Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/329

 thy wrath,  and  the  most  dreadful  mark  of  thine  indignation  upon the cities  and  upon  the  kingdoms.

Yes, my  brethren,  behold  what  you  are  when  you  belong  not  to God. Such is  the  first  character  of  your  faults, — the  scandal. Your lot  decides  in  general  that  of  the  people:  the  excesses  of  the lower ranks  are  always  the  consequence  of  your  excesses;  and  the transgressions of  Jacob,  said  the  prophet,  that  is  to  say,  of  the people and  of  the  tribes,  came  only  from  Samaria,  the  seat  of  the great and  of  the  mighty.

But, even  granting  that  no  new  degree  of  enormity  should  be specially  attached  to  the  great  by  the  scandal  inseparable  from their sins,  ingratitude,  which  forms  the  second  character  of  them, would be  amply  sufficient  to  attract,  upon  their  heads,  that  neglect of God  by  which  his  bowels  are  for  ever  shut  to  compassion  and clemency.

I say  ingratitude:  for  God  hath  preferred  you  to  so  many  unfortunate fellow-creatures  who  languish  in  obscurity  and  in  want:  he hath  exalted  you,  and  hath  caused  you  to  be  born  amid  splendour and abundance;  he  hath  chosen  you  above  all  the  people,  to  load you with  benefits;  in  you  alone  he  hath  assembled  riches,  honours, titles, distinctions,  and  all  the  advantages  of  the  earth. It would seem that  his  providence  watches  only  for  you,  while  so  many  unfortunate millions  eat  the  bread  of  tribulation  and  of  sorrow. The earth seems  to  be  produced  for  you  alone;  the  sun  to  rise  and  to go  down  solely  for  you;  even  the  rest  of  men  seem  born  only  for you; and  to  contribute  to  your  grandeur  and  purposes. It would appear that  the  Lord  is  occupied  solely  with  you,  while  he  neglected so many  obscure  souls,  whose  days  are  days  of  sorrow  and  want, and for  whom  it  would  seem  that  there  is  no  God  upon  earth. Yet, nevertheless,  you  turn  against  God  all  that  you  have  received from his  hands;  your  abundance  serves  for  the  indulgence  of  your passions; your  exaltation  facilitates  your  criminal  pleasures,  and his blessings  become  your  crimes.

Yes, my  brethren,  while  thousands  of  unfortunate  fellow-creatures, upon  whom  his  hand  is,  so  heavy;  while  an  obscure  populace, for whom  life  has  nothing  but  hardships  and  toil,  invoke  and  bless him, raise  up  the  hands  to  him  in  the  simplicity  of  their  heart, regard him  as  their  father,  and  give  him  every  mark  of  an  unaffected piety, and  of  a  sincere  religion — you,  whom  he  loads  with  his  benefits;  you  for  whom  the  entire  world  seems  to  be  made,  you  acknowledge him  not;  you  deign  not  to  lift  up  your  eyes  to  him;  you never bestow  even  a  moment's  reflection  whether  there  be  or  be not  a  God  above  you  who  interferes  in  the  things  of  the  earth;  in place  of  thanksgivings  you  return  him  insults,  and  religion  is  only for the  people.

Alas! you think  it  so  mean  and  so  ungenerous  when  those  whose advancement was  your  work,  neglect  you,  deny  their  obligations, and even  employ  that  credit  which  they  owe  solely  to  you,  in thwarting  and  ruining  you. But, my  brethren,  they  only  act  by you  as  you  do  toward  your  God. Is not  your  exaltation  his  work?