JEAN BAPTISTE, son of a notary at Hires in Provence, was born in 1663, and entered into the congregation of the oratory in 1681. He gained the affections of every person in the towns to which he was sent, by the charms of his genius, the liveliness of his character, and by a fund of the most delicate and unatticd politeness. His first attempts in the art of eloquence were made at Vienne, while he was professor of theology. His funeral oration on Henry de Villars, archbishop of that city, received universal approbation. This success induced Father de la Tour, who was at that time general of the congregation, to call him to Paris. After he had been there for some time, he was asked what he thought of the preachers who made a figure on that great theatre?—"I find them possessed of great genius and abilities (answered he); but if I preach, I will not preach like them." He in fact kept his word, and struck out a new path in this great field of eloquence. P. Bourdaloue was excepted from the number of those whom he proposed not to imitate. If he did not take him for a model in every thing, the reason was, that his genius led him to a different species of eloquence.—His manner of composing, therefore, was peculiar to himself, and in the opinion of men of taste and judgement, was superior to that of Bourdaloue. The affecting and natural simplicity of the father of the oratory, (said a great man), appears fitter to bring home the truths of Christianity to the heart than all the dialectics of the Jesuit. We must seek for the logic of the gospel in our own breasts; and the most powerful reasonings on the indispensible duty of relieving the distressed, will make no impression on that man who has beheld without concern the sufferings of his brother. If logic is necessary, it is only in matters of opinion; and these are fitter for the press than for the pulpit, which which ought not to be the theatre of learned discourses. The truth of these reflections was clearly perceived when he appeared at court. Upon preaching his first Advent sermon at Versailles, he received this eulogium from the mouth of Louis XIV. "Father, when I hear others preach, I am very well pleased with them; but whenever I hear you, I am dissatisfied with myself." The first time he preached his famous sermon on the small number of the elect, the whole audience were, at a certain place or it, seized with a sudden and violent emotion, and almost every person half rose from his seat by a kind of involuntary movement. The murmur of acclamation and surprise was so great that it threw the orator into confusion; but this only heightened the impression of that pathetic discourse. What was most surprising in Massillon, were his descriptions of the world, which were so sublime, so delicate, and so striking in the resemblance. When he was asked, whence a man, like him, whose life was dedicated to retirement, could borrow them; he answered: "From the human heart; however little we examine it, we will find in it the seeds of every passion. When I compose a sermon (added he), I imagine myself consulted upon some doubtful piece of business. I give my whole application to determine the person who has recourse to me, to act the good and proper part. I exhort him, I urge him, and I leave him not till he has yielded to my persuasions." His declamation did not fail to be accompanied with success. "We think we see him in our pulpits (say those who had the pleasure of hearing him), with the simple air, the modest carriage, the downcast and humble looks, the easy gesture, the affecting tone, and the countenance of a man deeply penetrated with his subject, conveying the clearest information to the understanding, and raising the most tender emotions in the heart." Baron, the famous comedian, having met him one day in a house which was open for the reception of men of letters, paid him this compliment: "Continue to deliver as you do. Your manner is peculiar to yourself; leave the observance of rules to others." When this famous actor came from hearing one of his sermons, truth drew from him the following confession, which is so humiliating to his profession: "Friend (said he to one of his companions who accompanied him), here is an orator; we are only actors."

In 1704, Massillon made his second appearance at court, and displayed still more eloquence than before. Louis XIV. after expressing his satisfaction to him, added, in the most gracious tone of voice, Et je veux, mon père, vous entendre tous les deux ans. These flattering encomiums did not lessen his modesty. When one of his fellows was congratulating him upon his preaching admirably, according to custom; Oh! give over, Father (replied he), the devil has told me so already, much more eloquently than you." The duties of his office did not prevent him from enjoying society; and in the country he forgot that he was a preacher, but always without trespassing against decency. One day when he was at the house of M. de Crozat, the latter said to him, "Father, your doctrine terrifies me, but I am encouraged by your life." He was chosen on account of his philosophical and conciliatory disposition of mind, to reconcile the cardinal de Noailles with the Jesuits. All he gained by his attempts was the displeasure of both parties; and he found that it was easier to convert sinners than to reconcile theologians. In 1717, the regent, personally acquainted with his merit, appointed him to the bishopric of Clermont. The next year, being destined to preach before Louis XV. who was only nine years of age, he composed in six weeks those discourses which are so well known by the name of Petit Careme. These are the chef d'oeuvre of this orator, and indeed of the oratorical art. They ought continually to be read by preachers as models for the formation of their taste, and by princes as lessons of humanity.

