Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

144 ST. MATTHEW.
ecclesiastical dignities to temporal advantages. Let
us suffer the bad with patience ;
let us adore Christ,
and his authority abased in them; yet so as that the
sacraments lose not any of their effect thereby : and
let us by this believe, that it is Jesus Christ who
does all therein, even by the hands of the most un-
worthy workmen.
Sect. II. Theiy- Mission, Power, Poverty, and
Preaching.
" 5. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and com-
manded them, saying. Go not into the way of the
Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter
ye not :"
Let us not go where inclination, but where God's
command carries us. Vocation, mission, instruction,
and holiness, are four different gifts, which a man
must receive from God by Jesus Christ, to qualify
him for a worthy labourer. The very same in-
structions are given in common to all, in order to
establish a uniformity of maxims, conduct, and dis-
cipline. Such as God seems at first to have ne-
glected or rejected, are often those for whom he has
designed his greatest mercies. He has his owji
proper time to discover and reveal them.
" 6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel."
A good pastor ought to apply himself to the most
diseased of his sheep; and the diseases are the
greater, where there is the more ingratitude and
abuse of the divine favours. God is faithful to his
promises, even in respect of the most unworthy ; but
often^ through the corruptiou of their heart, and