The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-05-05
Massillon.
FROM THE PULPIT OF THE oLDEN TIME.


Five years before the death of Bourda-
loue, in the last year but one of the seven
teenth century, his great successor, Massil-
lon, then young priest of the Oratory,
delivered his first Court sermon, on ALL
Saints Day, at Versailles, before the great
King and his brilliant train of courtiers, on
the pointed text" Blessed are they that
mourn" Bourdaloue heard of the young
preacher growing reputation, and remarked
pathetically in the Baptist's words-it may
be hoped with as little jealousy-"He must
must increase, but must decrease. Less
powerful in the pulpit than either of his
great predecessors, Massillon was even more
persuasive; and when he began, with down.
cast eyes and quiet voice, and almost total
want of the gesticulatiOn so habitual to
French orators, he held the congregation
wrapt in silence through which every
modulated tone was heard distinctly. He
has been called the Cicero of French pulpit
eloquence, as Bossuet has been compared
with Demosthenes; and he has much of Cice-
ro's grace and elegance, with something of
Cicero's fault of Over-polish and dilution.
French critics have preferred Bossuet; but
Massillon has more attraction for the Eng
lish reader. Voltaire is said to have kept
the volume of his sermons, known as lie
Petit Carame, always on his writing table,
as one of the most perfect. models of style.
His Court sermons have courtliness which
is without seryility, and may be favorably
contrasted in this respect with some of our
own great preachers in the days of Eliza
beth and the Stuarts. He begins his first
sermon, it is true, with well.tuned compli-
ment to the great Louis, which drew forth
an audible murmur of applause from his
courtly audience; but he at once qualities
the eulOgy, without retracting it, by the ell
oquent disclaimer, "Thus would the world
speak; but, Sire, Christ speaks not as the
world" 1t is something to the credit of
Louis, that he never took offence at the
preachers boldness.
No offence was taken, either at Massillon
or other Court preachers who spoke so fear.
lessly; but it was because the point of the
preachers weapon never went thoroughly
home. 1t shakes ones faith in the efficacy
of any preaching to think how little practi-
cal effect these confessed masters of the art,
whom all men thronged to hear-and who,
be it remembered, were thoroug hly in earn
est, and believed and practised what they
preached produced upon that dissolute
French society. We are told, indeed, that
the King said to Massillon, that whereas
other eloquent preachers made him feel
pleased with them, the effect of Massillon's
preaching was to make him dissatisfied with
himself; but the dissatisfaction seems to
have had little result. We read, that when
the preacher delivered his remarkable Lent
sermon on "the small number of the elect,
after speaking of four great classes of sim
ners--those who do not wish to repent at
all, those who did wish it, but put it off,
those who repented only to relapse, and,
lastly, those who thought they had no need
for repentance-he concluded that division
of his sermon with the striking apostrophe,
often quoted, but not yet too often, delivered
in his most thrilling tone:-
"Withdraw now these four classes of sinners
from this congregation they will be withdrawn
from it at the great day. Stand forth now We right
the right! Wheat of Jesus Christ, separate your
selves from that chat destined for the burning!-
o God, where are thine elect?"
We read that even that careless audience
were so impressed by the solemnity of the
appeal, that hundreds among them half-rose
up in their places with murmur of excite
ment, as though they expected to see the
separation actually take place; and that the
general emotion was so vivid, that the nerves
of the preacher himself were visibly shaken.
But such emotions are transient, and for any
practical effect on the religion or morals of
his age, itwould seem that MassillOn preached