Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/480

 a whole  people,  announced,  during  four  thousand  years,  by  a  long train of  prophecies,  desired  of  all  nations,  figured  by  all  the  ceremonies, expected  by  all  the  just,  and  shown  from  afar  in  all  ages. The patriarchs  expire  in  wishing  to  see  him:  the  just  live  in  that expectation: fathers  instruct  their  children  to  wish  for  him:  and this desire  is  like  a  domestic  religion  which  is  perpetuated  from  age to age. The prophets  themselves  of  the  Gentiles,  see  the  Star  of Jacob  shining  from  afar;  and  this  great  event  is  announced  even in the  oracles  of  idols. Here, it  is  not  for  a  particular  event;  it  is to  be  the  resource  of  the  condemned  world,  the  legislator  of  all people, the  light  all  nations,  the  salvation  of  Israel;  it  is  in  order to blot  out  iniquity  from  the  earth,  to  bring  an  eternal  righteousness, to  fill  the  universe  with  the  spirit  of  God,  and  to  be  the blessed bearer  of  an  immortal  peace  to  all  men. What a  pompous train! What a  snare  for  the  religion  of  all  ages,  if  such  magnificent preparations  announce  only  a  simple  creature;  and,  more  especially, in  times  when  the  credulity  of  the  people  so  easily  placed extraordinary men  in  the  rank  of  gods!

Besides, when  John  the  Baptist  appears  on  the  borders  of  the Jordan, afraid,  it  would  seem,  that  the  single  oracle  which  had  foretold him  might  become  an  occasion  of  idolatry  to  the  people,  whom the fame  of  his  sanctity  attracted  around  him,  he  performs  no  miracles; he  never  ceases  to  say,  P  I  am  not  he  whom  you  expect;  but one mightier  than  me  cometh,  the  latchet  of  whose  shoes  I  am  not worthy to  unloose;"  he  is  only  watchful,  it  would  appear,  to  prevent superstitious  honours.  Jesus  Christ,  on  the  contrary,  whom four  thousand  years  of  expectation,  of  allusions,  of  prophecies,  of promises,  had  with  so  much  magnificence  announced  to  the  earth; Jesus  Christ,  far  from  preventing  the  superstition  of  the  people with  regard  to  himself,  comes  in  full  authority  and  might;  he  does miracles  and  deeds  which  no  one  had  ever  done  before  him;  and, not  only  does  he  raise  himself  above  John  the  Baptist,  but  he  gives out  that  he  is  equal  with  God  himself.  Had  the  error  been  to  dread, and,  if  to  render  to  him  divine  honours  had  been  idolatry,  where would  be  his  zeal  for  the  glory  of  him  who  sends  him,  or  where would  be  his  love  for  men?

And yet  more,  my  brethren:  all  the  extraordinary  men  of  which the preceding  ages  could  boast,  all  the  just  of  the  law  and  of  the age of  the  patriarchs,  had  been  only  the  imperfect  types  of  the Christ; and  again,  each  of  them  represented  only  some  individual trait of  his  life  and  ministry:  Melchizedek,  his  priesthood;  Abraham, his  quality  of  Head  and  Father  of  believers;  Isaac,  his  sacrifice;  Job,  his  persecutions  and  sufferings;  Moses,  his  office  of  Mediator;  Joshua,  his  triumphant  entry  into  the  land  of  the  living with a  chosen  people. All these  men,  however,  so  venerable  and  so miraculous,  were  only  rude  sketches  of  the  Messiah  to  come;  and how great  must  have  been  that  Messiah  himself,  seeing  his  figures were so  illustrious  and  so  shining! But, deprive  Jesus  Christ  of his  divinity  and  of  his  eternal  origin,  and  the  reality  has  nothing superior to  the  figure. I know,  as  we  shall  afterward  say,  that,