Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/113

 sanctity of  his  vocation,  to  more  exemplary,  pure,  and  irreproachable manners,  finds  himself  stained  and  dishonoured  by  censures which would  not  affect  the  reputation  of  persons  of  the  world. Thus the  Lord,  in  the  Scriptures  curseth  those  who  shall  even  meddle with  his  anointed. Nevertheless, the  traits  of  slander  are never more  animated,  more  brilliant,  or  more  applauded  in  the world, than  when  directed  against  the  ministers  of  his  word. The world, so  indulgent  to  itself,  seems  to  have  preserved  its  severity only on  their  account;  and  for  them  it  has  eyes  more  censorious, and a  tongue  more  empoisoned,  than  for  the  rest  of  men. It is true,  O  my  God! that our  conversation  amongst  the  people  is  not always holy,  and  free  from  reproach;  that  we  frequently  adopt  the manners, luxury,  indolence,  idleness,  and  pleasures  of  the  world, against which  we  ought  to  struggle;  that  we  hold  out  to  believers more examples  of  pride  and  negligence  than  of  virtue;  that  we  are more jealous  of  pre-eminence  than  of  the  duties  of  our  calling;  and that it  is  difficult  for  the  world  to  honour  a  character  which  we  ourselves disgrace. But, as  I  have  often  said,  my  brethren,  our  infidelities ought  rather  to  be  the  subject  of  your  tears  than  of  your  pleasantry and  censures. God generally  punishes  the  disorders  of  the people by  the  corruption of  the  priests;  and  the  most  dreadful  scourge with which  he  strikes  kingdoms  and  empires,  is  that  of  not  raising up in  them  venerable  pastors,  and  zealous  ministers,  who  may  stem the torrent  of  dissipation;  it  is  that of  permitting  faith  and  religion to become  weakened,  even  among  those  who  are  its  defenders  and depositaries; that  the  light,  which  was  meant  to  instruct  you, should be  changed  into  darkness;  that  the  co-operators  in  your salvation should  assist,  by  their  example,  toward  your  destruction; that even  from  the  sanctuary,  from  whence  ought  to  proceed  only the good  savour  of  Jesus  Christ,  there  should  issue  a  smell  of  death and scandal;  and,  in  a  word,  that  abominations  should  find  their way even  into  the  holy  place. But what  alteration  does  the  relaxation of  our  manners  make  in  the  sanctity  of  the  vocation  which consecrates us? Are the  sacred  vases  which  serve  on  the  altar, though composed  of  a  mean  metal,  less  worthy  of  your  respect? And even  granting  the  minister  may  merit  your  contempt,  would you be  less  sacrilegious  in  not  respecting  his  ministry?

What shall  I  say? Your detractions  and  censures  are  perhaps directed against  persons  who  make  a  public  profession  of  piety,  and whose virtue  your  hearers  formerly  respected. You then  persuade them that  they  had  been  too  credulous;  you  authorize  them  to believe,  that  few  worthy  and  intrinsically  good  characters  are  to  be found  on  the  earth;  that  all  those  held  out  as  such,  when  narrowly examined, are  like  the  rest  of  men:  you  confirm  the  prejudices  of the  world  against  virtue,  and  give  fresh  credit  to  those  discourses, so usual,  and  so  injurious  to  religion,  with  regard  to  the  piety  of the  servants  of  Jesus  Christ. Now, do  all  these  appear  so  very light to  you? Ah, my  brethren! the just  on  this  earth  are  like the holy  ark,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  Lord  dwells,  and  any  contempt or  insult  to  which,  he  most  rigorously  avenges. They may