Quesnel: Moral Reflections on the Gospels Vol 1

394 ST. MATTHEW.
asleep ! How many seized with a lethargy ! How
many even quite dead !
Sect. II.— The Parable of the Talents.
" 14. ^ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man
travelling into a far country, who called his own ser-
vants, and delivered unto them his goods."
The children of God, and the ministers of Jesus
Christ, are called, as servants, not to manage their
own affairs, but those of their Master. They have
nothing which is properly their own ; every thing
belongs to Christ, who has received it of his Father,
and recovered it out of the hands of the devil, by
redeeming it with his own blood. He who uses his
natural or supernatural talents as if he were the
author and master of them, is a usurper of the goods
which belong to God.
** 15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another
two, and to another one ; to every man according to
his several ability; and straightway took his journey."
Duties and obligations are proportioned to the
states, conditions, and talents of men. Every one,
in order to be saved, must, First, Be faithful in the
performance of that which God requires of hira in
his station. God proportions his graces, not accord-
ing to natural deserts, but according to the conditions
and obligations of men, and above all, according to
his designs concerning souls. A person may be very
inconsiderable in the eyes of men, who is designed
for an exalted station in heaven. All things are
measured and regulated—
graces, employments, and
necessities. Secondly, In order to salvation, a man
must keep within his own sphere, and trade accord-