Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/55

 the broad  beaten  way  of  a  loose  life,  says  that  those  are  the  men  whom the prophet  calls  "  beasts  of  the  field"  (in  Ps.  viii.),  because  they always range  in  a  spacious  place,  and  will  not  be  confined  by  rule or discipline. And Gerson  says,  that  by  this  kind  of  language,  "  It is  enough  for  me  to  live  as  others  do;  if  I  be  but  saved  it  is sufficient;  I  aspire  to  no  greater  perfection a  man  readily  manifests the  imperfect  and  bad  state  of  his  own  interior,  since  he  is  not willing  to  enter  by  the  narrow  gate.  He  adds,  moreover,  that persons  who,  through  sloth  and  tepidity,  think  it  sufficient  to obtain  the  lowest  seat  in  heaven,  have  great  reason  to  fear  that  they will  be  condemned  with  the  foolish  virgins  who  fell  asleep  without having  made  any  provision,  or  with  the  negligent  servant  who buried  the  talent  he  had  received,  and  took  no  pains  to  improve  it. He  was  cast  into  exterior  darkness,  and  we  read  not  in  the  gospel, that  he  was  condemned  for  anything  else,  than  for  having  neglected the talent  his  master  had  entrusted  him  with.

But to  put  the  shameful  and  deplorable  state  of  these  men  in  a still  clearer  point  of  view,  the  same  Gerson  advances  this  example. Image to  yourself,  says  he,  the  father  of  a  family,  rich,  noble,  having many children,  each  of  whom  is  qualified  to  promote  the  interest and honour  of  the  family. All apply  with  zeal  to  the  performance of their  respective  duties  except  one,  who,  through  sloth,  leads  a loose  and  shameful  life,  though,  provided  he  did  but  apply  himself, he is  as  well  qualified  as  the  rest  for  performing  virtuous  actions. Still he  does  nothing  worthy  his  birth  and  talents,  but  contents  himself, as  he  says,  with  a  small  fortune,  and  since  he  has  wherewith  to live  at  ease,  he  will  take  no  pains  to  increase  his  property,  nor  will he trouble  his  mind  with  projects  of  ambition. His father  calls upon him,  exhorts,  entreats  him  to  adopt  nobler  sentiments,  reminds him of  his  good  qualities  and  noble  birth,  proposes  to  him  the  example of  his  ancestors  and  of  the  rest  of  his  brothers;  but  when  he sees  that  notwithstanding  all  he  does,  he  cannot  prevail  on  him  to rise  out  of  his  sloth,  and  to  lead  an  active  life,  he  must  needs  conceive against  him  a  very  just  indignation. It is  the  same  with God. We are  all  his  children  and  brothers  of  Jesus  Christ. He would not  have  us  content  ourselves  with  an  idle  life,  but  exhorts us to  perfection  in  these  words:  "  Be  ye  therefore  perfect  as  your heavenly  Father." (Matt. v.  48.)  Consider  how  holy  and  perfect he  is;  think  on  what  your  birth  obliges  you  to,  and  endeavour to shew  by  your  actions,  that  you  are  the  true  children  of  such  a father;  take  examples  from  your  brothers  also,  and  if  you  will,  look upon your  eldest  brother  Jesus  Christ,  who  most  freely  gave  his