Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XXVI. 423-
here. Let us beseech Christ to sanctify them by
that state of sorrow which he chose for our sakes.
Let us make it our joy to continue, persevere, and
watch therein with him.
" 39. And he went a little farther, and fell on
his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be
possible, let this cup pass from me : nevertheless, not
as I will, but as thou wilt."
What posture ought a sinner to use before God,
when he sees Jesus Christ " prostrate on his face"
before his Father, to expiate the loftiness of our
pride ! He here teaches us always to look upon God
as our Father, even when he afflicts us; to invoke
him in this quality ; to represent our wants to him ;
to beg of him deliverance, out of an humble sense of
our own weakness ; and to submit to his appoint-
ments with confidence in his assistance. Christ with-
draws in the height of his agony, that he may spare
his disciples. It is not expedient for a good pastor
to let the weak know all the struggles and combats
which he undergoes : it is prudence to hide his in-
firmities from them. It is the wisest way on these
occasions, to keep a reserved confidence with our
friends, that we may not afflict or deject them too
much.
"4-0. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth
them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What ! could
ye not watch with me one hour?"
How hw Christians set themselves to meditate
on the agony and secret sufferings of Christ ! Faith-
ful friends in affliction are very rare. Christ would
not spare himself this sort of grief, which is one of
the most sensible afflictions of life, to see his friends