He then delivered his sermon, which was listened to amidst the most profound silence. Never was an audience of nuns more attentive than those men; their deportment was admirable. The roughs took the hint, saw that their game was up, and that those who had engaged them would lose their money. They accordingly moved toward the door. {202} When the sermon was over, however, a few hisses were attempted; but fifty stalwart arms instantly seized the intruders, and administered a castigation to them which was by no means fraternal. By laying hold of men in this manner we may lead them onward a great way on the road to improvement. ... One should be very cautious not to assume that his hearers are wicked, impious, or unbelieving. The people do not relish such imputations: they don't like reproaches; neither do you, dear reader. They rarely do any good, and often much harm. If it is deemed desirable to censure a fault, a vice, or a scandal, such delinquencies may be treated of in a general way, and energetically denounced. In applying the lesson to your hearers, you might say in a subdued tone--"Malpractices like these are committed elsewhere. It is even stated that you are not wholly free from them; but perhaps it is only the malevolent who say this of you. However, if you have really been guilty of them, I am sure you will abandon them in future. It is always a duty to prove that the malevolent are in the wrong." You may further add:--"I will do you this justice, that whenever I have given you any advice, I have always had the satisfaction of finding that some at least have profited by it." {203} It shows a want of charity as well as tact--and it is, moreover, deplorably vulgar--to address a congregation in such a style as the following:--"All my preaching, and all the trouble which I take in your behalf are in vain, for you are not a whit better. Faith is departing from France. ... I must abandon you to your fate. No matter how I preach, none the more come to the sermons." ... I say this mode of address is as vulgar and contemptible as it is derogatory to the minister of the Gospel. Saint John Chrysostom, as already remarked, did not talk in that style:--"If you reject my words," said he, "I shall not shake off the dust of my feet against you. Not that herein I would disobey the Saviour; but because the love which He has given me for you prevents my doing so." ... If sermons are not attended, whose fault is it? It is our duty to look into that question. At all events, if only a few come it is not certainly their fault, and therefore they should be spared all reproaches; otherwise some captious hearer--and such are to be met with everywhere--may slip into a corner of the pulpit, and say:--"Take care, Mr. Preacher; you are speaking ill of the absent, and you know better than I do that such a proceeding is improper." ... {204}