Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/148



I. "And  Jesus  increased  in  wisdom  and  age,  and  grace with  God  and  men." (Luke ii.  52.)  Christ,  from  the first moment  of  His  conception,  possessed  the  plenitude of all  wisdom,  grace,  and  virtue,  but  in  outward  appearance He  seemed  to  increase  in  them,  thus  accommodating His  words  and  actions  to  His  age. Hence you  ought to infer  that  it  is  your  duty  to  accommodate  yourself  to the  times,  places,  and  situations  you  are  in,  and  particularly to  make  continual  progress  in  virtue. For not  to advance  is  to  go  back;  there  is  nothing  stationary  in  the way of  virtue.

II. There are  different  manners  of  failing,  or  of  making progress  in  virtue. Some, after  they  have  begun well, fail  in  constancy,  and  resume  their  former  course of life. These our  Lord  condemns  when  he  says,  "  No man  putting  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  looking  back, is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God." (Luke ix.  62.)  He  tells us to  remember  Lot's  wife  who  was  turned  into  a  pillar of salt,  as  a  warning  to  others  not  to  cast  a  lingering look back  again  on  the  sinful  object  which  they  have left.

III. Others in  the  progress  of  virtue  grow  remiss  and tepid in  the  use  of  those  means  which  are  calculated  to increase  their  fervor,  and  are  therefore  in  danger  of  falling. To these  Christ  addresses  Himself  in  the  Apocalypse: "This  I  have  against  thee,  that  thou  hast  left thy  first  charity." (Apoc. ii.  4.)  Others,  again,  begin and advance  with  a  slow  pace;  and  although  there  appears no  great  outward  defect,  there  is  generally  a  real internal decay. There are  others,  finally,  who  begin