Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER V. 61
satisfy our soul according to God. The hunger
after every thing else is either a disease of the body,
or a folly of tlie mind. May I hunger after nothing
but thee, O my God, because thou alone canst feed
me here on earth, and satisfy me in heaven !
" 7. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall ob-
tain mercy."
The fifth lesson of Christ is compassion on tlie
miseries of others, which consists in aiding them
with our substance, our counsel, our cares, and our
prayers, both for the body and the soul. Mercy is
not purchased but at the price of mercy itself; and
this price is even a gift of the mercy of God. We
think ourselves disposed to show great instances of
mercy, when we perceive ourselves inclined to pardon
great injuries ; when perhaps it is either because the
opportunities for it are at a distance, or because there
may be honour in doing it, and danger in the con-
trary. But as for those little instances of mercy,
which we have every day many opportunities of
showing, by reason of aversions, peevish, trouble-
some, contradicting, and unequal humours, light
offences, small differences, &c. with how much difficulty
do we exercise them, if we do it at all ! He
who gratifies his resentment, when he thinks he can
do it without being damned, ought to fear that his
compassion is only servile and mercenary on the
greater occasions. What mercy can those vindictive
persons hope for, who forgive nothing, and are
always ready to imbrue their hands in the blood of
their brethren ?
" 8. Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall
see God."