Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

CHAPTER XXIV. 373
The sixth means of being seduced, arises from
false prophets, mercenary pastors, and teachers of
error. All those who advance such doctrines of re-
ligion or morality, as are contrary to the gospel, are
of this number : and this number is great in all ages.
Had Jesus Christ foretold the fall but of two or
three persons, ought we not to have feared lest we
should be of the number? He has foretold the fall
of many, and we tremble not. Let us keep our-
selves closely united to God by faith, and believe
that this gift proceeds from his pure goodness alone.
" 12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold."
The last occasion of being seduced is, the observ-
ing how charity grows cold ; which still decays in
proportion to the increase of concupiscence. It is a
grace which is very uncommon, for a man to hold out
against the iniquity of the age, and to secure his
virtue from being at all weakened thereby. One of
the most subtle and dangerous seducements of all, is
the example of some person of great reputation for
piety, who, through fear of men, grows faint and
cool in the cause of truth. Such a one often draws
many after him, either by the weight bf' his^autho-
rity, or perhaps because he is the more earnest to
niake his weakness' pass for a virtue, to maintain and
justify it, and to procure as many imitators of it as
he can. t? .
if w>
** 13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall be saved."
God alone gives perseverance, no man merits it.
Can any one who knows his own weakness, and con-
siders alL'tbei^sediicem-ents^ mid temptations '
of lif^,