Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/23

 derstanding proposes  to  it,  that  value,  which  our  understanding sets  upon  any  object,  becomes  of  necessity  the  measure  of our  desires. And our  will  being  the  absolute  mistress  that commands all  the  interior  and  exterior  faculties  of  our  souls, we never  exert  ourselves  for  the  attainment  of  any  object,  but according to  that  degree  wherein  our  will  is  moved  to  desire it. In order,  then,  that  we  earnestly  desire  it,  and  diligently exert ourselves  for  its  attainment,  it  is  necessary  that  we  hold in high  estimation  whatever  relates  to  our  advancement  in  perfection. For, these  things  bear  such  reciprocal  relation,  that the measure  of  the  one  is  the  infallible  rule  of  the  other.

To carry  on  his  trade  to  advantage,  a  jeweller  should  know well the  value  of  precious  stones :  otherwise  he  may  happen  to sell  at  a  low  rate  a  jewel  of  great  value. Our traffic  is  in  precious stones ;  "  and  we  are  all  merchants  in  the  kingdom  of heaven,  and  seek  for  fine  pearls." (Matt xiii.  45.)  We  should, therefore, be  good  judges  of  the  merchandise  we  trade  in,  lest, by a  strange  abuse,  we  give  gold  for  dirt,  and  part  with  heaven, for earth. u Let  not  the  wise  man,"  says  our  Saviour,  by  the mouth  of  the  Prophet  Jeremy,  "  glory  in  his  wisdom,  .nor  the strong man  in  his  strength,  nor  the  rich  man  in  the  abundance of his  wealth  ;  but  let  him  that  does  glory,  glory  in  his  knowledge of  me."  ( Jer.  ix.  23.)  The  most  valuable  of  all  treasures consists  in  the  knowledge,  love,  and  service  of  God ;  this  is  our greatest,  and,  indeed,  our  only  affair ;  or  to  say  better,  it  is  for this  we  were  created ;  for  this  we  entered  into  religion ;  and it  is  in  this  alone,  as  in  our  only  end,  we  ought  to  repose  ourselves, and  establish  our  greatest  glory.

I wish,  therefore,  that  this  esteem  of  perfection  and  of  spiritual things  conducive  to  it,  would  make  a  deep  impression  on the  hearts  of  all  men,  and  particularly  of  religious ;  and  that  we take  care  to  encourage  each  other  to  it,  not  only  by  our  words, and ordinary  conversation,  but  much  more  by  our  actions,  and the general  tenor  of  our  lives. By this  means,  those  as  yet  but novices in  the  way  of  virtue,  and  such  as  are  more  advanced  in it,  and  all  in  general,  must  acknowledge,  that  in  religion  we should  attach  importance  to  spiritual  things  only. In fine,  as St.  Ignatius  sets  forth  in  his  Constitutions :  "  What  we  value most  in  religious  persons  is  not  depth  of  learning,  nor  great talents  for  preaching,  nor  any  other  natural  or  human  endowment ;  but  it  is  humility  and  obedience,  a  spirit  of  recollection and  prayer." (Cons., p.  10.)    It  is  this  we  must,  from  the