Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/109

 him? Ah! the church  formerly  held  in  horror  the  exhibitions  of gladiators,  and  denied  that  believers,  brought  up  in  the  tenderness and benignity  of  Jesus  Christ,  could  innocently  feast  their  eyes with the  blood  and  death  of  these  unfortunate  slaves,  or  form  a harmless  recreation  of  so  inhuman  a  pleasure. But you  renew more detestable  shows,  to  enliven  your  languor:  you  bring  upon the stage,  not  infamous  wretches  devoted  to  death,  but  members of Jesus  Christ,  your  brethren;  and  there  you  entertain  the  spectators with  wounds  which  you  inflict  on  persons  rendered  sacred by baptism.

Is it  then  necessary  that  your  brother  should  suffer,  to  amuse you? Can you  find  no  delight  in  your  conversation,  unless  his blood, as  I  may  say,  is  furnished  toward  your  iniquitous  pleasures? Edify each  other,  says  St.  Paul,  by  words  of  peace  and  charity; relate the  wonders  of  God  toward  the  just,  the  history  of  his mercies to  sinners;  recall  the  virtues  of  those  who,  with  the  sign of faith,  have  preceded  us;  make  an  agreeable  relaxation  to yourselves,  in  reciting  the  pious  examples  of  your  brethren with whom  you  live;  with  a  religious  joy,  speak  of  the  victories of  faith,  of  the  aggrandisement  of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus Christ, of  the  establishment  of  truth,  and  the  extinction  of  error, of the  favours  which  Jesus  Christ  bestows  on  his  church,  by raising  up  in  it  faithful  pastors,  enlightened  members,  and  religious princes;  animate  yourselves  to  virtue,  by  contemplating the little  solidity  of  the  world,  the  emptiness  of  pleasures,  and the unhappiness  of  sinners,  who  yield  themselves  up  to  their unruly passions. Are these  grand  objects  not  worthy  the  delight of Christians? It was  thus,  however,  that  the  first  believers rejoiced in  the  Lord,  and,  from  the  sweets  of  their  conversations, formed one  of  the  most  holy  consolations  to  their  temporal  calamities. It is  the  heart,  my  brethren,  which  decides  upon  our  pleasures:  a  corrupted  heart  feels  no  delight  but  in  what  recalls  to him  the  image  of  his  vices:  innocent  delights  are  only  suitable to virtue.

In effect,  you  excuse  the  malignity  of  your  censures  by  the  innocency  of  your  intentions. But fathom  the  secret  of  your  heart: whence comes  it  that  your  sarcasms  are  always  pointed  to  such  an individual,  and  that  you  never  amuse  yourself  with  more  wit,  or more  agreeably,  than  in  recalling  his  faults? May it  not  proceed from a  secret  jealousy? Do not  his  talents,  fortune,  credit,  station, or character,  hurt  you  more  than  his  faults? Would you  find him so  fit  a  subject  for  censure,  had  he  fewer  of  those  qualities which exalt  him  above  you? Would you  experience  such  pleasure in exposing  his  foibles,  did  not  the  world  find  qualities  in  him  both valuable and  praiseworthy? Would Saul  have  so  often  repeated with such  pleasure  that  David  was  only  the  son  of  Jesse,  had  he  not considered him  as  a  rival,  more  deserving  than  himself  of  the  empire? Whence comes  it,  that  the  faults  of  all  others  find  you  more indulgent? That elsewhere  you  excuse  every  thing,  but  here  every circumstance comes  empoisoned  from  your  mouth? Go to  the