Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/49

 remains, and  mind  nothing  else  than  applying  ourselves  continually to  find  out  the  means  of  doing  so. Again as  men  on  a road,  who  travel  with  a  firm  resolution  of  arriving  at  their  journey's end,  never  look  back  to  see  how  many  miles  they  have  already gone, but  consider  how  far  they  have  yet  to  go,  and  think  of nothing  else  till  they  arrive  at  the  destined  place:  in  like  manner, we, who  are  travellers  in  this  world,  and  purpose  to  go  to  heaven, our native  country,  ought  not  to  consider  how  far  we  have  gone, but how  far  we  have  yet  to  go,  and  how  to  get  thither. When a  man, adds he,  undertakes  a  journey  to  any  place,  it  avails  him  nothing to have  gone  a  great  way,  unless  he  continues  to  go  on  till  he comes  to  his  journey's  end,  because  it  is  only  at  his  arrival  there he can  expect  the  recompense  of  all  his  labour. It is  therefore  of no  avail,  that  you  run  well  at  first,  if  you  get  tired  in  the  middle of your  course;  and  hence  the  apostle  counsels  us—"  Run  so  as you  may  carry  the  prize." (I Cor.  ix.  24.)  Never  look  back upon the  space  you  have  left  behind,  but  keep  your  eyes  fixed  upon the goal  you  aim  at. Consider that  it  is  perfection  you  ought  to aspire  to,  and  think  how  Car  you  have  yet  to  go  to  arrive  there,  and,  in consequence,  you  will  make  haste  still  to  advance;  for,  as  Chrysostom  says,  a  man  never  ceases  to  run  whilst  he  thinks  he  is  not yet arrived  at  the  end  of  his  journey.

St Bernard  says,  that  we  ought  to  imitate  merchants,  who, though they  have  acquired  considerable  property  and  encountered much hardship  and  pain,  yet  so  far  from  being  content  with  their gain or  discouraged  by  their  losses,  constantly  endeavour  to  acquire additional property,  as  if  hitherto  they  had  neither  done  nor  gained anything. It is  in  the  same  manner,  says  he,  we  ought  constantly endeavour  to  increase  our  store,  and  to  enrich  ourselves  in humility,  charity,  mortification,  and  in  all  the  virtues;  and,  in  a word,  like  good  merchants  for  heaven,  we  ought  make  no  account of the  slight  pains  we  have  hitherto  felt  nor  of  the  riches  we  have acquired. It is  for  this  reason  our  blessed  Saviour,  in  St.  Matthew, compares the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  a  merchant,  and  commands  us, " To  traffic  till  he  comes." (Luke, xix.  13.)

And the  better  to  explain  this  example  proposed  by  our  Saviour himself, you  must  observe  what  great  care  the  merchant  always takes not  to  lose  any  opportunity  of  gaining. Let your  conduct be the' same  as  his. Lose no  opportunity  of  making  some  new progress in  virtue,  and  as  St.  Ignatius  says,  "  Let  us  encourage one  the  other  never  to  lose  any  degree  of  perfection,  which,  by  the mercy  of  God,  it  is  in  our  power  to  attain." (Reg. 15.  Sum.)