Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/215

 them the  secret  and  inscrutable  arrangements  of  a  God  singularly watchful over  our  destiny;  the  more  should  we  presume  that,  under events so  new,  he  doubtless  concealeth  new  views,  and  singular designs of  mercy  upon  our  soul;  the  more  should  we  say  to  ourselves, that  he  consequently  meaneth  us  not  to  perish  with  the multitude, which  is  the  party  of  the  reprobate,  seeing  that  he leadeth  us  by  ways  so  uncommon  and  so  little  trodden. This singularity of  misfortunes  ought,  in  the  eyes  of  our  faith,  to  be  a soothing  distinction. He hath  always  conducted  his  chosen,  in matters  of  affliction  as  well  as  in  other  things,  by  new  and  extraordinary ways. What melancholy  and  surprising  adventures  in  the life of  a  Noah,  a  Lot,  a  Joseph,  a  Moses,  and  a  Job! Trace, from age to  age,  the  history  of  the  just,  and  you  will  always  find  in  their various vicissitudes,  something,  I  know  not  what,  of  singular  and incredible, which  has  staggered  even  the  belief  of  subsequent  ages. Thus, the  less  your  afflictions  resemble  those  of  others,  the  more should you  consider  them  as  the  afflictions  of  God's  chosen:  they are stamped  with  the  mark  of  the  just:  they  enter  into  that  tradition of  singular  calamities  which,  from  the  beginning  of  ages, forms their  history. Battles lost,  when  victory  seemed  certain; cities, looked  upon  as  impregnable,  fallen  at  the  sole  approach  of the  enemy;  a  kingdom  once  the  most  flourishing  in  Europe, stricken with  every  evil  which  the  Lord  in  his  wrath  can  pour  upon the people;  the  court  filled  with  mourning,  and  all  the  royal  race almost extinct. Such, sire,  is  what  the  Lord  in  his  mercy  reserved for your  piety;  and  such  are  the  unprecedented  misfortunes  which he prepared  for  you,  to  purify  the  prosperities  of  a  reign  the  most brilliant in  our  annals. The singularity  of  the  unfortunate  events with which  God  afflicteth  you,  is  intended  for  the  sole  purpose  of rendering  you  equally  pious  as  a  Christian,  as  you  have  been  great as a  King. It would  seem,  that  every  thing  was  to  be  singular  in your  reign,  the  prosperities  as  the  misfortunes,  in  order  that,  after your glory  before  men,  nothing  should  be  wanting  to  your  piety before God. It is  a  striking  example,  prepared  by  his  goodness for our  age.

And, behold,  my  dear  hearer,  a  striking  instance,  both  to  instruct and confute  you,  when  you  complain  of  the  excess  of  your  misfortunes and  of  your  sufferings. The more  God  afflicteth,  the  greater is his  love  and  his  watchfulness  over  you. More common  misfor^^tunes  might  have  appeared  to  you  as  the  consequences  merely  of natural  causes;  and  though  all  events  are  conducted  by  the  secret springs of  his  providence,  you  might  perhaps  have  had  room  to suppose  that  the  Lord  had  no  particular  design  upon  you,  in  providing for  you  only  certain  afflictions  which  happen  every  day  to the  rest  of  men. But, in  the  grievous  and  singular  situation  in which  he  placeth  you,  you  can  no  longer  hide  from  yourself  that his regards  are  fixed  on  you  alone,  and  that  you  are  the  special object of  his  merciful  designs.

Now, what  more  consoling  in  our  sufferings! God seeth  me; he numbereth  my  sighs;  he  weigheth  mine  afflictions;  he  beholdeth