Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER IX. 129
Sect. II. St. Matthew called.
" 9. ^ And as Jesus passed forth from thence,
he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the re-
ceipt of custom : and he saith unto him, Follow me.
And he arose, and followed him."
The call to conversion seems often a matter of
chance; though it be really an effect of divine elec-
tion. The whole happiness of a soul frequently
depends on its being immediately obedient to the
voice of God, and following his first call. What
canuof the vvord of Christ, joined with grace, work
on the heart? God, in calling all sorts of persons
to faith and piety, makes it evident that he is the
master both of the work and of the workmen. A
profession which is very gainful, excites and nourishes
covetousness ; and the management of the public
money, increases the affection towards earthly riches
but what bonds dost thou not break, O my God,
when thou designest to show mercy?
" 10. % And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat
in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners
came and sat down with him and his disciples."
It scarcely belongs to any but Christ to converse
familiarly with the greatest sinners in order to con-
vert them. We ought to decline the imoulse of a
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false zeal, which often induces souls as yet weak to
undertake this work : but we must not refuse to be-
come instruments of Providence, in saving the most
abandoned, when that engages us in it. The
facility and goodness of Christ, in bearing with a
company so opposite to his own holiness, condemns
the proud disdain of the great pretenders to devotion.
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