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Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

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CHAPTER XIII.<br />

211<br />

" 38. The field is <strong>the</strong> world ; <strong>the</strong> good seed are<br />

<strong>the</strong> children of <strong>the</strong> kingdom ; but <strong>the</strong> tares are <strong>the</strong><br />

children of <strong>the</strong> wicked <strong>on</strong>e ;"<br />

Christian faith and hope oblige us to look up<strong>on</strong><br />

ourselves as children of <strong>the</strong> kingdom of God, pro-<br />

vided we live according to his laws and precepts.<br />

Can we, <strong>the</strong>n, ever lose sight of a kingdom to which<br />

we believe we are appointed? How can our heart<br />

but be filled with it, and direct all its thoughts and<br />

designs towards it? Here is a dreadful descripti<strong>on</strong><br />

of a sinner, yet such a <strong>on</strong>e as is true; it being given<br />

us by Christ himself. They are no o<strong>the</strong>r than<br />

tares, who choke <strong>the</strong> good seed, and hinder it from<br />

growing up in <strong>the</strong> love of truth, and from bringing<br />

forth <strong>the</strong> fruit of charity. Men become " <strong>the</strong> chil-<br />

dren of <strong>the</strong> wicked <strong>on</strong>e," by following his disposi-<br />

ti<strong>on</strong>s, and promoting his designs.<br />

" 39. The enemy that sowed <strong>the</strong>m is <strong>the</strong> devil<br />

<strong>the</strong> harvest is <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> world; and <strong>the</strong> reapers<br />

are <strong>the</strong> angels."<br />

They imitate <strong>the</strong> devil, and do his work, who<br />

sow like him, and change <strong>the</strong> good seed into tares,<br />

by bad examples, evil counsels, enticements, &c.<br />

Let us anticipate <strong>the</strong> time of <strong>the</strong> harvest and <strong>the</strong><br />

coming of <strong>the</strong> reapers. If we are tares, let us use<br />

our utmost endeavours to become good grain.<br />

" 40. As <strong>the</strong>refore <strong>the</strong> tares are ga<strong>the</strong>red and<br />

burnt in <strong>the</strong> fire; so shall it be in <strong>the</strong> end of this<br />

world."<br />

The end of every man's life is to him <strong>the</strong> end of<br />

this world ; <strong>the</strong> <strong>on</strong>e, as well as <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, being <strong>the</strong><br />

end of <strong>the</strong> time of mercy. My God, what a dismal<br />

change will this be, when a sinner, who now lives in

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