opened by the Lord in his mercy; he may make his light to shine through his darkness, and reveal that truth which he resists only because he knows it not: he has still resources, such as perhaps rectitude, consistency, principles (of error and illusion, I confess, but still they are principles): he will be equally warm for his God when known, as he was his enemy when unknown. But the unbelievers, of whom I speak, have scarcely a way left of returning to God; they insult the Lord whom they know; they blaspheme that religion which they still preserve in their heart: they resist the impressions of conscience, which still inwardly espouse the cause of faith against themselves; in vain does the light of God shine upon their heart, it serves only to render more inexcusable the treachery of their impiety. Were they, saith Jesus Christ, absolutely blind, they would be worthy of pity, and their sin would be less: but at present they see, and consequently the guilt of their irreligion is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which dwelleth for ever upon their head.
Let us repair, then, my brethren, by our respect for the religion of our fathers; by a continual gratitude toward the Lord, who hath permitted us to be born in the way of salvation, into which so many nations have not as yet been deemed worthy to enter, — let us repair, I say, the scandal of unbelief so common in this age, so countenanced among us, and which, become more bold through the number and quality of its partisans, no longer hides its head, but openly shows itself, and braves, as it were, the religion of the prince and the zeal of the pastors. Let us have in horror those impious and despicable men, who pride themselves in turning into ridicule the majesty of the religion they profess: let us fly them as monsters unworthy to live, not only among believers, but even among those connected together by honour, probity, and reason; far from applauding their impious discourses, let us cover them with shame by that contempt which they merit. It is so low and so mean, even according to the world, to dishonour that religion in which one lives; it is so beautiful, and there is so much real dignity in making a pride of respecting and of defending it, even with an air of authority and of indignation, against the silly speeches which attack it. By despising unbelief, let us deprive it of the deplorable glory it seeks. From the moment they are despised, unbelievers will be rare among us; and the same vanity which forms their doubts will soon annihilate or conceal them, when it shall be a disgrace among us to appear impious, and a glory to be a believer. It is thus that this scandal shall be done away, and that altogether we shall glorify the Lord in the same faith, and in the expectation of the eternal promises. Amen.
