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The Gospel of Jesus Christ According to
St. Matthew Pasquier
Quesnel Translated
by the Rev. Daniel Wilson, D.D., Vicar of Islington and now Bishop of Chapter I. Sect. I. The Genealogy Of Jesus Christ. 1.
THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of
Abraham. The gospel is the history of the
foundation of the 2.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his
brethren: 3. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4. And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5. And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6. And Jesse begat David the king; and
David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias. This genealogy of the Son of God is an
abridgment of the faith of his incarnation. It informs us that he is true
man, by the generations which it contains; that he is a Saviour, by the name
of Jesus, which it gives him; that he is both priest and prophet, by the
title of Christ, which in him signifies anointed with the Holy Ghost, and
with the Divinity itself; that he is the prince and the author of peace, as
son of David; author of the faith, father of them who believe, and model of
the most perfect self-denial, and of the true circumcision, as son of
Abraham; born miraculously, and in virtue of the promise, the immortal
sacrifice of the living God, and heir of the promises, as son of Isaac; and
lastly, the eldest among his brethren, through free predestination,
persecuted by his carnal brethren, and head of the church, which is the
Israel of God, as son of Jacob. 7.
And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam
begat Abia; and Abia
begat Asa; 8. And Asa
begat Josaphat; and Josaphat
begat Joram; and Joram
begat Ozias; 9. And Ozias
begat Joatham; and Joatham
begat Achaz; and Achaz
begat Ezekias; 10. And Ezekias
begat Ma- nasses; and Manasses
begat Amon; and Amon
begat Josias; 11. And Josias
begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time
they were carried away to The true nobility of these kings, and of
all the ancestors of Jesus Christ, is to have their names found in his
genealogy, and to have a share in his birth; that of Christians,
is to be born of and in Jesus Christ himself. Men are apt to be fond and to
boast of an illustrious birth, which yet, perhaps, in the sight of God, has
been more criminal than a meaner; but they never employ their thoughts upon a
holy birth, which renders us children of God and members of his Son. Great
ness, power, and human wisdom appear in the family of the ancestors of the
Son of God incarnate; but he will not enter into it himself, till all those
are first gone out. 15.
And Eliud begat Eleazar;
and Eleazar begat Matthan;
and Matthan begat Jacob; 16. And Jacob begat Joseph
the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. The parents of Jesus, and Jesus himself,
draw no manner of advantage from the power, splendour, or riches of their ancestors,
except only the joy they conceive to see themselves reduced to a low estate,
that they may be subservient to the designs of God in the temporal, poor, and
humble birth of his Son; and that, by their mean condition, they may
represent his humiliation in the flesh, and the concealment of his eternal
glories from the eyes of men. my Saviour, how dost
thou confound the pride and vanity of men, in relation to their genealogies,
by having thy own composed of a long train of sinners! 17.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen gene rations; and
from David until the carrying away into The various states and conditions through
which the people of God passed, made it evident that none of all these was
THAT which had been promised; and that in Jesus Christ alone the promises
were to be accomplished, by the establishment of a state of royalty and an
unchangeable covenant. Nothing was able to hinder the execution of this
design; neither the age of Abraham, nor the barrenness of Sarah, nor the
slavery of their posterity in Egypt, nor their infidelity in the wilderness,
and before the time of the kings; nor the sins of David, and those of the
kings, his descendants and successors; nor the captivity and desolation of
this people, after the declining of their regal government. Sect. II. Joseph Encouraged Concerning The
Birth Of Christ. 18.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was
espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of
the Holy Ghost. The incarnation is the effect of the love
of God toward mankind, and therefore it is appropriated to the Holy Ghost,
who is the substantial and consubstantial love of the Father and the Son. It
is by the same Spirit, that both Jesus Christ as head, and the faithful as
his members, are conceived; he, as Son, by nature, we, as his brethren, by
adoption. God, how much does it imply to be a Christian! and
how great ought his piety and holiness to be! 19.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a
public example, was minded to put her away privily.
True charity can easily find the middle
between jealousy and insensibility. It is never contrary to prudence. The
just person knows how to secure his own reputation, without blemishing
another s, by discovering his faults. A passion too
credulous, and a false zeal for the law, are often the occasion of
violating it, by hindering men from taking notice of any thing but the
revenge which it permits, and of all which is severe and rigorous in it. But
a wise patience and true justice in Joseph, render
him attentive to the mild and indulgent part of the law, which did not at all
oblige him to become the accuser of his spouse. This wise patience is a very
great gift both in a husband and in a wife. 20.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto
thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. How good is it to suffer in silence, like
the holy virgin! God never abandons those who, according to her example, commit
themselves to him. He will send an angel from heaven, rather than leave those
finally in trouble who, in imitation of Joseph,
conserve charity, and place their confidence in him. The knowledge of hidden
truths and mysteries is the reward of calmness and patience under inward
troubles. The angel awakes the remembrance of the promises in Joseph, by
calling him the son of him to whom they had been made; and thereby prepares
him for the belief of their accomplishment in his spouse. The first birth or
conception of Christ, is not a communication of the
substance of the Holy Ghost, but an effect of his power. This was a double
consolation to Joseph, to be at the same time assured both of the fidelity of
his spouse, and of the holiness of the infant which she carried in her womb.
This is the recompense of his mildness and good nature. 21.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt
call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. These words declare the second birth of
Christ from the womb of the virgin, and how the faithfulness of Joseph was
rewarded. Nothing so proper to Jesus as to save, in destroying sin by his
grace. Would to God, that every one would as fully answer his name of
Christian, of pastor, of magistrate, of father, of priest, as Jesus Christ
does that of Saviour! amiable and reviving Name!
What confidence dost thou inspire into true penitents! What fidelity,
gratitude, and love into Christians! 22.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the
Lord by the prophet, saying, 23. Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and
shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us. Jesus is the completion of the prophecies.
“All the fulness of the Godhead dwells bodily” in
him; and through him, both with and in us. Thou art verily and indeed with
us, Lord, by thy incarnation; vouchsafe likewise to be with us by the
impression and lively sense of thy presence, by the belief and imitation of
thy mysteries, and by the powerful operation of thy Spirit, thy grace, and
thy love. 24.
Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden
him, and took unto him his wife: How acceptable a sacrifice to God, is a ready, humble, and exact obedience I This gives
certain relief and comfort under inward pains and troubles. In many such
cases, the more one considers, the more one is
perplexed; the secret to find true peace of mind, is to suffer one’s self to
be guided. A man who really loves God, as soon as
ever he knows his will, will immediately perform it, without knowing the
particular reasons of it. 25.
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called
his name JESUS. Mary is, in one sense, the mother of Christ
entire, as he consists both of head and members; and Jesus is the “first born
among many brethren.” Oh, happy moment of our blessed Saviour’s birth, be thou always present to our mind, be thou always
the delight of our heart! That which it had been our duty to have done at the
foot of the manger, let us do now by adoration, thanksgiving, love,
imitation, and humility. Oh, grant us a true respect for this holy name, an
ardent love for our Saviour, and a hearty zeal for our own salvation! |
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