Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

140 ST. MATTHEW.
" 33. And when the devil was cast out, the
dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying,
It was never so seen in Israel,"
Nothing is more wonderful to the eyes of faith
than the change of a soul by grace ; but carnal eyes
very often see nothing in it but what is contemptible.
When charity is once entered into a heart, one may
know it by its language. God receives the praise
of his works from the mouth of ignorgnt people,
sooner than from that of the learned.
" 34. But the Pharisees said, He casteth out
devils through the prince of the devils."
This is a consummate piece of malice, to attribute
cannot suffer
the works of God to the devil ! Envy
the approbation which is given to the virtue of others.
It makes those whose hearts are possessed by this
vice, speak the language *of the devil. Calumny is
but at a little distance from envy. All persons have
not the envy of the Pharisees ; but every one ought
to fear having some degree of it, since every one has
the principle.
Sect. VII. The Sheep without a Shepherd, The
Harvest and Labourers*
" 35. And Jesus went about all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sick-
ness, and every disease, among the people."
A true minister of Jesus Christ, after his exam-
ple, is neither detained in one place by the sweetness
of the applause of some, nor discouraged from his
ministry by the jealousy and calumny of others.
Wherever Christ exercises his mission, he makes