Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

384 ST. MATTHEW.
make, and in contemplating the mysteries to come,
in those representations which his Spirit has given
of them in what is past.
*' 38. For as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered
into the ark, 39. And knew not until the flood came,
and took them all away; so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be."
The generality of mankind, through the enchantment
of the cares of this life, are surprised by death
and judgment. They are not always gross and hei-
nous sins, which throw men into a forgetfulness of
God and his judgments, and into a contempt of his
law: sometimes an irregular application to the common
employments and affairs of life, insensibly extin-
guishes our faith. Every one has his own proper
way to attain salvation ;
and every one who misses of
it, does it by corrupting his way after his own man-
ner. The surprise which is here threatened proceeds
not from God's design, but from the sinner's negli-
gence, and his abuse of the long patience and forbear-
ance of God. A man is never in danger of being
surprised when his heart is devoted to God, when
his faith is pure, his hope lively, his charity fervent
and sincere, and his life full of good works.
Sect. VII. llie one takers the other left. We
must *match C07itimially.
" 40. Then shall two be in the field ; the one
shall be taken, and the other left. 41. Two women
shall be grinding at the mill ; the one shall be taken,
and the other left."