thy wrath, and the most dreadful mark of thine indignation upon the cities and upon the kingdoms.
Yes, my brethren, behold what you are when you belong not to God. Such is the first character of your faults, — the scandal. Your lot decides in general that of the people: the excesses of the lower ranks are always the consequence of your excesses; and the transgressions of Jacob, said the prophet, that is to say, of the people and of the tribes, came only from Samaria, the seat of the great and of the mighty.
But, even granting that no new degree of enormity should be specially attached to the great by the scandal inseparable from their sins, ingratitude, which forms the second character of them, would be amply sufficient to attract, upon their heads, that neglect of God by which his bowels are for ever shut to compassion and clemency.
I say ingratitude: for God hath preferred you to so many unfortunate fellow-creatures who languish in obscurity and in want: he hath exalted you, and hath caused you to be born amid splendour and abundance; he hath chosen you above all the people, to load you with benefits; in you alone he hath assembled riches, honours, titles, distinctions, and all the advantages of the earth. It would seem that his providence watches only for you, while so many unfortunate millions eat the bread of tribulation and of sorrow. The earth seems to be produced for you alone; the sun to rise and to go down solely for you; even the rest of men seem born only for you; and to contribute to your grandeur and purposes. It would appear that the Lord is occupied solely with you, while he neglected so many obscure souls, whose days are days of sorrow and want, and for whom it would seem that there is no God upon earth. Yet, nevertheless, you turn against God all that you have received from his hands; your abundance serves for the indulgence of your passions; your exaltation facilitates your criminal pleasures, and his blessings become your crimes.
Yes, my brethren, while thousands of unfortunate fellow-creatures, upon whom his hand is, so heavy; while an obscure populace, for whom life has nothing but hardships and toil, invoke and bless him, raise up the hands to him in the simplicity of their heart, regard him as their father, and give him every mark of an unaffected piety, and of a sincere religion — you, whom he loads with his benefits; you for whom the entire world seems to be made, you acknowledge him not; you deign not to lift up your eyes to him; you never bestow even a moment's reflection whether there be or be not a God above you who interferes in the things of the earth; in place of thanksgivings you return him insults, and religion is only for the people.
Alas! you think it so mean and so ungenerous when those whose advancement was your work, neglect you, deny their obligations, and even employ that credit which they owe solely to you, in thwarting and ruining you. But, my brethren, they only act by you as you do toward your God. Is not your exaltation his work?
