Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/576

 heavenly manna  may  rest  there  amidst  the  tables  of  the  law,  and the rod  of  Aaron. I mean  you  to  understand,  that  nothing  should alarm you  more,  you  who  live  in  the  dangers  of  the  age  and  who love them,  than  all  the  communions  of  which  you  have  partaken without preparation. I mean  you  to  understand,  that  the  bread  of life  becomes  a  poison  to  the  majority  of  believers;  that  the  altars witness almost  more  crimes  than  the  theatre;  that  Jesus  Christ  is more  insulted  in  his  sanctuary  than  in  the  assemblies  of  sinners;  and that the  solemnities  are  no  longer  but  mysteries  of  mourning  for him, and  days  set  apart  to  dishonour  him. I mean  you,  in  a  word  to understand  that,  in  order  to  approach  it  worthily,  a  respectful  faith is required  which  enables  us  to  discern;  a  prudent  faith,  which leads us  to  examine  ourselves;  a  lively  faith,  which  causes  us to  love;  a  noble  faith  which  induces  us  to  sacrifice  ourselves: without these,  it  is  rendering  one's  self  guilty  of  the  body  and  of the  blood  of  the  Lord;  it  is  eating  and  drinking  their  own  condemnation.

Ah, Lord! how little  have  I  hitherto  known  the  innocence  and the extreme  purity  which  thou  requirest  of  those  who  come  to  eat of this  heavenly  food! The Centurion,  that  man  of  so  fervent,  so humble,  and  so  enlightened  a  faith;  that  man  so  rich  in  good  works, who loved  thy  people,  who  raised  up  edifices  to  thy  name,  and  appropriated them  to  public  prayers,  and  to  the  interpretation  of  thy Scriptures; that  man  does  not  think  himself  worthy  even  to  receive thee  in  his  house. Even the  purest  of  virgins,  when  informed by the  angel  that  thou  wert  to  descend  into  her  womb,  is  terrified at it;  she  contemplates  her  own  nothingness;  and,  if  the  power  of speech  still  remains  to  her,  it  is  to  ask,  How  can  this  be? And who am  I,  Lord,  to  dare  to  seat  myself  at  thy  table  with  so  little precaution; — I, who  come  to  appear  empty  before  thee;  who  have nothing to  offer  to  thee  but  the  refuse  of  a  heart  so  long  engrossed by  the  world;  who  bring  to  thine  altars  only  feeble  aspirations after  holiness  and  unsubdued  attachments  to  the  world, but unavailing  lights,  but  sentiments  which  evaporate  in  vain wishes?

Ah, Lord! the fruits  of  a  holy  communion  are  so  abundant, so sensible;  the  soul  quits  it  so  overflowed  with  thy  blessings  and thy grace,  that,  when  I  had  no  other  proof  of  the  unworthiness  of my  communions  than  their  inefficacy,  I  ought  to  tremble  and  be humbled. When thy  body  is  eaten  worthily,  we  abide  in  thee, and thou  abidest  in  us;  that  is  to  say,  that  thy  precious  blood, which still  flows  in  our  veins,  leaves  us  thy  inclinations,  thy  traits, thy resemblance,  and  that  we  are  another  thee;  noble  and  heavenly inclinatious should  alone  be  seen  in  us,  and  sentiments  worthy  of the  blood  we  have  received:  and,  nevertheless,  I  still  find  my  affections drawn  to  the  earth. When thy  body  is  eaten  worthily,  thou tellest us  that  we  live  for  thee,  and  eternally:  and  I  have  still  continued to  cherish  worldly  pursuits  and  schemes  of  ambition. What then must  I  do,  Lord? Must I  retire  from  thy  table? What! this fruit  of  life  should  be  forbidden  me? What! the bread  of