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Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

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428 ST. MATTHEW.<br />

him <strong>the</strong> more. But it may often be very serviceable<br />

to us, ei<strong>the</strong>r to remind us of <strong>the</strong> duties of our calHng,<br />

or to repulse <strong>the</strong> temptati<strong>on</strong>s which would carry us<br />

at a distance from <strong>the</strong>m. The captivity of Jesus<br />

Christ is <strong>the</strong> effect, <strong>the</strong> punishment, and <strong>the</strong> remedy<br />

of <strong>the</strong> ill use which we make of our liberty; and <strong>the</strong><br />

c<strong>on</strong>solati<strong>on</strong> of those who lose <strong>the</strong>ir own, whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />

justly or unjustly.<br />

" 51. And, behold, <strong>on</strong>e of <strong>the</strong>m which were with<br />

Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword,<br />

and struck a servant of <strong>the</strong> high priest, and smote<br />

oif his ear."<br />

Human presumpti<strong>on</strong> puts men up<strong>on</strong> human en-<br />

deavours, and produces a blind, indiscreet, and irre-<br />

gular zeal. Christian humility makes <strong>the</strong>m have<br />

recourse to <strong>the</strong> divine power, and inspires nothing but<br />

prudence, meekness, and charity. An engagement<br />

of word or h<strong>on</strong>our may for a while keep a man to his<br />

duty ; but grace al<strong>on</strong>e can make him persevere in it<br />

to <strong>the</strong> end.<br />

*' 52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again<br />

thy sword into his place: for all <strong>the</strong>y that take <strong>the</strong><br />

sword shall perish with <strong>the</strong> sword."<br />

Jesus Christ will not be served in <strong>the</strong> same man-<br />

ner with secular friends; nor be defended with an<br />

arm of flesh. Private pers<strong>on</strong>s have no right to repel<br />

any violence supported by public authority, no, not<br />

even for <strong>the</strong> sake of religi<strong>on</strong>. The cause of a Chris-<br />

tian is <strong>the</strong> cause of God ; suffering bel<strong>on</strong>gs to <strong>on</strong>e,<br />

and vengeance to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. That spirit of bitter-<br />

ness, impatience, revenge, and rebelli<strong>on</strong>, which ap-<br />

pears in heretics against <strong>the</strong>ir sovereigns, and against<br />

all those by whom <strong>the</strong>y think <strong>the</strong>mselves persecuted

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