Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

306 ST. MATTHEW.
They are hid from man in this life, to teach him, not
to dispute with God, and to seek him, not by reason,
but by faith ; and to convince him, that it is not
knowledge, but obedience, which sanctifies and saves
us. The more spiritual jealousy and envy are, the
more criminal are they, and like to those of the devil.
The gifts of grace being less due to a sinner than
those of nature or fortune, it is a greater sin to think
we deserve them, and to make them the object of our
ambition or jealousy. To covet the grace bestowed
on another, is to be guilty of injustice not only
towards him, but also towards God, who is master of
his own gifts. There is a desire of grace which is
humble and commendable; but there is likewise one
which is proud and irregular, and more common than
we imagine.
" 16. So the last shall be first, and the first last
for many be called, but few chosen."
Let us neither presume nor despair on any account.
The Gentiles preferred before the Jews, teach us to
leave to God the right of choosing, and determining
to whom to show mercy. It is not the call, such as
it appears to human eyes, but perseverance, which
discovers the elect. It belongs to him who bestows
it on whom he pleases, to judge who are his in a
greater or less degree. The only thing we have to
do is, still to humble ourselves, whatever our condi-
tion be ; because nothing but humility can either
keep the first in grace from becoming the last, or
draw down that mercy on the last which will make
them first.