Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/562

 from thence  they  find  themselves  exactly  the  same;  hatreds  are  not extinguished, the  empire  of  voluptuousness  is  not  weakened,  animation in  the  pursuit  of  pleasures  is  not  blunted,  inclination  for  the world is  not  less  violent;  in  a  word,  cupidity  has  lost  nothing  of  its rights. We see  no  greater  precautions  than  before  against  dangers already encountered;  the  society  of  the  world  again  resumes  its influence; conversations  are  renewed;  the  passions  awaken;  every thing resumes  its  former  train,  and,  in  addition  to  their  former state, they  have  now  to  add  the  profanation  of  this  awful  mystery. How is  this? It is  that  a  simple  confession  is  no  examination  of one's  self.

Again, it  is  the  food  of  the  strong. A weak,  sickly,  and  wavering soul,  who  turns  with  every  wind;  who  gives  way  to  the  first obstacle; who  founders  upon  the  first  rock;  who  escapes  every  moment from  the  guidance  of  grace;  who  has  a  long  experience  of  his own fragility;  who  never  brings  to  the  altar  but  promises  a  hundred times violated,  but  momentary  sensations  of  devotion,  which  the very first  pleasure  stifles;  who,  from  his  earliest  years,  has  been  in the  alternate  practice  of  weaknesses  and  holy  things,  and  who  has seen a  constant  succession  of  crimes  to  repentance,  and  of  the  sacrament to  relapses:  is  a  soul  of  this  description  a  strong  soul? Is it not  its  duty  to  examine  itself,  to  increase,  to  strengthen,  and  to  exercise itself  in  charity? Scarcely in  a  state  to  digest  milk,  ought  it  to load  itself  with  solid  food,  and  such  as  can  serve  the  purposes  of nourishment  only  to  the  perfect  man?

It is  written  in  the  law,  that,  if  the  sin-offering  be  placed  in  an earthen  vessel,  the  vessel  shall  immediately  be  broken;  but  if  in  a brazen  vessel,  it  shall  be  both  scoured  and  rinsed  in  water. Would these circumstances,  so  carefully  and  minutely  marked,  be  worthy of the  Holy  Spirit,  did  they  not  contain  instructions  and  mysteries? Doth not  a  weak  soul,  who  receives  the  true  victim,  resemble  that earthen vessel  which  falls  in  pieces,  as  I  may  say,  being  unable  to endure  the  violence  of  this  sacred  fire? On the  contrary,  the  firm soul, like  the  brass,  is  purified,  loses  in  it  all  its  stains,  and  comes out from  it  more  beautiful  and  brilliant  than  before. What is  the consequence, according  to  Jesus  Christ,  of  putting  new  wine  into old bottles;  do  they  not  burst,  and  allow  the  wine  to  be  lost  upon the ground? What is  the  application  of  this  parable? You put the mystical  wine,  that  wine  whose  strength  operates  a  holy  intoxication in  pure  souls,  into  a  decayed  and  worn-out  heart,  which long-established passions  have  almost  consumed. Ah! I am  not surprised that  it  is  unable  to  endure  its  strength,  that  the  blood  of Jesus  Christ  cannot  tarry  there,  and  that,  on  the  first  occasion,  you shed and  trample  it  under  foot;  it  required  to  have  gradually  accustomed your  heart  to  it,  to  have  prepared  it  by  retirement,  by  prayer, by daily  conquests  over  yourself;  and,  through  the  means  of  these continued and  salutary  trials,  to  have  strengthened  and  rendered  it capable  of  receiving  Jesus  Christ.

It is  the  passover  of  Christians:  now,  Jesus  Christ  celebrates  his passover with  his  disciples  alone.