From Bossuet’s Elevations on the Mysteries:
O God! unbelief reigns on the earth. We are no longer wicked out of weakness; it is by design; we are by principle, by our sayings. Send us some John the Baptist who confounds error, who shows that unbelievers are senseless. Bring them back to real prudence, these unbelievers and professional libertines. Real prudence is not to believe yourself, and to practice what the Sage says: Do not trust your prudence. But, Lord, confound also the recklessness of those who say that they believe, even though they do nothing of their belief. Therefore bring back unbelievers of all kinds to the prudence of the righteous.
More so now than in Bossuet’s day, although the clouds were certainly gathering…
Positive Infinity 