Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

206 ST. MATTHEW.
patience towards the wicked should extend, in order
either to their conversion or condemnation, or to the
sanctification of the righteous.
"29. But he said, Nay; lest, while ye gather
up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them."
Men often persecute a true Christian, while they
intend only to prosecute an impious person, for want
of giving heed to this prohibition. God spares the
wicked, only in consideration of the elect. He will
not pass judgment upon the former, until he com-
pletes his mercy towards the latter. A zeal for the
extirpation of heretics and wicked men, not regulated
by these words of our blessed Saviour, allows no
time to the one to grow strong in goodness, or to
the other to forsake their evil courses. They are of
a spirit very opposite to his, who care not if they
root up the wheat, provided they can but gather up
the tares.
" 30. Let both grow together until the harvest
and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers.
Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in
bundles to burn them : but gather the wheat into
ray barn."
We ought patiently to bear with the wicked in
this life, because it is God's appointment, that they
should continue mingled with the good, to the end
of the world. God not only suffers them here, but
by his power he makes them instrumental to one
another, in promoting his wise designs. For the
wickedness of the wicked is so inflamed by the virtue
of the good, that, even until their condemnation,
they have a gradual increase in sensual desire and
wealth, in honour and power : and the virtue of good