Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/410



Jesus Christ  had  hitherto  confuted  the  incredulity  of  the  Jews by his  works  and  by  his  miracles;  at  present  he  recalls  them  to  the judgment of  their  own  conscience  and  to  the  evidence  of  the  truth, which, in  spite  of  themselves,  rendered  testimony  to  his  doctrine and to  his  ministry. Nevertheless, as  they  shut  their  eyes  against the evidence  of  his  miracles,  in  accusing  him  of  operating  them through the  ministry  of  devils,  so  they  likewise  harden  themselves against the  evidence  of  his  doctrine  and  of  his  mission,  so  clearly foretold in  the  Scriptures,  by  alleging  pretended  obscurities,  which rendered them  in  their  eyes,  still  doubtful  and  suspicious.

For, my  brethren,  however  evident  may  be  the  truth,  that  is  to say,  the  law  of  God,  whether  in  our  heart,  where  it  is  written  in shining  and  ineffaceable  characters,  or  in  the  rules  which  Jesus Christ hath  left  to  us;  we  would  always,  either  that  our  conscience see nothing  in  it  but  what  our  passions  see,  or  that  these  rules  be not  so  explicit  but  what  we  may  always  be  able  to  find  out  some favourable interpretation  and  modification  of  them.

In effect,  two  pretexts  are  commonly  opposed  by  the  sinners  of the  world  against  the  evidence  of  truths  the  most  terrible  of  the law of  God.

First. In order  to  calm  themselves  on  a  thousand  abuses,  authorized by  the  world,  they  tell  us  that  they  believe  themselves  to be  in  safety  in  that  state;  that  their  conscience  reproaches  them with nothing  on  that  head;  and  that,  could  they  be  persuaded  that they were  in  the  path  of  error,  they  would  instantly  quit  it. First pretext which  is  opposed  to  the  evidence  of  the  law  of  God:  candour and  tranquillity  of  conscience.

Secondly. They oppose  that  the  gospel  is  not  so  clear  and  so explicit  on  certain  points  as  we  maintain  it  to  be;  that  each  interprets it  in  his  own  way,  and  makes  it  to  say  whatever  he  wishes; that what  appears  so  positive  to  us,  appears  not  so  to  all  the  world. Second pretext:  the  obscurity  and  uncertainty  of  the  rules.

Now, I  say  that  the  law  of  God  hath  a  two-fold  mark  of  evidence, which shall  overthrow  these  two  pretexts,  and  shall  condemn,  at  the day of  judgment,  all  the  vain  excuses  of  sinners.

First. It is  evident  in  the  conscience  of  the  sinner:  first  reflection. Secondly, it  is  evident  in  the  simplicity  of  the  rules:  second reflection. — The evidence  of  the  law  of  God  in  the  conscience  of men:  first  character  of  the  law  of  God,  which  shall  judge  the  false security and  pretended  candour  of  worldly  souls. The evidence  of the  law  of  God  in  the  simplicity  of  its  rules:  second  character  of