marks of splendour which the prophets attributed to him: he might have assumed the pompous titles of conqueror of Judah, of legislator of the people, of deliverer of Israel: Jerusalem, in these glorious marks, would have recognized him whom she awaited: but Jerusalem, in these titles, saw only a human glory; and Jesus Christ comes to undeceive, and to teach her, that such glory is nothing; that such an expectation had been unworthy of the oracles of so many prophets who had announced him: that the Holy Spirit, which inspired them, could hold out only holiness and eternal riches to men; that all other riches, far from rendering them happy, only increased their evils and crimes: and that his visible ministry was to correspond with the splendid promises, which had, for so many ages announced him, only by being wholly spiritual, and that he should intend only the salvation of men.
Thus, he is born at Bethlehem, in a poor and abject state, without external state or splendour; he whose birth the songs of all the armies of heaven then celebrated: without title which might distinguish him in the eyes of men; he who was exalted above all principality or power: he suffers his name to be written down among those of the obscurest subjects of Caesar; he whose name was above all other names, and who alone had the right of writing down the names of his chosen in the book of eternity: vulgar and simple shepherds alone came to pay him homage; he, before whom whatever is mighty on the earth, in heaven, and in hell, ought to bend the knee: lastly, whatever can confound human pride is assembled at the spectacle of his birth. If titles, rank, or prosperity, had been able to render us happy here below, and to shed peace through our heart, Jesus Christ would have made his appearance clothed in them, and would have brought all these riches to his disciples; but he brings peace to us only by holding them in contempt, and by teaching us to hold them equally in contempt: he comes to render us happy, only by coming to suppress desires which hitherto had occasioned all our disquiets: he comes to point out to us more solid and more durable riches, alone capable of calming our hearts, of filling our desires, of easing our troubles; riches of which man cannot deprive us, and which require only to be loved and to be wished for, to be assured of possessing them.
Nevertheless, who tastes of this blessed peace? Wars, troubles, frenzies, are they more rare since his birth? Are those empires and states which worship him, in consequence more peaceful? Does that pride which he came to destroy occasion less commotion and confusion among men? Alas! seek among Christians that peace which ought to be their inheritance, and where shall you find it? — In cities? Pride sets every thing there in motion; every one wishes to soar above the rank of his ancestors: an individual, exalted by fortune, destroys the happiness of thousands who walk in his steps, without being able to attain the same point of prosperity. In the circle of domestic walls? They conceal only distresses and cares: and the father of the family, solely occupied with the advancement, rather than the Christian education of his offspring,
