Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

302 ST. MATTHEW,
" 6. And about the eleventh hour he went out,
and found others standing idle, and saith unto them,
Why stand ye here all the day idle?"
The fifth call is at the end of our lives, and in our
decrepit age. We are at no time excused from the
work of our salvation ; and the mercy of God can
render our endeavours useful at any time. No age
should be idle; it is always time to begin a work,
without which there is not the least hope of eternal
how full is the world of
happiness. Good God !
this sort of people, who pass their whole life in idleness,
and are ready to leave it, before they so much
as know for what purpose they received it ! Man is
obliged to pains and labour by the law of the crea-
tion ; the sinner is condemned to it by way of pen-
ance ; the Christian is devoted thereto by the holi-
ness of his adoption. Wlioever neglects to follow
this impression of his Creator, to submit to this
decree of his Judge, and to imitate the example of
his Head, Pattern, and Restorer, is very much want-
ing to his own salvation. Every thing conspires to
engage man in a busy and laborious course of life;
and idleness is one source of damnation.
" 7. They say unto him. Because no man hath
hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the
vineyard ; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye
receive."
If Christ himself come not to seek us, if he do
not send us, and set us to work, we shall either live
altogether in idleness, or perform only works of
darkness, or do every thing out of vanity, but nothing
for the sake of God, or for eternity. No salvation
is to be had but by Jesus Christ. Without him