Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/563

 Now, what  is  it  to  be  his  disciples? It is  to  renounce  one's  self, to carry  his  cross,  to  follow  him. Are you  mortified  in  your  desires, patient under  your  afflictions? Do you  walk  in  the  ways  in  which Jesus Christ  hath  walked  before  you? To be  his  disciples  is  mutually to  love  each  other. And how  often  have  you  come  to  eat of this  bread  of  union? How often  have  you  made  your  appearance at this  banquet  of  charity,  your  heart  inwardly  loaded  with  gall and bitterness  against  your  brother? How often  have  you  come to offer  up  your  present  at  the  altar,  without  having  reconciled yourself with  him?

Lastly. It is  a  God  so  pure,  that  the  stars  are  dimmed  in  his presence: so  holy,  that,  after  the  fall  of  the  angel,  heaven  was  rent and the  abyss  opened  that  he  might  place  an  eternal  chaos  between sin and  him;  so  jealous,  that  a  single  wandering  desire  injures  and offends him. Thus, my  brethren,  it  is  necessary  that  you  examine yourselves upon  your  own  inclinations. Are not  those  desires  of the  age  of  which  the  apostle  speaks,  still  nourished  within  you? Render glory  to  God,  and,  in  his  presence,  search  your  hearts  to the  bottom. I go  to  eat  of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  convert it into  my  own  substance;  but  when  he  shall  have  entered  into  my soul,  he  who  knows  and  discerns  its  intentions  and  most  secret  inclinations, will  he  find  nothing  there  unworthy  of  the  sanctity  of his  presence? He will  immediately  proceed  to  the  spring  and  to  the causes of  my  wanderings;  he  will  examine  whether  their  source  be dried  up,  or  their  course  only  suspended;  he  will  perceive  what  are still the  dominant  inclinations  of  my  soul,  and  what  is  the  weight which still  turns  the  balance  of  my  heart:  alas! will he  be  enabled to say,  as  formerly  when  entering  into  the  house  of  Zaccheus, " This  day  is  salvation  come  to  this  house?" Have I  sincerely cast off  that  passion  so  fatal  to  my  innocence;  that  bitterness  of heart,  of  which  I  have  so  lately  expressed  my  detestation  at  the feet of  the  priest;  that  idolizing  of  riches,  which  leads  me  to  grasp at even  iniquitous  profits;  that  madness  of  gaming,  by  which  my health,  my  affairs,  and  my  salvation  are  injured;  that  vexatious and variable  temper,  which  the  slightest  contradiction  inflames; that vanity  which  leads  me  to  soar  above  the  rank  in  which  my ancestors  had  left  me;  that  envy  which,  with  malignant  eyes,  has always viewed  the  reputation  and  the  prosperity  of  my  equals;  that proud and  censorious  air,  which  judges  upon  all,  and  never  judges itself; that  supreme  influence  over  me  of  effeminacy  and  voluptuousness, which  are,  as  it  were,  interwoven  with  the  foundation  and principle of  my  being? Has the  avowal,  which  I  come  from  making, of  my  weaknesses,  to  the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  rooted them out  from  my  heart? Am I  a  new  creature? He alone  who is regenerated  can  aspire  to  this  heavenly  bread  which  I  am  going to eat:  in  thine  eyes  am  I  so,  O  my  God? Do I  not  bear  the name of  living,  though  still,  in  effect,  dead? Will the  Mighty, entering into  my  soul,  possess  it  in  peace,  and  will  he  not  find there seven  unclean  spirits  who  shall  chase  him  from  it? Instruct me, Lord,  and  suffer  not  that  thy  Christ,  that  thy  Holy,  descend