Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

272 ST. MATTHEW.
A violent death is not so much to be dreaded, as
the being, through bad counsel or example, the cause
of the fall of one soul. The salvation of one soul
is more precious to God than we are able to express.
The more faith separates us from the world, renders
us despicable in its sight, and deprives us of its pro-
tection, the more God espouses our interests, and
declares himself on our side. If by offending one
single soul, we thus draw on ourselves the indigna-
tion of God ; how abominable in his sight must those
needs be, who offend a whole city, and by their wan-
ton dresses, lascivious and loose discourses, immodest
pictures, wicked examples, &c. occasion the fall and
ruin of a vast number of souls !
" 7. % Woe unto the world because of offences !
for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to
that man by whom the offence cometh !'*
Offence or scandal, which destroys the generality
of the world, contributes to the good of those who
love God, by means of the good use which charity
causes them to make of it. The world is the centre
of offence, and as it were the throne whereon it
reigns. Unhappy is that man who continues exposed
to it without necessity. Unhappy likewise is he who
exposes others thereto. But most unhappy of all is
that person, who becomes an agent for the world, and
an instrument of the devil, to seduce and draw others
into sin. The general corruption of the world is a
certain source of offences; but yet imposes no man-
ner of necessity on any one to give them.
" 8. Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot offend
thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is
better for thee to enter into life halt or maimedj