Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/249

 sionate upon  the  interests  of  your  glory;  you  who  perhaps  enjoy  a reputation  which  you  have  never  merited;  you,  who,  were  you  to be  known  such  as  you  are,  would  be  covered  with  eternal  shame and confusion;  you,  in  a  word,  of  whom  the  most  injurious  discourses only  imperfectly  represent  the  secret  wretchedness,  and  of which  God  alone  knoweth  the  extent? Great God! how little  shall sinners have  to  say  for  themselves  when  thou  wilt  pronounce  against them the  sentence  of  their  eternal  condemnation!

You will  probably  tell  us  that  you  perfectly  agree  to  the  duties which religion  hereupon  imposes,  but  that  the  laws  of  honour  have prevailed over  those  of  religion;  that  if  discourses  and  proceedings of a  certain  description  be  tranquilly  submitted  to,  lasting  dishonour and  infamy  in  the  sight  of  men  must  necessarily  follow;  that to forgive  through  motives  of  religion,  is  nevertheless  a  stain  of cowardice,  which  the  world  never  pardons,  and  that  on  this  point, honour acknowledges  neither  exception  nor  privilege.

What is  this  honour,  my  brethren,  which  is  to  be  bought  only at the  price  of  our  souls  and  of  our  eternal  salvation? And how worthy of  pity,  if  guilt  alone  can  save  from  ignominy! I know that it  is  here  that  the  false  laws  of  the  world  seem  to  prevail  over those of  religion;  and  that  the  wisest  themselves,  who  execrate  this abuse, are,  however,  of  opinion  that  it  must  be  submitted  to. But I speak  before  a  prince,  who,  wiser  than  the  world,  and  filled  with a just  indignation  against  a  madness  so  contrary  to  the  maxims  of the  gospel,  as  well  as  to  the  interests  of  the  state,  hath  shown  to his  subjects  what  is  the  true  honour,  and  who,  in  forcing  criminal arms out  of  their  hands,  hath  marked  with  lasting  infamy  those  barbarous modes  of  revenge  to  which  the  public  error  had  attached  a deplorable  glory.

What, my  brethren,  an  abominable  maxim,  which  the  barbarity of the  first  manners  of  our  ancestors  alone  hath  consecrated,  and handed down  to  us,  should  prevail  over  all  the  rules  of  Christianity and all  the  most  inviolable  rules  of  the  state! It should  be  no  dishonour to  bathe  your  hands  in  your  brother's  blood,  while  it  would be one  to  obey  God,  and  the  prince  who  holds  his  place  in  the world! Glory would  no  longer  then  be  but  a  madness,  and  cowardice but  a  noble  respect  for  religion,  and  for  our  master. You dread passing  for  a  coward! Show your  valour,  then,  by  shedding your blood  in  the  defence  of  your  country;  go  and  brave  dangers  at the  head  of  our  armies,  and  there  seek  glory  in  the  discharge  of your  duty;  establish  your  reputation  by  actions  worthy  of  being ranked among  the  memorable  events  of  a  reign  so  glorious;  such  is that  valour  which  the  state  requires,  and  which  religion  authorizes. Then despise  these  brutal  and  personal  vengeances;  look  upon them as  a  childish  ostentation  of  valour,  which  is  often  used  as  a cover  to  actual  cowardice;  as  the  vile  and  vulgar  refuge  of  those who have  nothing  signal  to  establish  their  character;  as  a  forced and an  equivocal  proof  of  courage,  which  the  world  wrests  from  us, and against  which  the  heart  often  revolts. Far from  imputing  shame to you,  the  world  itself  will  make  it  a  fresh  title  of  honour  to  you;