Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/137

 salvation, those  which  have  only  had  for  principle,  ambition,  pride, envy, and  self-interest;  and  that  he  should  reckon  your  vices amongst your  virtues.

And what  will  you  be  able  to  say  to  him  on  the  bed  of  death, when he  shall  enter  into  judgment  with  you,  and  demand  an  account of  the  time  which  he  had  only  granted  you  to  be  employed  in glorifying  and  serving  him? Will you  say  to  him,  Lord,  I  have gained many  victories;  I  have  usefully  and  gloriously  served  my prince  and  country;  I  have  established  to  myself  a  great  name amongst men? Alas! you have  never  been  able  to  gain  a  victory over yourself;  you  have  usefully  served  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and you have  neglected,  with  contempt,  the  service  of  the  King  of  kings. You have  established  to  yourself  a  great  name  amongst  men,  and your name  is  not  known  amongst  the  chosen  of  God: — time  lost for eternity. Will you  say  to  him,  I  have  conducted  the  most  difficult negotiations;  I  have  concluded  the  most  important  treaties; I have  managed  the  interests  and  fortunes  of  princes;  I  have  been in the  secrets  and  councils  of  kings? Alas! you have  concluded treaties and  alliances  with  men,  and  you  have  a  thousand  times  violated the  holy  covenant  you  have  entered  into  with  God;  you  have managed the  interests  of  princes,  and  you  have  never  known  how to manage  the  interests  of  your  salvation;  you  have  entered  into the secrets  of  kings,  and  you  have  ever  been  ignorant  of  the  secrets of the  kingdom  of  heaven: — time  lost  for  eternity. Will you  say to him,  my  whole  life  has  been  only  an  incessant  toil  and  a  painful and continued  occupation? Alas! you have  always  toiled,  and  you have never  been  able  to  do  any  thing  to  save  your  soul: — time  lost for eternity. Will you  say  to  him,  I  have  established  my  children in the  world;  I  have  exalted  my  relations;  I  have  been  useful  to my  friends;  I  have  augmented  the  patrimony  of  my  ancestors? Alas! you have  bequeathed  great  establishments  to  your  children, and you  have  not  left  them  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  by  bringing  them up and  establishing  them  in  faith  and  piety:  you  have  augmented the patrimony  of  your  ancestors,  and  you  have  dissipated  the  gifts of grace  and  the  patrimony  of  Jesus  Christ; — time  lost  for  eternity. Will you  say  to  him,  I  have  made  the  most  profound  studies;  I have  enriched  the  public  with  useful  and  curious  works;  I  have perfected the  sciences  by  new  discoveries;  I  improved  my  great talents, and  rendered  them  useful  to  mankind? Alas! the great talent confided  to  you  was  that  of  faith  and  grace,  of  which  you have made  no  use:  you  have  rendered  yourself  learned  in  the  sciences of  men,  and  you  have  always  been  ignorant  in  the  science  of  the holy: — time lost  for  eternity. In a  word,  will  you  tell  him,  I  have passed my  life  in  fulfilling  the  duties  and  good  offices  of  my  station;  I  have  gained  friends;  I  have  rendered  myself  useful  and agreeable to  my  masters? Alas! you have  had  friends  to  boast  of  on the  earth,  and  you  have  acquired  none  to  yourself  in  heaven;  you have made  every  exertion  to  please  men,  and  you  have  done  nothing to please  the  Almighty: — time  lost  for  eternity.

No, my  brethren,  what  a  frightful  void  the  greatest  part  of  men,