Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/105

 you  have  hitherto  preserved? But I  have  shown  you  that  it  is either  guilt  itself,  or  that  it  will  not  fail  soon  to  lead  you  to  it. Is it the  love  of  ease? But in  that  you  enjoy  neither  the  pleasures  of the  world  nor  the  consolations  of  virtue. Is it  the  assurance  that the Almighty  requires  no  more  of  you? But how  can  the  lukewarm and unfaithful  soul  satisfy  or  please  him,  when  from  his  mouth  he rejects  him? Is it  the  irregularity  in  which  the  generality  of  men live, and  who  carry  it  to  an  excess  which  you  avoid? But their fate is  perhaps  less  to  be  mourned,  and  less  desperate  than  your own: they  at  least  know  their  malady,  while  you  regard  your  own as a  state  of  perfect  health. Is it  the  dread  of  being  unable  to support  a  more  mortified,  watchful,  and  Christian  life? But since you have  hitherto  been  able  to  support  some  remains  of  virtue  and innocence, without  the  comfort  and  consolations  of  grace,  and  in spite  of  the  wearinesses  and  disgusts  which  your  lukewarmness has spread  through  all  your  duties,  what  will  it  be  when  the  Spirit of God  shall  soften  your  yoke,  and  when  a  more  fervent  and  faithful life  shall  have  restored  to  you  all  the  grace  and  consolation  of which  your  lukewarmness  has  deprived  you? Piety is  never  sad or insupportable  but  when  it  is  cold  and  unfaithful.

Rise, then,  says  a  prophet,  wicked  and  slothful  soul;  break  the fatal charm  which  lulls  and  chains  thee  to  thine  indolence. The Lord, whom  thou  believest  to  serve,  because  thou  dost  not  openly affront him,  is  not  the  God  of  the  wicked,  but  of  the  faithful;  he is  not  the  rewarder  of  idleness  and  sloth,  but  of  tears,  watchings, and combats:  he  establisheth  not  in  his  abode,  and  in  his  everlasting city,  the  useless,  but  the  vigilant  and  laborious  servant; and his  kingdom,  says  the  apostle,  is  not  of  flesh  and  blood,  that is to  say,  of  an  unworthy  effeminacy  and  a  life  devoted  to  the appetites, but  the  strength  and  virtue  of  God;  namely,  a  continued vigilance,  a  generous  sacrifice  of  all  our  inclinations,  a constant  contempt  of  all  things  which  pass  away,  and  a  tender and ardent  desire  for  those  invisible  blessings  which  fade  not  nor ever pass  away:  which  may  God,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  grant  to all  assembled  here. Amen.

These were  the  same  Pharisees,  who  a  little  before  had  been decrying to  the  people  the  actions  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  endeavouring to  poison  the  purity  and  sanctity  of  his  words,  now  make a show  of  believing  in  him,  and  classing  themselves  among  his disciples. And such  is  the  character  of  the  evil-speaker;  under