Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/280

 intrusion, and  that,  all  else  forgotten,  the  mind,  formed  for  more serious matters,  feasts  with  avidity  on  chimerical  adventures. It is from  thence  that  you  always  come  out  occupied  and  delighted  with the lascivious  maxims  promulgated  by  a  criminal  theatre. You dwell with  transports  on  those  parts  which  have  made  the  most dangerous impressions  upon  the  heart;  you  come  filled  with  their remembrance even  to  the  foot  of  the  altar. These images,  so  fatal to innocence,  can  no  longer  be  effaced;  while,  on  quitting  the  word, the only  portion  retained  by  your  memory  is  perhaps  the  defects of him  who  hath  announced  it  to  you.

My brethren,  God  no  longer  punisheth  in  a  grievous  manner  the contempt of  his  word. He, no  doubt,  might  still  transport  his Gospel amidst  those  barbarous  nations  who  have  never  heard  his name, and  abandon  anew  his  heritage;  he  might  draw  from  out  of their  deserts  ferocious  and  infidel  nations,  and  deliver  up  to  them our temples  and  our  habitations,  as  he  formerly  delivered  up  those churches so  celebrated,  which  the  Tertullians,  the  Cyprians,  the Augustines had  illustrated,  and  where  now  not  a  trace  of  Christianity remains but  in  the  insults  which  Jesus  Christ  there  receives,  and  in the  shackles  with  which  believers  are  there  loaded:  he  might  do  it; but he  avengeth  himself  more  secretly,  and  perhaps  more  terribly. He leaveth  to  you  still  the  spectacle  and  all  the  outward  ceremony of the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  but  he  turneth  the  whole  fruit  of  it upon  the  simple  and  ignorant  inhabitants  of  the  country;  the  terrors of faith  are  no  longer  but  for  them. He no  longer  withdraweth  his prophets from  cities;  but  he  taketh  away  from  them,  if  I  may venture to  say  so,  the  power  and  the  influence  of  their  ministry: he striketh  these  holy  clouds  with  dryness  and  unfruitfulness:  he raiseth  up  to  you  such  as  render  truth  flowery  and  beautiful,  but who do  not  render  it  amiable;  who  please,  but  who  do  not  convert you: he  permitteth  the  holy  terrors  of  his  doctrine  to  be  weakened in our  mouths:  he  no  longer  draweth  forth,  from  the  treasures  of his  mercy,  grand  characters  like  those  raised  up  in  the  ages  of  our forefathers, who  renewed  cities  and  kingdoms,  who  led  the  great and the  people,  and  who  changed  the  palaces  of  kings  into  houses of penitence:  he  permitteth  that  we,  weak  men,  succeed  to  these apostolic men.

What more  shall  I  add? We assemble  here,  like  Paul  formerly in Athens,  idle  and  curious  spectators,  whose  only  view  is  that  of hearing  something  new;  while  those  who  perform  the  functions  of their  ministry  among  your  vassals,  see  with  consolations  at  their feet, like  Esdras  formerly,  simple  Israelites,  who  are  unable  to retain  their  tears  in  hearing  only  the  words  of  the  law. We amuse the leisure  and  the  idleness  of  princes  and  the  great  of  the  earth, while, in  the  country,  holy  ministers  bring  forth  Jesus  Christ,  and reap an  abundant  harvest:  in  a  word,  we  preach,  and  they  convert. It is  thus,  O  my  God,  that  in  secret  thou  exercisest  severe  and terrible judgments.

But, my  brethren,  why  may  not  we  say  here  to  you,  what  Paul and Barnabas  formerly  said  to  the  unbelieving  Jews? " It  was