having a heart so noble, so sincere, and so incapable of being touched but by merit alone. And all this shall take place before the eyes of the universe; of those friends whom an appearance of regularity had preserved to you; of your relations who were ignorant of the disgrace with which you covered them; of that husband who had so much depended on your affection and fidelity.
O my God! is there an abyss sufficiently profound in the earth in which the unfaithful soul would not then wish to hide himself? For, in the world, men never see but the outside and the scandal of our vices; and, besides, our confusion is shared and countenanced by those who are continually culpable of the same faults. But, before the tribunal of Jesus Christ, your weaknesses shall be seen in your heart; that is to say, their birth, their progress, their most private motives, and a thousand shameful and personal circumstances, which, even more than the crimes themselves shall cover you with shame: it will be a confusion in which none shall bear a share, and, consequently, will be entirely your own.
Lastly, the final circumstance, which shall render the shame of the sinner overwhelming, is his personal qualities.
You passed in the world for a faithful, sincere, and generous friend: it will be seen that you were vile, perfidious, interested, without faith, honour, probity, conscience, or character. You gave yourself out for a towering mind, above all the vulgar prejudices: and you shall unfold the most humiliating meannesses and circumstances, at which the vilest soul would almost expire with shame. In the world you were regarded as a man of integrity, and of an approved probity in the administration of your charge; that reputation had perhaps attracted fresh honours, and acquired to you the public confidence; you, nevertheless, abused the credulity of men; those pompous shows of equity concealed an unjust and servile soul, and a thousand times had your fidelity been in secret betrayed, and your conscience corrupted, by views of fortune and motives of interest; you were apparently adorned with sanctity and righteousness; you had always assumed the semblance of the just; you were believed to be the friend of God, and the faithful observer of his law; yet your heart was not upright before the Lord: under the cloak of religion you covered a defiled conscience and ignominious concealments; you walked in the way of holy things more securely to attain your purposes. Ah! on that day of revelation, you go to undeceive the whole universe; those who had seen you on the earth, astonished at your unexpected lot, shall search among the reprobate to discover the upright man; the hope of the hypocrite shall then be overthrown: you unjustly had enjoyed the esteem of men; you shall be known and God avenged. Lastly, yet shall I dare to say it, and here reveal the shame of my brethren? You were perhaps the dispenser of holy things, high in honour in the temple of God; the charge of faith, of doctrine, and of piety was intrusted to you; you appeared every day in the sanctuary, clothed in the formidable tokens of your dignity, offering up pure gifts and sacrifices without stain; you were intrusted with the
