true, that sinners who show no sign of piety on any other occasion, are, however, reconciled to their brethren in daily instances; and they who cannot prevail over themselves in the easiest duties of a Christian life, appear as heroes in the accomplishment of this one, which, of all others, is the most difficult. Ah! it is because they are heroes of vanity and not of charity: it is that they leave that part of the reconciliation which alone is heroical and arduous in the sight of God, namely, an oblivion upon the past injury, and a total revolution of our heart toward our brother; and they retain of it only that part which is glorious in the sight of men, namely, an appearance of moderation, and a promptitude toward amity, which the world itself praises and admires.
But, if the greatest part of reconciliations turn out to be false when these motives are examined, they are not less so if we consider them in their proceedings. Yes, my brethren, what measures and negotiations! what formalities and solicitudes in concluding them! what attentions to bestow, and cautions to observe! what interests to conciliate, obstacles to remove, and steps to accomplish! Thus your reconciliation is not the work of charity, but of the wisdom and skill of your friends: it is a worldly affair; it is not a religious step: it is a treaty happily concluded; it is not a duty of faith fulfilled: it is the work of man, but it is not the deed of God: in a word, it is a peace which comes from the earth, it is not the peace of heaven.
For, candidly, have men been able, through their arrangements and the ingenuity of their measures, in reconciling you with your brother, to revive that charity which was extinguished in your heart? Have they been able to restore that treasure to you which you had lost? They have succeeded, indeed, in terminating the scandal of declared enmity, and establishing between you and your brother the outward duties of society; but they have not changed your heart, which God alone can do; they have not extinguished that hatred, which grace alone can extinguish. You are therefore reconciled, but you still love not your brother; and, in effect, if you sincerely loved him, would so many mediators have been required to reconcile you? Love is its own mediator and interpreter. Charity is that brief word which would have saved to your friends all those endless toils, which they have been obliged to employ in order to reclaim you; it is not so measured; it frankly confesses what it sincerely feels. Now, before giving way, you have insisted upon a thousand conditions; you have disputed every step; you have been resolute in not going beyond a certain point; you have exacted that your brother should make the first advances toward meeting you. Charity knows nothing of all these rules; it hath only one, and that is, oblivion upon the injury, and to love our brother as ourself.
I grant that certain prudential measures are to be observed, and that too hasty or ill-timed advances might often be not only unsuccessful, but even the means of hardening your brother still more against you. But I say that charity ought to regulate these mea-
