a whole people, announced, during four thousand years, by a long train of prophecies, desired of all nations, figured by all the ceremonies, expected by all the just, and shown from afar in all ages. The patriarchs expire in wishing to see him: the just live in that expectation: fathers instruct their children to wish for him: and this desire is like a domestic religion which is perpetuated from age to age. The prophets themselves of the Gentiles, see the Star of Jacob shining from afar; and this great event is announced even in the oracles of idols. Here, it is not for a particular event; it is to be the resource of the condemned world, the legislator of all people, the light all nations, the salvation of Israel; it is in order to blot out iniquity from the earth, to bring an eternal righteousness, to fill the universe with the spirit of God, and to be the blessed bearer of an immortal peace to all men. What a pompous train! What a snare for the religion of all ages, if such magnificent preparations announce only a simple creature; and, more especially, in times when the credulity of the people so easily placed extraordinary men in the rank of gods!
Besides, when John the Baptist appears on the borders of the Jordan, afraid, it would seem, that the single oracle which had foretold him might become an occasion of idolatry to the people, whom the fame of his sanctity attracted around him, he performs no miracles; he never ceases to say, P I am not he whom you expect; but one mightier than me cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose;" he is only watchful, it would appear, to prevent superstitious honours. Jesus Christ, on the contrary, whom four thousand years of expectation, of allusions, of prophecies, of promises, had with so much magnificence announced to the earth; Jesus Christ, far from preventing the superstition of the people with regard to himself, comes in full authority and might; he does miracles and deeds which no one had ever done before him; and, not only does he raise himself above John the Baptist, but he gives out that he is equal with God himself. Had the error been to dread, and, if to render to him divine honours had been idolatry, where would be his zeal for the glory of him who sends him, or where would be his love for men?
And yet more, my brethren: all the extraordinary men of which the preceding ages could boast, all the just of the law and of the age of the patriarchs, had been only the imperfect types of the Christ; and again, each of them represented only some individual trait of his life and ministry: Melchizedek, his priesthood; Abraham, his quality of Head and Father of believers; Isaac, his sacrifice; Job, his persecutions and sufferings; Moses, his office of Mediator; Joshua, his triumphant entry into the land of the living with a chosen people. All these men, however, so venerable and so miraculous, were only rude sketches of the Messiah to come; and how great must have been that Messiah himself, seeing his figures were so illustrious and so shining! But, deprive Jesus Christ of his divinity and of his eternal origin, and the reality has nothing superior to the figure. I know, as we shall afterward say, that,
