Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/104

 sion; and,  to  see  him  fall,  there  is  no  necessity  for  his  being  attacked. These are  the  reasons  which  prove  the  certainty  of  the  loss  of righteousness  in  a  lukewarm  and  infidel  life. But are  so  many proofs necessary,  my  dear  hearer,  when  your  own  misfortunes  have so sadly  instructed  you? Remember, from  whence  you  are  fallen, as the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  formerly  said  to  a  lukewarm  and  infidel soul. Remount to  the  source  of  the  disorders  under  which  you still bend. You will  find  it  in  the  negligence  and  infidelity  of  which we speak. A birth  of  passion  too  feebly  rejected,  an  occasion  of danger  too  much  frequented,  practices  of  piety  too  frequently omitted or  despised,  convenience  too  sensually  sought  after,  desires of pleasing  too  much  listened  to,  dangerous  writings  too  little  avoided;— the  source  is  almost"  imperceptible.  The  torrent  of  iniquity proceeding  from  it  has  completely  inundated  the  capacity  of  your soul.  It  was  only  a  spark  which  has  lighted  up  this  great  conflagration;  it  was  a  morsel  of  leaven,  which,  in  the  end,  has  fermented and  corrupted  the  whole  mass.  You  never  believed  it possible  that  you  could  be  what  at  present  you  are.  Whatever was  said  to  you  on  this  subject,  you  heard  as  exaggerations  of  zeal and  spirituality.  You  would  then  have  come  forward  of  your  own accord,  in  order  to  clear  yourself  of  certain  steps,  for  which  you now  feel  not  the  smallest  remorse.  Remember  from  whence  you are  fallen;  consider  the  depth  of  the  abyss  into  which  you  are plunged:  it  is  relaxation  and  slight  infidelities  which  by  degrees have conducted  you  to  it. Once more,  remember  it,  and  see  if that  can  be  denominated  a  sure  or  durable  state,  which  has  brought you to  the  precipice.

Such is  the  usual  artifice  of  Satan. He never  at  first  proposes guilt; that  would  frighten  away  his  prey,  and  remove  it  beyond  the reach of  his  surprises. Too well  he  knows  the  road  for  entering  the heart; he  knows  that  he  must  gradually  confirm  the  timid  conscience against  the  horror  of  guilt,  and  propose  nothing  at  first but honest  purposes  and  certain  limits  in  pleasure. It is  not  boldly, like the  lion,  he  at  first  attacks;  it  is  warily  like  the  serpent:  he does  not  lead  you  straight  to  the  gulf;  he  conducts  you  there  by winding  paths. No, my  brethren,  crimes  are  never  the  first  essays of the  heart. David was  imprudent  and  slothful,  before  he  became an  adulterer;  Solomon  had  allowed  himself  to  be  seduced and enervated  by  the  delights  and  magnificence  of  royalty,  before he publicly  appeared  in  the  midst  of  lewd  women;  Judas  had given up  his  heart  to  money,  before  he  put  a  price  upon  his  Master;  Peter  was  presumptuous,  before  he  renounced  the  truth. Vice has its  progress  as  well  as  virtue. As the  day,  says  the  prophet, instructs the  day,  thus  the  night  gives  melancholy  lessons  to  the night; and  there  is  not  much  difference  between  a  state  which suspends all  the  grace  of  protection,  fortifies  all  the  passions,  renders useless  all  the  succours  of  piety,  and  a  state  where  it  is  entirely extinct.

What, then,  my  dear  hearer,  can  confirm  or  comfort  you  in  this life of  negligence  and  infidelity? Is it  that  exemption  from  guilt