Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/40

 ourselves on  our  wisdom  in  the  affairs  of  the  world;  and,  alas! in the business  of  our  eternal  salvation,  we  think  it  no  disgrace  to  be ignorant  and  foolish.

You will  tell  us,  perhaps,  that  you  are  neither  wiser,  nor  more able than  all  the  others  who  live  like  you;  that  you  cannot enter into  discussions  which  are  beyond  your  reach;  that, were we  to  be  believed,  it  would  be  necessary  to  cavil  at  and dispute every  thing;  and  that  piety  does  not  consist  in  refining to such  an  extreme. But I  ask  you, — Is  so  much  subtlety  required to know  that  the  world  is  a  deceitful  guide;  that  its  maxims are rejected  in  the  school  of  Jesus  Christ;  and  that  its  customs can never  subvert  the  law  of  God? Is not  this  the  most  simple and the  most  common  rule  of  the  gospel,  and  the  first  truth  in  the plan of  salvation? To know  our  duty,  it  requires  only  to  walk  in simplicity  of  heart. Subtleties are  only  necessary  in  order  to  dissemble with  ourselves,  and  to  connect,  if  possible,  the  passions with the  holy  rules;  there  it  is  that  the  human  mind  has  occasion for all  its  industry,  for  the  task  is  difficult. Such is  exactly  your case; you  who  pretend,  that  to  recall  customs  to  the  law  is  a ridiculous  refinement. To know  our  duty,  it  only  requires  a  conference with  ourselves. While Saul  continued  faithful,  he  had  no occasion  to  consult  the  sorceress  with  regard  to  what  he  should  do; the law  of  God  sufficiently  instructed  him. It was  only  after  his guilt, that,  in  order  to  calm  the  inquietudes  of  a  troubled  conscience, and  to  connect  his  criminal  weaknesses  with  the  law  of God,  he  bethought  himself  of  seeking,  in  the  answers  of  a  deceitful oracle,  some  authority  favourable  to  his  passions. Love the truth, and  you  will  soon  acquire  a  knowledge  of  it. A clear  conscience is  the  best  of  all  instructors.

Not that  I  wish  to  blame  those  sincere  researches  which  an honest  and  timid  soul  makes  to  enlighten  and  instruct  itself;  I wish  only  to  say,  that  the  majority  of  doubts  with  regard  to  our duties, in  those  hearts  delivered  up  like  you  to  the  world,  springs from a  ruling  principle  of  cupidity,  which,  on  the  one  side,  would wish not  to  interfere  with  its  infamous  passions;  and,  on  the  other, have the  authority  of  the  law  to  protect  it  from  the  remorses which attend  a  manifest  transgression. For, besides,  if  you  seek the Lord  in  sincerity,  and  your  lights  are  insufficient,  there  are still prophets  in  Israel;  consult,  in  proper  time,  those  who  preserve the form  of  the  law,  and  of  the  holy  doctrine,  and  who  teach  the way of  God  in  truth. Do not  propose  your  doubts  with  those colourings and  softenings  which  always  fix  the  decision  in  your favour; do  not  apply  in  order  to  be  deceived,  but  to  be  instructed; seek not  favourable,  but  sure  and  enlightened  guides;  do  not  content yourselves  even  with  the  testimony  of  men;  consult  the  Lord frequently, and  through  different  channels. The voice  of  Heaven is uniform,  because  the  voice  of  truth,  of  which  it  is  the  interpreter, is the  same. If the  testimonies  do  not  accord,  prefer  always  what places you  farthest  from  danger;  always  mistrust  the  opinion which pleases,  and  which  already  had  the  suffrage  of  your  self-love