Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/517

 little known  in  it,  faith  is  so  weakened,  the  law  and  truth  so  little observed, that  what  is  virtue,  with  regard  to  it,  may  still  be  a  great iniquity in  the  sight  of  God.

Rather compare  yourselves  with  those  holy  penitents  who  formerly edified  the  church  by  the  prodigy  of  their  austerities,  and whose life,  even  at  this  day,  appears  to  us  so  incredible;  with  those noble martyrs  who  gave  up  their  body  for  the  truth,  and  who, amidst the  most  cruel  torments,  were  transported  with  joy  in  contemplating the  holy  promises;  with  those  primitive  believers  who suffered death  every  day  for  Jesus  Christ,  and  who,  under  persecution, loss  of  property,  and  of  their  children,  thought  themselves still possessed  of  all,  as  they  had  neither  lost  faith  nor  the  hope  of a  better  life:  behold  the  models  by  whom  you  ought  to  measure your piety,  to  find  it  still  deficient,  and  all  worldly. Unless you resemble them,  in  vain  do  you  not  resemble  the  world;  you  shall perish like  it;  it  is  not  enough  that  you  do  not  imitate  the  crimes of the  worldly,  you  must  also  have  the  virtues  of  the  just.

Lastly. Not only  the  goodness  of  Jesus  Christ  wishes,  in  this miracle, to  furnish  to  his  disciples  and  to  the  Jewish  believers  a fresh  motive  for  believing  in  him,  but  in  it  his  justice  likewise supplies a  fresh  occasion  of  obstinacy  and  incredulity  to  the unbelieving Israelites:  last  circumstance  of  our  Gospel. They take measures  to  destroy  him;  they  wish  to  put  Lazarus  himself to death,  that  so  striking  a  testimony  of  the  power  of  Jesus  Christ may no  longer  continue  among  them. They had  wept  his  death; scarcely is  he  recalled  to  life  when  he  appears  worthy  only  of  their fury and  vengeance. And behold  the  sole  fruit  which  the  generality of you  commonly  reap  from  the  miracles  of  grace;  that  is  to  say, from the  conversion  and  the  spiritual  resurrection  of  great sinners. Before that  the  mercy  of  Jesus  Christ  had  cast  looks  of grace  and  salvation  upon  a  criminal  soul,  and  while  delivered  up to  the  dominion  of  the  passions,  he  was  not  only  dead  in  sin,  but spread every  where  around  the  infection  and  the  stench  of  his disorders and  scandals,  you  seemed  touched  for  his  errors  and shame; you  deplored  the  misery  of  his  lot:  you  mingled  your tears and  regrets  with  the  tears  and  regrets  of  his  friends  and  relatives, and  the  public  irregularity  of  his  conduct  experienced  from you every  sorrow  and  compassion  of  humanity;  but,  scarcely  hath the grace  of  Jesus  Christ,  recalled  him  to  life,  scarcely,  come  forth from the  tomb  and  that  abyss  of  corruption  in  which  he  was  buried, does he  render  glory  to  his  deliverer  by  the  holy  ardours  of  a  tender and  sincere  piety,  than  you  become  the  censurers  even  of  his piety: you  had  appeared  touched  for  the  excess  of  his  vices,  and you publicly  deride  the  excess  of  his  pretended  piety:  you  had blamed his  warm  pursuits  after  pleasure,  and  you  condemn  the fervour of  his  love  for  God. Be consistent,  therefore,  with  yourselves, and  decide  in  favour  either  of  the  just  or  of  the  sinner.

Yes, my  brethren,  if  the  happiness  of  a  soul,  who  before  your eyes, returns  from  his  errors,  excite  not  your  envy;  if  the  contrition of  a  sinner,  who  was  formerly  the  companion  perhaps  of  your