTHEW.
their own weakness, to pray for them, and to commit
them to the grace of God. All are not capable of
the same communications: it is necessary to know
how to discern, not only betwixt the weak and the
strong, but also betwixt the different degrees of weak-
ness.
" 37. And he took with him Peter and the two
sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very
heavy."
Jesus Christ imparts his sorrow and heaviness of
heart to those whom he loves most. As the victim
of sinners, he expiates their vain joys by his holy
sorrows : as clothed with their persons, he under-
goes that grief and contrition which they ought all
to feel for their sins. This is the source from whence
we must draw the spirit of contrition, and the whole-
some sorrow of repentance, by adoring it in him, and
praying that he would impress it on our hearts.
" 38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is ex-
ceeding sorrowful, even unto death : tarry ye here,
and watch with me."
Such a sorrow as this in men is never the subject
of their choice: there must be a divine strength and
power in Christ to draw on himself this sorrow unto
death, and to open his heart thereto. He delivered
his soul to this internal tormentor of his own accord,
as he also delivered his body to the external tormen-
tors when he pleased. Good God ! what a shame
is it to see him deprive himself of the most supreme
joy, and abandon himself to the deepest sorrow, for
our sakes, whilst we will not sacrifice so much as one
pleasure, satisfaction, or diversion to him ! Let us
faithfully accept all the sorrows which may befall us