Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/450

 marks of  splendour  which  the  prophets  attributed  to  him:  he might  have  assumed  the  pompous  titles  of  conqueror  of  Judah,  of legislator  of  the  people,  of  deliverer  of  Israel:  Jerusalem,  in  these glorious marks,  would  have  recognized  him  whom  she  awaited: but Jerusalem,  in  these  titles,  saw  only  a  human  glory;  and  Jesus Christ comes  to  undeceive,  and  to  teach  her,  that  such  glory  is nothing;  that  such  an  expectation  had  been  unworthy  of  the oracles of  so  many  prophets  who  had  announced  him:  that  the Holy Spirit,  which  inspired  them,  could  hold  out  only  holiness and eternal  riches  to  men;  that  all  other  riches,  far  from  rendering them happy,  only  increased  their  evils  and  crimes:  and  that  his visible ministry  was  to  correspond  with  the  splendid  promises, which had,  for  so  many  ages  announced  him,  only  by  being  wholly spiritual, and  that  he  should  intend  only  the  salvation  of  men.

Thus, he  is  born  at  Bethlehem,  in  a  poor  and  abject  state,  without external  state  or  splendour;  he  whose  birth  the  songs  of  all the armies  of  heaven  then  celebrated:  without  title  which  might distinguish him  in  the  eyes  of  men;  he  who  was  exalted  above  all principality or  power:  he  suffers  his  name  to  be  written  down among those  of  the  obscurest  subjects  of  Caesar;  he  whose  name was above  all  other  names,  and  who  alone  had  the  right  of  writing down the  names  of  his  chosen  in  the  book  of  eternity:  vulgar  and simple shepherds  alone  came  to  pay  him  homage;  he,  before  whom whatever is  mighty  on  the  earth,  in  heaven,  and  in  hell,  ought  to bend  the  knee:  lastly,  whatever  can  confound  human  pride  is  assembled at  the  spectacle  of  his  birth. If titles,  rank,  or  prosperity, had been  able  to  render  us  happy  here  below,  and  to  shed  peace through our  heart,  Jesus  Christ  would  have  made  his  appearance clothed in  them,  and  would  have  brought  all  these  riches  to  his disciples; but  he  brings  peace  to  us  only  by  holding  them  in  contempt, and  by  teaching  us  to  hold  them  equally  in  contempt: he comes  to  render  us  happy,  only  by  coming  to  suppress  desires which hitherto  had  occasioned  all  our  disquiets:  he  comes  to  point out to  us  more  solid  and  more  durable  riches,  alone  capable  of calming  our  hearts,  of  filling  our  desires,  of  easing  our  troubles; riches of  which  man  cannot  deprive  us,  and  which  require  only  to be  loved  and  to  be  wished  for,  to  be  assured  of  possessing  them.

Nevertheless, who  tastes  of  this  blessed  peace? Wars, troubles, frenzies, are  they  more  rare  since  his  birth? Are those  empires and states  which  worship  him,  in  consequence  more  peaceful? Does that  pride  which  he  came  to  destroy  occasion  less  commotion and confusion  among  men? Alas! seek among  Christians  that peace which  ought  to  be  their  inheritance,  and  where  shall  you find it? — In cities? Pride sets  every  thing  there  in  motion;  every one wishes  to  soar  above  the  rank  of  his  ancestors:  an  individual, exalted by  fortune,  destroys  the  happiness  of  thousands  who  walk in his  steps,  without  being  able  to  attain  the  same  point  of  prosperity. In the  circle  of  domestic  walls? They conceal  only  distresses and cares:  and  the  father  of  the  family,  solely  occupied  with  the advancement, rather  than  the  Christian  education  of  his  offspring,