Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

22 PREFACE.
reverence, gratitude, and love, contemplate the trea-
sures and good things which are the patrimony and
inheritance of the children of promise. And let
every one of us offer up with St. Augustine, this
prayer, in order to obtain the light and grace neces-
sary to our improvement, by the reading of this
book of Jesus Christ.
" Grant us the grace, O my God, to take a clear
and distinct view of this heaven which is the work
of thy hands. Dispel those mists from before our
eyes which hide it from them. It is in these divine
books that those oracles are contained, by which
thou dost communicate wisdom to the humble. Exalt
thy glory to its utmost height, by the mouth of
those who speak to us in these books, and whom we
may style babes, from the simplicity of their lan-
guage. For we know no other books capable, like
these, to destroy pride, and to overthrow thy ene-
mies, namely, those who would fain excuse them-
selves in their sins, and who thereby only more
obstruct their reconciliation with thee. No, my
God, I know none comparable to these holy books.
They are these which have made me bow my neck
to tliy yoke, which have prevailed upon me to confess
my miseries to thee, and which have taught me
to serve thee with a free and voluntary worship.
Cause me then to understand them, O Father of
mercies; and let that gracious favour be the reward
of the submission which 1 pay them. For thou
hast established their authority upon so firm a foun-
dation, only for the sake of those who should submit
themselves thereto."