Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XIX. 293
duct of this young man is wise, pious, and prudent;
and fit to be imitated by all of his age, who think of
choosing a state and condition of life. They are
1. To look upon God as their Father and Master,
without whom they ought not to choose at all.
2. To have confidence in him as a good Father,
who hears and directs all such as sincerely apply to
him, without seeking any thing but his will. 3. To
approach him with a firm belief of his wisdom, power,
and goodness; and a full persuasion that no man has
any light, strength, or piety, but what flows from,
and is freely imparted by, him who alone is wise,
powerful, and good in his own nature. 4. To have
no other design or ambition, than to put themselves
into a condition of working out their salvation. 5. To
believe that eternal life is not bestowed for nothing.
" 17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou
me good? there is none good but one, that is, God:
but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the command-
ments."
They must, 6. Look upon God as the fulness,
source, pattern, and end of all good. No one can
be good, but by adoring this fulness, by receiving
from this source, by imitating this pattern, and act-
ing for this end. 7. They are to consider, that the
fulfilling God's commandments is the general way
of salvation, and the ordinary and indispensable
vocation ; and that to choose any state or condition
of life, in which we cannot fulfil them, is to choose
not to be saved. To enter into, or to continue in
such a state, is the same thing.
" 18. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said,
Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit