Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/38

 eternity to  give  nothing  to  opinion  or  example. Indeed, the upright is  every  where  represented  to  us  in  the  holy  writings,  as  a judicious  and  prudent  man,  who  calculates,  who  compares,  who examines, who  discriminates,  who  tries  whatever  may  be  the  most proper, who  does  not  lightly  believe  every  fancy,  who  carries before him  the  torch  of  the  law,  that  his  steps  may  be  enlightened, and that  he  may  not  be  in  danger  of  mistaking  his  way. The sinner, on  the  contrary,  is  there  held  out  as  a  foolish  man,  who marches by  chance,  and  who,  in  the  most  dangerous  passes, advances forward  with  confidence,  as  if  he  was  travelling  in  the straightest and  most  certain  path.

Now, my  brethren,  such  is  the  situation  of  almost  all  men  in the  affair  of  salvation. In every  other  matter,  prudent,  attentive, diffident,  active  to  discover  any  errors  concealed  under  the common prejudices, — it  is  in  salvation  alone  that  nothing  can equal our  credulity  and  imprudence. Yes, my  brethren,  we  tell you every  day,  that  the  life  of  the  world,  which  is  to  say,  that  life of amusement,  of  inutility,  of  vanity,  of  show,  of  effeminacy,  exempt even  from  great  crimes, — that  this  life,  I  say,  is  not  a  Christian one,  and  consequently  is  a  life  of  reprobation  and  infidelity: it is  the  doctrine  of  that  religion  in  which  you  were  born;  and  since your infancy  you  have  been  nourished  in  these  holy  truths. The world, on  the  contrary,  affirms  this  to  be  the  only  life  which  persons of  a  certain  rank  can  lead;  that  not  to  conform  themselves  to it,  would  betray  a  barbarity  of  manners,  in  which  there  would  be more  singularity  and  meanness  than  reason  or  virtue.

I even  consent  that  it  may  still  be  considered  as  dubious,  whether the  world  or  we  have  reason  on  our  side,  and  that  this  grand dispute may  not  yet  be  decided;  nevertheless,  as  a  horrible  alternative depends  upon  it,  and  that  any  mistake  here  is  the  worst  of all  evils,  it  appears  that  prudence  requires  us  to  clear  it  up  at  least, before we  take  the  final  step. It is  surely  natural  to  hesitate between two  contending  parties,  particularly  where  our  salvation  is the  subject  of  dispute. Now, I  ask  you,  entering  into  the  world, and adopting  its  manners,  its  maxims,  and  its  customs,  as  you  have adopted them,  have  you  begun  by  examining  whether  it  had  reason on its  side,  and  if  we  were  wrong  and  false  deceivers? The world wishes you  to  aspire  to  the  favours  of  fortune,  and  to  neglect  neither cares, exertions,  meannesses,  nor  artifices,  to  procure  them:  you follow these  plans;  but  have  you  examined  if  the  gospel  does  not contradict and  forbid  them? The world  boasts  of  luxury,  of  magnificence, of  the  delicacies  of  the  table;  and,  in  matters  of  expense, it deems  nothing  excessive  but  what  may  tend  to  derange  the  circumstances. Have you  informed  yourselves,  whether  the  law  of God  does  not  prescribe  a  more  holy  use  of  the  riches  which  we hold  only  from  him? The world  authorizes  continual  pleasures, gaming, theatres,  and  treats  with  ridicule  whoever  dares  venture even to  doubt  their  innocence. Have you  found  this  decision  in the  sorrowful  and  crucifying  maxims  of  Jesus  Christ?

The world  approves  of  certain  suspicious  and  odious  ways  of