Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

44 ST. MATTHEW.
and form children out of the most mercenary slaves.
O that this heart, O Lord, hitherto so hard and
servile, may feel the effects of this sovereign power !
Vouchsafe to show thy glory in making me a child
of faith and promise.
" 10. And now also the axe is laid unto the root
of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth
not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire."
Let us always look upon death as ready to sur-
prise us. Let us well consider this truth, that to
be saved, it is not enough that we do no evil works,
but we must do good ones. No works are such,
except those which God works in men by his grace,
and which men return to God by their charity.
Damnation consists of two things: the one, eternal
excommunication, in being separated from the body
of Christ, and from the presence of God, without
the least hope of recovery ; the other, eternal pun-
ishment by fire. Let us fear this punishment; but
let us more fear that eternal excommunication.
" IL I indeed baptize you with water unto re-
pentance : but he that cometh after me is mightier
than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire :"
The greatest saints are nothing before Jesus
Christ. The Holy Ghost (which Christ alone can
give) overflowing the soul, purifies, transforms, and
lifts it up to God. The less the minister attributes
to himself the work of God in the soul, the more he
advances it there. The outward part only belongs
to him ; but God alone sanctifies, who can work
upon the heart, subject it to himself by his Spirit,