Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

232 ST. MATTHEW.
touch the hem of his garment : and as many as
touched were made perfectly whole.'*
What mighty influence must the grace and Spirit
of Christ necessarily have on the mind, when the
very hem of his garment has so much on the body?
A man always finds much good by resigning himself
up entirely to him. Every thing is sanctifying in
him through the virtue of his divinity. Let us by
a lively faith touch the mysteries of his mortal life,
and that even to the least actions and circumstances
of these mysteries wrought on earth : this is a source
of a great many graces, and of salvation itself. How
much more then is it so, to adore our blessed Saviour,
and as it were to receive into our heart his body and
blood, and to feed on him with faith, confidence, and
humility ?
CHAPTER XV.
Sect. I.— Unwashen Hands. Human Traditions.
" 1. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees,
which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2. Why do thy
disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for
they wash not their hands when they eat bread."
The fondness which men generally have for their
own inventions, for ancient errors, and superstitious
devotions, is a continual source of calumnies, rash
judgments, persecutions against good men, and of
great disturbances in the church. The disciples of
Jesus Christ must expect to be treated as their Mas-
ter was. Why, instead of praising God, and being
edified by the labours of pastors, should a man be