Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/539



Sire, — If the  world  were  to  speak  to  you  in  the  place  of  Jesus Christ, it  undoubtedly  would  not  say, "  Blessed  are  they  who  mourn." Happy, would  it  say,  the  prince  who  has  never  fought  but  to conquer,  and  whose  mind  has  always  been  superior  either  to  the danger or  to  the  victory:  who,  during  the  course  of  a  long  and  a prosperous  reign,  has  enjoyed,  and  still  continues  to  enjoy,  at  his ease, the  fruits  of  his  glory,  the  love  of  his  people,  the  esteem  of his  enemies,  the  advantage  of  his  conquests,  the  splendour  of  his actions, the  wisdom  of  his  laws,  and  the  august  prospect  of  a numerous  posterity;  and  who  has  nothing  left  now  to  desire  but the continuance  of  what  he  possesses.

In this  manner  would  the  world  speak:  but,  Sire,  Jesus  Christ does not  speak  like  the  world.

Happy, says  he  to  you,  not  him  who  is  the  admiration  of  his age; but  he  who  makes  his  study  of  the  age  to  come,  and  lives  in the  contempt  of  himself  and  of  all  the  things  of  the  earth;  for  to him  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. Not him  whose  reign  and  actions history will  immortalize  in  the  remembrance  of  men;  but  he  whose tears shall  have  effaced  the  history  of  his  sins  from  the  remembrance even of  God;  for  he  shall  be  for  ever  consoled. Not him  who, by new  conquests,  shall  have  extended  the  bounds  of  his  empire; but he  who  has  succeeded  in  confining  his  desires  and  his  passions within the  limits  of  the  law  of  God;  for  he  shall  inherit  a  kingdom more durable  than  the  empire  of  the  universe. Not him  who, exalted by  the  voice  of  nations  above  all  preceding  princes,  tranquilly enjoys  his  greatness  and  his  fame;  but  he  who  finding nothing even  on  the  throne  worthy  of  his  heart,  seeks  no  perfect happiness on  this  earth  but  in  virtue  and  in  righteousness;  for  he shall  be  filled. Not him  to  whom  men  have  given  the  pompous titles of  great  and  invincible;  but  he  to  whom  the  wretched  shall give, before  the  tribunal  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  title  of  father  and of merciful;  for  he  shall  be  treated  with  mercy. Lastly, happy not him  who,  always  disposer  of  the  lot  of  his  enemies,  has  more than once  given  peace  to  the  earth;  but  he  who  has  been  able  to give  it  to  himself,  and  to  banish  from  his  heart  all  the  vices  and disorderly inclinations  which  disturb  its  tranquillity;  for  he  shall be called  a  child  of  God.

Such, Sire,  are  those  whom  Jesus  Christ  calls  happy:  and  the Gospel acknowledges  no  other  happiness  on  the  earth  than  virtue and innocence.

Great God! it is  not,  then,  that  long  train  of  unexampled  prosperities, with  which  thou  hast  favoured  the  glory  of  his  reign,  that