Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

276 ST. MATTHEW.
apply himself to the conversion of souls, by minis-
terial cares, prayers, and good works, to know that
it occasions so much joy in the church ? The more
we have grieved the church and afflicted Christ by
our corrupt and irregular life, the more earnestly
ought we to endeavour to raise in them this kind of
joy, by contributing to the conversion of others. In
order to comprehend the good Shepherd's joy on this
account, it is necessary to comprehend his love to-
wards souls,— but who is able to do this ? If we
would have some idea of it which comes near the
truth, let us judge of it by his descent from heaven
to be incarnate, by the labours of his life, and by the
pain and ignominy of his death.
" 14. Even so it is not the will of your Father
which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should,
perish."
To cause any of the elect to sin, is to thwart
God's designs concerning them ;
by our bad example
to give the least of our brethren an occasion of of-
fence or falling, is to oppose his providence in the
appointment of angels, and his love in the mission
of his Son. Let the world and the devil do their
utmost to corrupt and destroy those whom God, with
the tenderness of a father, loves to eternity—not
one of them shall perish ! They
are little, together
with Christ, in this life : they shall with him be great
in heaven. Grant, O my God, that we may all concur
with the designs of thy mercy towards these souls, and
towards our own; and that we maybe of the number
of these little ones, whose salvation is secured by thy
will and adorable election 1