Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

186 ST. MATTHEW.
the attempts against thy rights, which the evil spirit
would otherwise there make !
Sect. V.— The strong Man armed. The Sin against
the Holy Ghost. The treasure of the Heart. The
idle Word.
" 29. Or else, how can one enter into a strong
man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind
the strong man ? and then he will spoil his house."
Men, through sin, are become the house of Satan,
having, of their own accord, surrendered themselves
up to this unjust possessor. Whoever gives up his
soul to sin, gives it up to the devil. Christ alone
can deliver from this bondage, and bind the power
of this strong one. Return into thy house and into
thy rights, O my God ! and take possession again
by Christ, of my heart and mind, and of all the good
things wherewith thou hast been pleased to furnish
me
" 30. He that is not with me is against me; and
he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."
In vain do men seek for ways of accommodation
to soften the gospel : there is no medium between
loving God and being his enemy—between belong-
ing to Christ or to the devil—between being governed
by charity or by self-love ! If we would belong to
Christ as we ought, we must give ourselves entirely
to him. He alone has paid down the price for us
he alone ought to be our Lord. When Jesus Christ,
his truth, his precepts, and his servants, are openly
assaulted, how can a man avoid declaring for them,
without incurring the guilt of deserting and betraying
them ? How many are there in the world who