Massillon was admitted into the French academy a year afterwards, in 1719. The abbacy of Savigny becoming vacant, the cardinal du Bois, to whom he had been weak enough to give an attestation for being a priest, procured it for him. The funeral oration of the duchess of Orleans, in 1723, was the last discourse he pronounced in Paris. He never afterwards left his diocese, where his gentleness, politeness, and kindness, had gained him the affection of all who knew him. He reduced the exorbitant rights of the episcopal roll to moderate sums. In two years, he caused 20,000 livres to be privately conveyed to the Hotel Dieu of Clermont. His peaceable disposition was never more displayed than while he was a bishop. He took great pleasure in collecting the fathers of the oratory and the Jesuits at his country house, and in making them join in some diversion. He died on the 28th of September 1742, at the age of 79. His name has become that of eloquence itself. Nobody ever knew better how to touch the passions. Preferring sentiment to every thing else, he communicated to the soul that lively and salutary emotion which excites in us the love of virtue. What pathetic eloquence did his discourses display! what knowledge of the human heart! what constant disclosing of a mind deeply affected with his subject! what strain of truth, philosophy and humanity! what imagination, at once the most lively, and guided by the soundest judgment! Just and delicate thoughts; splendid and lofty ideas; elegant, well chosen, sublime, and harmonious expressions; brilliant and natural images; true and lively colouring; a clear, neat, swelling and copious style, equally suited to the capacity of the multitude, and fitted to please the man of genius, the philosopher, and the courtier, form the character of Massillon's eloquence, especially in his Petit Careme. He could at once think, describe, and feel. It has been justly observed concerning him, that he was to Bourdaloue what Racine was to Corneille. To give the finishing stroke to his eulogium, Of all the French orators, he is the most esteemed by foreigners.

An excellent edition of Massillon's works was published by his nephew at Paris in 1745 and 1746, in 14 vols. large 12mo, and 12 vols. of a small size.—Among them we find, 1. Complete sets of Sermons for Advent and Lent. It is particularly in his moral discourses, such as are almost all those of his sermons for Advent and Lent, that Massillon's genius appears. He excels, says M. d'Alembert, in that species of eloquence, which alone may be preferred to all others, which goes directly to the heart, and which agitates without wounding the soul. He searches the inmost Massillon, recesses of the heart, and lays open the secret workings of the passions, with so delicate and tender a hand, that we are hurried along rather than overcome. His diction, which is always easy, elegant, and pure, everywhere partakes of that noble simplicity, without which there can be neither good taste nor true eloquence; and this simplicity is, in Massillon, joined to the most attractive and the sweetest harmony, from which it likewise borrows new graces. In short, to complete the charm produced by this enchanting style, we perceive that these beauties are perfectly natural; that they flow easily from this source, and that they have occasioned no labour to the composer. There even occur sometimes in the expressions, in the turns, or in the affecting melody of his style, instances of negligence which may be called happy, because they completely remove every appearance of labour. By thus abandoning himself to the natural current of thought and expression, Massillon gained as many friends as hearers. He knew, that the more anxious an orator appears to raise admiration, he will find those who hear him the less disposed to bestow it. 2. Several Funeral Orations, Discourses, and Panegyrics, which had never been published. 3. Ten discourses, known by the name of Petit Carême. 4. The Conferences Ecclesiastiques, which he delivered in the seminary of St Magloire upon his arrival at Paris; those which he delivered to the curates of his diocese; and the discourses which he pronounced at the head of the synods which he assembled every year. 5. Paraphrases on several of the Psalms. The illustrious author of these excellent tracts wished that they had introduced into France a practice which prevails in England, of reading sermons instead of preaching them from memory; a custom which is very convenient, but by which all the warmth and fervour of eloquence are lost. He, as well as two others of his brethren, had foapt short in the pulpit exactly on the same day.—They were all to preach at different hours on Good-Friday, and they went to hear one another in succession. The memory of the first failed; which so terrified the other two, that they experienced the same fate. When our illustrious orator was asked, what was his best sermon? he answered, "That which I am most master of." The same reply is ascribed to Bourdaloue. The celebrated P. la Rue was of the opinion of Massillon, that getting by heart was a slavery which deprived the pulpit of a great many orators, and which was attended with many inconveniences to those who dedicated themselves to it. The abbé de la Porte has collected into one vol. 12mo, the most striking ideas, and the most sublime strokes, which occur in the works of the celebrated bishop of Clermont. This collection, which is made with great judgment, appeared at Paris in 1748, 12mo, and forms the 15th volume of the large edition in 12mo, and the 13th of the small in 12mo. It is entitled, Pensées sur différents sujets de morale et de piété, tirées, &c.