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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 XXVII. 441<br />

Sect. II. Christ before Pilate, Barabbas. The<br />

Clamour of <strong>the</strong> Jews against Christ.<br />

"11. % And Jesus stood before <strong>the</strong> governor:<br />

and <strong>the</strong> governor asked him, sayhig, Art thou <strong>the</strong><br />

King of <strong>the</strong> Jews? And Jesus said unto him.<br />

Thou sayest."<br />

Jesus Christ answers out of respect to <strong>the</strong> autho-<br />

rity of God, whose image he would h<strong>on</strong>our even in<br />

a wicked judge. A man is not freed from <strong>the</strong> obli-<br />

gati<strong>on</strong> of bearing witness to <strong>the</strong> truth, though <strong>the</strong><br />

usefulness and advantage of it do not appear; and<br />

though <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trary it may be <strong>the</strong> occasi<strong>on</strong> of a<br />

kind of scandal, of persecuti<strong>on</strong>, and even of <strong>the</strong> death<br />

of him who bears it. Christ here witnesses " a good<br />

c<strong>on</strong>fessi<strong>on</strong>," as St. Paul calls it, (1 Tim. vi. 1.3.)<br />

which establishes his divinity, <strong>the</strong> power of his cross,<br />

<strong>the</strong> kingdom of his truth, and <strong>the</strong> inviolable rights<br />

and almighty strength of his grace. Christ knows<br />

how to rec<strong>on</strong>cile <strong>the</strong> modesty of humility, without dis-<br />

claiming his sovereignty. How rare and difficult is<br />

this !<br />

" 12. And when he was accused of <strong>the</strong> chief<br />

priests and elders, he answered nothhig. 13. Then<br />

saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many<br />

things <strong>the</strong>y witness against <strong>the</strong>e ? 14. And he an-<br />

swered him to never a word; insomuch that <strong>the</strong> go-<br />

vernor marvelled greatly."<br />

A man may show a c<strong>on</strong>tempt of accusati<strong>on</strong>s by a<br />

generous silence when he sees that truth is not sought,<br />

but <strong>on</strong>ly a pretence of crimes to justify persecuti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

N<strong>on</strong>e are more worthy of c<strong>on</strong>tempt, and more unworthy<br />

to hear <strong>the</strong> voice of truth, than those who<br />

t3

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