Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XIII. 213
those who endeavour as they ought to attain to it,
shows that this faith is very rare. Let us not cease
to request it humhly of God.
Sect. VI.— The Gospel a hidden Treasure.
" 44. f Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto
treasure hid in a field; the which when a man liath
found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and
selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
The effects of a lively faith, are, 1. To make us
look upon salvation as our only treasure, and value,
beyond all the riches of the world, the grace which
causes us to seek after it. 2. To receive this grace
as a free gift which precedes all human endeavour.
3. To hide it by humility. 4. To place our whole
joy in it. 5. To give all we have for salvation and
the grace which leads to it. 6. To be thoroughly
sensible, that salvation must be bought, and that it
is not bestowed for nothing. It is a purchase, be-
cause we buy it. It is a grace, because we do not
find it to buy, but, as it were, by chance ; and because
we give nothing for it but what we have received.
Sect. VII.— The Pearl ofgreat price.
" 45. % Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
unto a merchant-man, seeking goodly pearls; 46.
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
The sloth and indolence of the greatest part of
Christians, with respect to God and their own sal-
vation, are condemned by those merchants who tra-
veise the world, and venture all upon the uncertain
prospect of temporal advantage. We must seek, if