Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/289

 coming here  to  seek  remedies  for  their  evils,  come  in  search  of  vain ornaments, which  amuse  without  curing  the  afflicted,  which  are  the means of  our  pleasing  the  sinner,  but  have  no  influence  toward making the  sinner  displeased  with  himself. They come  here,  it would  appear,  to  say  to  us  what  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon  formerly said to  the  captive  Israelites, — "  Sing  us  one  of  the  songs  of  Zion." They come  in  search  of  harmony  and  delight,  in  the  serious  and important truths  of  the  morality  of  Jesus  Christ;  in  the  sighs  of the  sorrowful  Zion,  captive  in  a  strange  land;  and  require  of  us that  we  flatter  the  ear  while  publishing  the  threatenings  and  the rigid maxims  of  the  Gospel.

O! you  who  now  listen  to  me,  and  whom  this  Discourse  regards, reflect for  a  moment,  I  entreat  of  you,  upon  yourselves! Your case is,  as  it  were,  desperate  in  the  eyes  of  God;  your  wounds, become virulent  through  their  long-standing,  no  longer  leave  almost a hope  of  cure;  your  evils  press;  time  is  short;  God,  wearied with having  so  long  borne  with  you,  is  at  last  on  the  point  of striking  and  of  surprising  you:  behold  the  eternal  miseries  which we foretel  to  you,  and  which  happen  every  day  to  your  equals. You are  not  far  distant  from  the  fulfilment:  we  show  you  the  terrible sword  of  the  Lord  suspended  over  your  head,  and  ready  to fall  upon  you;  and,  far  from  shuddering  at  the  after  part  of  your destiny, or  taking  any  measures  to  avoid  the  impending  blow,  you childishly amuse  yourselves  in  examining  whether  it  shine  and  have a lustre! and you  search,  even  in  the  terrors  of  the  prediction,  for the puerile  beauties  of  a  vain  eloquence. Great God! how despicable and  how  worthy  of  derision  doth  the  sinner  appear  when  we view  him  through  thy  light!

For, my  brethren,  are  we  then  here  upon  a  profane  tribunal,  for the purpose  of  courting,  with  artificial  words,  the  suffrages  of  an idle  assembly,  or  in  a  Christian  pulpit,  and  in  the  place  of  Jesus Christ, to  instruct,  to  reprove,  and  to  sanctify  you,  in  the  name  and under the  eyes  of  him  who  sends  us? Is it  here  a  dispute  for  worldly fame, an  idle  exercise  of  the  faculties,  or  the  most  holy  and  the  most important ministry  of  faith? O! why  do  you  come  to  loiter  away with our  feeble  talents,  or  to  seek  human  qualifications  where  God alone speaketh  and  acteth? Are not  the  humblest  instruments  the most suitable  to  the  mightiness  of  his  grace? Do not  the  walls  of Jericho  fall  when  he  pleaseth,  at  the  sound  of  the  weakest  trumpets? O! what  matters  it  to  us  that  we  please,  if  we  do  not  change you? Of what  consequence  is  it  to  us,  the  being  eloquent,  if  you continue always  sinners? What fruit  can  we  reap  from  your  applauses, if  you  reap  none  yourselves  from  our  instructions? Our only praise,  our  only  glory,  is  the  establishment  of  the  reign  of  God in your  hearts;  your  tears  alone,  much  rather  than  your  applauses, can prove  our  eulogium;  and  we  covet  no  other  crown  than  yourselves, and  your  eternal  salvation.