Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/151

 degrees he  must  attain  it. Hence at  once  the  necessity of continual  progress.

III. The third  reason  is  because  such  ought  to  be  the conduct of  a  true  disciple  of  Christ. " The  scholar  that makes  progress,"  says  the  eloquent  St.  Bernard,  "  is  a glory  to  his  master.  Whoever,  therefore,  fails  to  make progress  in  the  school  of  Christ  is  unworthy  to  have  Him for  his  master." How shameful  would  it  be,  to  have studied philosophy  and  theology  seven  years,  and  to  have made no  progress,  but  to  end  as  we  began! How much more ought  you  to  blush  if  you  have  become  more  remiss in  prayer,  more  given  to  distractions,  a  greater lover of  yourself,  your  own  ease  and  pleasure,  than  when you first  entered  the  school  of  virtue! Endeavor, therefore, continually  to  advance  in  the  glorious  and  honorable career  of  perfection.

I. Many  evils  result  from  a  neglect  of  improving  in virtue. This neglect  provokes  the  anger  of  God;  and therefore He  says  to  the  bishop  of  Ephesus,  in  the  Apocalypse, "  Be  mindful  from  whence  thou  art  fallen,  and do  penance,  and  do  the  first  works;  or  else  I  come  to thee,  and  will  remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  its  place." (Apoc. ii.  5.)    God  may  have  designed  you  also  to  give light to  many;  take  care,  then,  that  He  do  not  move  you from your  place  in  consequence  of  your  tepidity  and  indevotion.

II. This neglect  deprives  us  of  many  great  spiritual advantages and  rewards. " The  slothful  hand  hath wrought  poverty,"  says  the  Wise  Man. (Prov. x.  4.)  Oh, what glory  should  we  purchase  in  heaven,  were  we  al-