Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

152 ST. MATTHEW.
It is prudence and humility, when charity, or
righteousness, obliges us not to the contrary, to avoid
persecution. To deprive those who are disposed to
do evil of the opportunities of doing it, to convey
the grace which they despise to others, to accomplish
the designs of God's justice on the former, and of
his mercy on the latter, are consequences of the flight
of a persecuted preacher. This flight is a matter of
precept to pastors who are necessary to the church
of advice to those who would draw upon themselves
persecution; and of indulgence, for those who are
weak. But this flight is highly criminal in those
mercenary pastors, who abandon the flock to the wolf.
" 24. The disciple is not above his master, nor
the servant above his lord."
He who keeps this saying in his heart, will never
complain of what he suffers, nor seek foi' any other
way to save himself, but humiliation and the cross.
How many irregular thoughts, affections, and motions,
is this maxim capable of restraining ! Let us remem-
ber, that Jesus Christ is the great Master of humility,
suffering, and poverty; and that we are his disciples.
A man is not such, unless he learn his doctrine
and he does not learn it as he ought, unless he put
it in practice.
" 25. It is enough for the disciple that he be as
his master, and the servant as his lord. If they
have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how
much more shall they call them of his household?"
What injustice is it for a Christian, being a dis-
ciple of Christ, to desire to be treated well by the
world ! What a shame, not to be able to suffer so
much as a word, after all which He has suffered !