Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/121

 when the  secrets  of  our  hearts  shall  be  manifested;  and  we,  by  a rash  malignity,  anticipate  the  time  of  thy  vengance;  we,  who  are so interested,  that  the  secrecies  of  our  hearts,  and  the  mystery  of the  consciences,  should  not  as  yet  be  laid  open  to  thee.

Thus, you  particularly,  my  brethren,  whom  rank  and  birth  exalt above others,  be  not  satisfied  with  putting  a  check  upon  your tongue; according  to  the  advice  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  present  a melancholy  and  severe  countenance,  a  silence  of  disapprobation and indignation  to  every  defamatory  discourse;  for  the  crime  is exactly  equal  between  the  malignity  of  the  speaker  and  the  satisfaction of  those  who  listen  to  him. Let us  surround  our  ears with thorns,  that  they  may  not  be  accesible  to  poisonous  insinuations; that  is  to  say,  let  us  not  only  shut  them  against  these  words of blood  and  gall,  but  let  us  return  them  on  their  author  in  a manner  equally  bitter  and  mortifying. Were slander  to  find  fewer approvers, the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  would  soon  be  purged  of that  scandal. Slander is  pleasing;  and  a  vice  which  pleases,  soon becomes a  desirable  talent. We animate  slander  by  our  applauses; and as  there  is  no  person  but  wishes  to  be  applauded,  there  are few, likewise,  who  do  not  study  it,  and  endeavour  to  make  a  merit of slandering  with  skill.

But what  is  surprising  is,  that  piety  itself  frequently  serves  as  a pretext  to  that  vice,  which  saps  the  very  foundations  of  piety,  and which sincere  piety  detests. This ought  to  be  the  last  part  of this  Discourse;  but  I  shall  say  only  a  single  word  upon  it. Yes, my brethren,  slander  frequently  finds,  in  piety  itself,  wherewithal to colour  itself. It decks  itself  out  in  the  appearance  of  zeal. Hatred to  vice  seems  to  authroize  the  censure  of  sinners. Those who make  a  profession  of  virtue  often  believe  that  they  are  honouring God,  and  rendering  glory  to  him,  when  they  dishonour  and exclaim against  those  who  offend  him;  as  though  the  privilege of piety,  whose  soul  is  charity,  were  to  dispense  us  even  from  charity. It is  not  that  I  wish  here  to  justify  the  discourses  of  the world, and  to  furnish  it  with  new  traits  against  the  zeal  of  the  upright;  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  ought  not  to  dissemble,  that  the liberty which  they  assume,  of  censuring  the  conduct  of  their  brethren, is  one  of  the  most  common  abuses  of  piety.

Now, my  dear  hearer,  you  whom  this  Discourse  regards,  listen to, and  never  forget,  the  rules  which  the  gospel  prescribes  to  true zeal.

First. Remember, that  the  zeal  which  makes  us  lament  over  the scandals that  dishonour  the  church,  is  contented  with  lamenting them before  God;  with  praying  him  not  to  forget  his  former  mercies; to  cast  his  propitious  regards  upon  the  people;  to  establish his reign  in  all  hearts,  and  to  recall  sinners  from  their  erroneous ways. Behold the  holy  manner  of  lamenting  over  the  disgraces  of your  brethren;  mention  them  frequently  to  the  Lord,  but  forget them in  the  presence  of  men.

Secondly. Remember, that  piety  gives  you  no  right  of  empire or authority  over  your  brethren;  that  if  you  be  not  established