Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/533

 having a  heart  so  noble,  so  sincere,  and  so  incapable  of  being touched but  by  merit  alone. And all  this  shall  take  place  before the eyes  of  the  universe;  of  those  friends  whom  an  appearance  of regularity  had  preserved  to  you;  of  your  relations  who  were  ignorant of  the  disgrace  with  which  you  covered  them;  of  that  husband who had  so  much  depended  on  your  affection  and  fidelity.

O my  God! is there  an  abyss  sufficiently  profound  in  the  earth in which  the  unfaithful  soul  would  not  then  wish  to  hide  himself? For, in  the  world,  men  never  see  but  the  outside  and  the  scandal of our  vices;  and,  besides,  our  confusion  is  shared  and  countenanced by  those  who  are  continually  culpable  of  the  same  faults. But, before the  tribunal  of  Jesus  Christ,  your  weaknesses  shall  be  seen in your  heart;  that  is  to  say,  their  birth,  their  progress,  their  most private motives,  and  a  thousand  shameful  and  personal  circumstances, which,  even  more  than  the  crimes  themselves  shall  cover you with  shame:  it  will  be  a  confusion  in  which  none  shall  bear  a share,  and,  consequently,  will  be  entirely  your  own.

Lastly, the  final  circumstance,  which  shall  render  the  shame  of the  sinner  overwhelming,  is  his  personal  qualities.

You passed  in  the  world  for  a  faithful,  sincere,  and  generous friend: it  will  be  seen  that  you  were  vile,  perfidious,  interested, without faith,  honour,  probity,  conscience,  or  character. You gave yourself out  for  a  towering  mind,  above  all  the  vulgar  prejudices: and you  shall  unfold  the  most  humiliating  meannesses  and  circumstances, at  which  the  vilest  soul  would  almost  expire  with  shame. In the  world  you  were  regarded  as  a  man  of  integrity,  and  of  an approved  probity  in  the  administration  of  your  charge;  that  reputation had  perhaps  attracted  fresh  honours,  and  acquired  to  you  the public confidence;  you,  nevertheless,  abused  the  credulity  of  men; those pompous  shows  of  equity  concealed  an  unjust  and  servile soul, and  a  thousand  times  had  your  fidelity  been  in  secret  betrayed, and your  conscience  corrupted,  by  views  of  fortune  and  motives  of interest;  you  were  apparently  adorned  with  sanctity  and  righteousness;  you  had  always  assumed  the  semblance  of  the  just;  you were believed  to  be  the  friend  of  God,  and  the  faithful  observer  of his  law;  yet  your  heart  was  not  upright  before  the  Lord:  under the cloak  of  religion  you  covered  a  defiled  conscience  and  ignominious concealments;  you  walked  in  the  way  of  holy  things  more securely to  attain  your  purposes. Ah! on that  day  of  revelation, you go  to  undeceive  the  whole  universe;  those  who  had  seen  you on the  earth,  astonished  at  your  unexpected  lot,  shall  search  among the reprobate  to  discover  the  upright  man;  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite shall   then   be    overthrown:  you    unjustly  had  enjoyed  the esteem of  men;  you  shall  be  known  and  God  avenged. Lastly, yet shall  I  dare  to  say  it,  and  here  reveal  the  shame  of  my  brethren? You were  perhaps  the  dispenser  of  holy  things,  high  in honour  in  the  temple  of  God;  the  charge  of  faith,  of  doctrine,  and of piety  was  intrusted  to  you;  you  appeared  every  day  in  the  sanctuary, clothed  in  the  formidable  tokens  of  your  dignity,  offering  up pure  gifts  and  sacrifices  without  stain;  you  were  intrusted  with  the