Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/144

 then, must  the  unbeliever  have  received  from  nature,  to  prefer,  in so  great  an  inequality  of  proofs,  the  belief  that  he  is  created  only for this  earth,  and  favourably  to  regard  himself  as  a  vile  assemblage of  dirt  and  the  companion  of  the  ox  and  bull! What do  I say? What a  monster  in  the  universe  must  be  the  unbeliever, who mistrusts  the  general  belief  only  because  it  is  too  glorious  for his nature;  and  believes  that  the  vanity  of  men  has  alone  introduced it on  the  earth,  and  has  persuaded  them  that  they  are  immortal.

But no,  my  brethren! These men  of  flesh  and  blood,  with  reason reject  the  honour  which  religion  does  to  their  nature,  and  persuade themselves  that  their  soul  is  merely  of  earth,  and  that  all dies with  the  body. Sensual, dissolute,  and  effeminate  men,  who have no  other  check  than  a  brutal  instinct;  no  other  rule  than  the vehemence of  their  desires;  no  other  occupation  than  to  awaken, by new  artifices,  the  cupidity  already  satiated;  men  of  that  character can  have  little  difficulty  to  believe  that  no  principle  of  spiritual life  exists  within  them;  that  the  body  is  the  only  being;  and, as they  imitate  the  manners  of  beasts,  they  are  pardonable  in  attributing to  themselves  the  same  nature. But let  them  not  judge of all  men  by  themselves:  there  are  still  on  earth  chaste,  pure,  and temperate souls:  let  them  not  ascribe  to  nature  the  shameful  tendencies of  their  own  mind;  let  them  not  degrade  humanity  in general,  because  they  have  unworthily  debased  themselves. Let them seek  out  among  men  such  as  themselves;  and,  finding  that they are  almost  singular  in  the  universe,  they  shall  then  see  that they are  rather  monsters  than  the  ordinary  productions  of  nature.

Besides, not  only  is  the  freethinker  foolish,  because  that,  even in an  equality  of  proofs,  his  heart  and  glory  should  decide  him  in favour  of  faith,  but  likewise  his  own  interest:  for,  as  I  have  already said, what  does  he  risk  by  believing? What disagreeable  consequences will  follow  his  mistake? He will  live  with  honour,  probity, and innocence  5  he  will  be  mild,  affable,  just,  sincere,  religious,  a generous  friend,  a  faithful  husband,  and  an  equitable  master:  he will  moderate  his  passions,  which  would  otherwise  have  occasioned all the  misfortunes  of  his  life:  he  will  abstain  from  pleasures  and excesses which  would  have  prepared  for  him  a  painful  and  premature old  age,  or  a  deranged  fortune:  he  will  enjoy  the  character  of a  virtuous  man,  and  the  esteem  of  mankind. Behold what  he risks. — When all  should  even  finish  with  this  life,  that  surely  is  still the way  to  pass  it  with  happiness  and  tranquillity:  such  is  the  only inconveniency I  can  find. If no  eternal  recompense  shall  follow, what will  he  have  lost  by  expecting  it? He has  lost  some  sensual and momentary  gratifications,  which  would  soon  have  either  fatigued him by  the  disgust  which  always  follows  their  enjoyment,  or  tyrannized over  him  by  the  new  desires  they  light  up. He has  lost  the wretched satisfaction  of  being,  for  the  instant  he  appeared  on  earth, cruel, unnatural,  voluptuous,  without  faith,  morals,  or  constancy; perhaps despised  and  disgraced  in  the  midst  of  his  own  people. I can see  no  other  misfortune:  he  sinks  back  to  his  original  non-existence, and  his  error  has  no  other  consequence.