Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

50 ST. MATTHEW.
stance of it even in the person of Christ, the Son of
God by nature, over whom he never had any manner
of right. It is in our stead, and for our sakes, that
he suffers this outrageous attempt of the evil spirit
and it is by this that he weakens his power,
diminishes his rights, and hinders hira from en-
croaching upon us.
" 6. And saith unto hira. If thou be the Son of
God, cast thyself down : for it is written, He shall
give his angels charge concerning thee ; and in their
hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou
dash thy foot against a stone."
The curiosity of Adam, presumptuous confidence
in God*s assistance, and superstitious credulity, are
cured by this second temptation. It is because
Christ is the So?i of God, that he takes so much
care not to tempt his Father. His confidence is
perfect, but prutJent, subject to the disposition of
God, and regulated by his will. The devil lays
snares for us by the means of the Scripture, and of
the most sacred things. He often inspires into souls
a false confidence in God, in order to make them
lose the true, and thereby cast them into despair,
when they see they are deserted by God in that
danger into which they have so rashly brought them-
selves.
** 7. Jesus said unto him. It is written again,
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
To desire to know the power and mysteries of
God by sensible experience, is no other than to
tempt him. Faith is sufficient to a sincere heart.
We render ourselves unworthy of the protection of
God, and of the supports of his ordinary providence.