Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/423

 hypocrisy, their  implacable  hatred,  and  their  secret  envy  against Jesus Christ. Obscurities are  only  in  our  own  heart;  and  we never  begin  to  doubt  upon  our  duties  but  when  we  begin  to  love those maxims  which  oppose  them. — Second reflection.

In effect,  I  tell  you,  in  the  third  place,  you  believe  that  the  Gospel is  not  so  express  as  we  pretend,  upon  the  greater  part  of  the rules which  we  wish  to  prescribe  to  you;  that  we  carry  its  severity to excess,  and  that  we  make  it  to  say  whatever  we  please. Hear it then  itself,  my  brethren;  we  consent  that,  of  all  the  duties  prescribed to  you  by  it,  you  shall  think  yourselves  obliged  to  observe only those  which  are  marked  there  in  terms  so  precise  and  clear that it  is  impossible  to  mistake  or  misconstrue  them:  more  is  not required of  you,  and  we  free  you  from  all  the  rest. Hear it  then: u And  whosoever  doth  not  bear  his  cross,  and  come  after  me,  cannot be  my  disciple. Whosoever he  be  of  you,  that  forsaketh  not all that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple. The kingdom  of  heaven sufTereth  violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force. Except ye repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish. Ye cannot  serve  God  and mammon. Woe unto  you  that  are  full,  for  ye  shall  hunger;  woe unto you  that  laugh  now,  for  ye  shall  mourn  and  weep. Blessed are they  that  weep  now,  for  ye  shall  laugh. He that  loveth  his father, his  wife,  his  children,  yea,  and  his  life  also,  better  than  me, is not  worthy  of  me. I say  unto  you,  that  ye  shall  weep  and  lament, but  the  world  shall  rejoice;  and  ye  shall  be  sorrowful,  but your sorrow  shall  be  turned  into  joy."

Do I  speak  here,  my  brethren? Do I  come  to  deceive  you  by an  excess  of  severity,  to  add  to  the  Gospel,  and  to  bring  you  only my own  thoughts? Weak creature  that  I  am,  I  have  occasion  myself for  indulgence;  and  if  I  took,  in  the  weakness  of  my  own  heart, the doctrine  which  I  announce  to  you,  alas! I would  speak  to you  only  the  language  of  man:  I  would  tell  you  that  God  is  too good to  punish  inclinations  which  are  born,  it  would  appear,  with us; that,  to  love  God,  it  is  not  necessary  to  hate  one*s  self;  that, when rich,  we  ought  to  enjoy  our  wealth,  and  allow  ourselves  every gratification. Behold the  language  which  I  would  hold;  for  man, delivered up  to  himself,  can  speak  only  this  language  of  flesh  and blood. But would  you  believe  me,  as  I  have  already  demanded; would you  respect  my  ministry;  would  you  look  upon  me  as  an angel  from  heaven,  who  should  come  to  announce  to  you  this  new Gospel?

That of  Jesus  Christ  speaks  another  language  to  you. I have related to  you  only  his  own  divine  words;  these  are  the  duties which he  prescribes  to  you  in  clear  and  express  terms. We consent that  you  confine  your  whole  piety  to  these  limits,  and  that you leave  all  the  rest  as  doubtful,  or,  at  least  commanded  in  terms less clear,  and  more  susceptible  of  favourable  interpretations. Reckon not  among  your  duties  but  these  holy  and  incontestable rules; we  exact  nothing  more:  limit  yourselves  to  performing  what they prescribe  to  you;  and  you  will  see  that  you  shall  do  more than we  even  demand  of  you;  and  that  the  most  common  and  most