Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/32

 toward the  consolation  of  his  brethren,  and  the  happiness  of  the people of  God,  a  prosperity  which  he  acknowledged  to  be  held only from  his  Almighty  hand. That officer  of  the  Queen  of Ethiopia,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  had  the sole government  of  her  immense  riches:  every  particular  with  regard to  tribute  and  subsidies,  and  the  administration  of  all  the public revenues,  were  intrusted  to  his  fidelity. Now, this  abyss  of cares  and  embarrassments  did  not  deprive  him  of  leisure  to  seek, in the  prophecies  of  Isaiah,  the  salvation  he  expected,  and  the words of  eternal  life. Place yourselves  in  the  most  agitated  stations, you  will  find  examples  of  upright  souls,  who  in  them  have wrought their  sanctification. The court  may  become  the  asylum of virtue,  as  well  as  the  cloister;  places  and  employments  may  be the  aids,  as  well  as  the  rocks  of  piety;  and  when,  in  order  to return  to  God,  we  delay  till  a  change  of  station  shall  take  place,  it is  a  convincing  proof  that  we  do  not  as  yet  wish  to  change  our heart. Besides, when  we  say  that  salvation  ought  to  be  your  sole employment, we  do  not  pretend  that  you  should  renounce  all  other pursuits; for  you  would  then  depart  from  the  order  of  God:  we only  wish  you  to  connect  them  with  your  salvation;  that  piety may sanctify  your  occupations;  that  faith  may  regulate  them; that religion  may  animate  them;  that  the  fear  of  the  Lord  may moderate them:  in  a  word,  that  salvation  may  be  as  the  centre  to which  they  all  tend. For, to  wait  till  you  shall  be  in  a  more tranquil situation,  and  less  involved  in  worldly  perplexities,  is  not only an  illusion  which  Satan  employs  to  delay  your  repentance, but it  is  also  an  outrage  upon  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. You thereby justify  the  reproaches  formerly  made  against  it  by  the enemies of  the  Christians;  it  would  seem  that  you  look  upon  it as  incompatible  with  the  duties  of  prince,  courtier,  public  character, and  father  of  a  family:  like  them,  you  seem  to  believe,  that the gospel  proposes  only  maxims  unfortunate  and  inimical  to  society;  and  that,  were  it  believed  and  strictly  observed,  it  would be necessary  to  quit  all;  to  exclude  ourselves  from  the  world;  to renounce  all  public  concerns;  to  break  all  the  ties  of  duty,  of  humanity, of  authority,  which  unite  us  to  the  rest  of  mankind;  and to live  as  if  we  were  alone  upon  the  earth:  in  place  of  which,  it  is the  gospel  alone  which  makes  us  fulfil  all  these  duties  as  they ought to  be  fulfilled:  it  is  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  which  can alone form  pious  princes,  incorruptible  magistrates,  mild  and  gentle masters,  and  faithful  subjects,  and  maintain,  in  a  just  harmony, that variety  of  stations  and  conditions,  upon  which  depend  the peace and  tranquillity  of  the  people,  and  the  safety  of  empires.

But, in  order  to  impress  more  sensibly  upon  you  the  illusion  of this  pretext,  when  you  shall  be  free  from  embarrassment,  and disengaged from  those  external  cares  which  at  present  detach  your thoughts from  salvation,  will  your  heart  be  free  from  passions? Will those  iniquitous  and  invisible  bonds  which  now  stop  you, be broken  asunder? Will you  be  restored  to  yourselves? Will you be  more  humble,  more  patient,  more  moderate,  more    vir-