Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/46

 misfortune to  yourself? It is  of  this  the  Psalmist  complains, when he  says,  "  They  returned  me  evil  for  good,  and  afforded me  nothing  but  barrenness." (Ps. xxxiv.  14.)

Another comparison  is  also  made  use  of,  which  suits  the  present purpose,  and  strongly  confirms  what  has  been  already  said. As sailors  on  the  main  ocean  dread  nothing  so  much  as  a  calm, because then  they  consume  all  their  provisions,  and  afterwards feel themselves  in  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life;  so  by  those who navigate  the  tempestuous  sea  of  the  world,  and  steer  towards heaven, there  is  nothing  more  to  be  dreaded  than  an  unhappy calm, which  stops  them  in  the  midst  of  their  course,  and  prevents them from  making  sail. Because the  small  provision  they  had laid in  for  their  voyage  is  soon  consumed,  and  the  little  virtue they had  begins  to  fail  them;  and  afterwards  amidst  the  storms and temptations  which  assail  them  on  all  sides,  they  find  themselves, even  in  their  deepest  distress,  destitute  of  all  help,  and  in the  greatest  danger  of  perishing. Wo to  such  as  are  surprised by a  calm  so  dangerous. " You  did  once  run  well,"  says  the apostle, "  who  has  hindered  you  from  obeying  the  truth?" (Gal. v. 7.)  You  went  at  first  in  full  sail,  what  calm  or  sand-bank  has stopped you? Certainly "  you  are  satiated,  you  are  become rich." (1 Cor.  iv.  8.)  You  fancy  you  have  done  enough;  feeling yourself  tired,  you  think  yourself  entitled  to  repose;  you imagine that  your  present  stock  is  sufficient. But reflect  and consider well,  that  you  have  still  a  great  way  to  go,  for  "  that part  of  your  journey  that  still  remains  is  very  long." (3 Kings, xix.  7.)  Be  persuaded  that  many  occasions  will  still  offer, wherein you  will  have  need  of  more  perfect  humility,  more  courageous patience,  more  absolute  detachment,  and  more  constant mortification; and  perchance  you  will  be  surprised  and  found unprovided, at  the  time  of  your  greatest  distress.

"Let him  that  is  just  become  still  more  just,  and  let  him  that is holy  become  still  more  holy." (Apoc. xxii.  13.)  St.  Jerom  and venerable Bede  tell  us,  that  our  Saviour  in  saying, " Blessed  are those  who  hunger  and  thirst  after  justice,  for  they  shall  be  filled,"