Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/29

 different cares which are connected with the things of this earth. The actions of faith alone, which shall endure eternally, which shall form the history of the age to come, and shall be engraven during all eternity upon the immortal columns of the heavenly Jerusalem, are accounted idle and obscure occupations, the lot of weak and limited souls, and have nothing which exalt them in the eyes of men. Such, my brethren, is the first cause of our indifference toward the business of our salvation: we do not sufficiently esteem that holy undertaking, to labour at it with fervour.

Now I do not think it necessary to stop here, and combat an illusion, which so flagrantly violates right reason. For what is it that can render a work glorious to the person who undertakes it? Is it the duration and the immortality which it promises in the memory of man? Alas! all the monuments of pride will perish with the world which has reared them up; whatever we do for the earth, will experience the same destiny which it will one day undergo: victories and conquests, the most splendid enterprises, and all the history of the sinners whose names adorn the present age, will be effaced from the remembrance of men; the works of the just alone will be immortal, and, written for ever in the book of life, will survive the entire ruin of the universe. Is it the recompense which is held out to us for it? But whoever is unable to render us happy, is consequently unable to recompense us; and there is no other who has that power but God himself. Is it the dignity of the occupations to which they engage you? But the most honourable cares of the world are merely games, on which our error and absurdity have bestowed serious and pompous names. Here, on the contrary, every thing is great: we love the Author of our existence alone; we adore the Sovereign of the universe; we serve an Almighty Master; we covet only eternal riches; we form projects for heaven alone; we labour for an immortal crown.

What is there upon the earth, then, more glorious or more worthy of man than the cares of eternity? Prosperities are honourable anxieties; splendid enjoyments an illustrious servitude; reputation is frequently a public error; titles and dignities are rarely the fruit of virtue, and, at the most, serve only to adorn our tombs and embellish our ashes; great talents, if faith does not regulate their use, are only great temptations: deep knowledge, a wind which inflates and corrupts, if faith does not correct its venom; all these are only grand, by the use which may be made of them toward salvation: virtue alone is estimable for itself.

Nevertheless, if our competitors are more successful and more elevated than we in the world, we view their situation with envious eyes; and their aggrandisement, in humbling our pride, reanimates the fervour of our designs, and gives new life to our expectations; but it happens sometimes, that the accomplices of our pleasures, changed suddenly into new men, nobly break all the shameful bonds of the passions, and, borne upon the wings of grace, enter, in our sight, into the path of salvation, whilst they