Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

332 ST. MATTHEW.
of they are not capable, or on the ill example of some
pastors, which might possibly draw them away, if
they had not a visible and standing rule by which
they may and ought to judge of their manners. Let
us not without necessity search into the lives of our
pastors ; nor approve them when they are manifestly
disorderly. The first mark of the irregular life of
a pastor is, his not living according to those evange-
lical maxims which he teaches.
" 4. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous
to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders ; but
they themselves will not move them with one of their
fingers."
The second mark of the corruption of a pastor is,
his being severe to others and indulgent to himself.
That which is grievous only to corrupt nature, when
left to its own weakness, is not the heavy burden of
which Christ speaks in this place, but that which a
Pharisaical severity or indiscreet ignorance imposes
on the weak, contrary either to the letter or to the
spirit of the gospel. Repentance seems not impos-
sible to any but the impenitent ;
nor the holy rigour
of the gospel grievous to be borne, except only to
carnal and sensual minds. The yoke of it is easy
and the burden light, when God inclines a man to
bear them, by inspiring the love of mortification,
and the spirit of repentance. They who preach re-
pentance to others, and do not perform it themselves,
render this yoke more heavy, and the necessity of it
less credible. Nothing is a better proof that it is
not impossible, than to see it practised by those who
recommend it. Gentleness, discretion, and a good
example, are necessary qualifications of a pastor.