Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XXVII. 457
tion, than those who serve the passions of its perse-
cutors out of ignorance, and in barely discharging
their office. God has often pity on these ; the others
are scarce ever to be converted.
Sect. VII. The Holy Women. Joseph ofArima-
thea. The Sepulchre,
" 55. And many women were there beholding
afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering
unto him : 56. Among which wasfMary Mag-
dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses,
and the mother of Zebedee's children. '^
Difference of sex makes none as to salvation. The
weakest becomes the strongest, being fortified and
animated by grace. God delights to give this to
the weakest persons, and to leave the strongest to
themselves, because he loves to make his power con-
spicuous in weakness. To attend at the death of
Christ, and not to be afraid of the cross, is the re-
ward of having followed, attended upon, and minis-
tered unto him, in the time of his life.
" 57. ^ When the even was come, there came a
rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also him-
self was Jesus' disciple : 58. He went to Pilate,
and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded
the body to be delivered."
A rare instance of fidelity and uncommon courage
this, in a person who has much to lose, to expose,
himself thus to all hazards to serve Christ ; and that,
not while he is working miracles, but even when he
is fastened to a cross. There is a time for a man to
conceal himself, and a time to appear on the behalf
of Christ and his truth. When all the world de-
VoL. I. U 57