Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/11



It is  equally  proper  for  a  Translator,  as  for  an  Author,  to  give some explanation  (not  apology,  for  surely  a  generous  public  will require  none,  when  the  dissemination  of  virtue  is  evidently  the  purpose)  of  the  production  which  he  obtrudes  upon  the  public.

This Translation  was  at  first  undertaken  merely  for  the  recreation, during illness,  of  the  Translator. His admiration  of  Massillon’s abilities increasing  as  he  went  on,  he  was  induced  to  continue,  far beyond his  first  intention. That animation,  that  unction,  as D’Alembert  says,  which  flowed  from  his  pen  on  every  subject, — that gentle,  yet  feeling  address  to  the  hearts  of  his  hearers,  and  to which  the  most  indifferent  could  not  refuse  attention,  struck  him  so forcibly,  that  he  could  not  reflect  without  surprise  that  no  translation of his  works  had  as  yet  appeared  in  English. Impressed with  a conviction  of  their  moral  tendency,  he  determined,  in  consequence of the  approbation  of  some  respectable  clergymen,  his  friends,  to publish  a  selection  of  such  as,  unconnected  with  local  or  temporary events in  France,  would,  in  his  opinion,  be  an  acceptable  present  to Christians  of  every  denomination. He now  offers  the  present  volume to the Public; and so impressed is he with a sense of its merit, that he is convinced, that