Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/65

 dent we  should  resolve  to  perform  all  our  spiritual  exercises  and  our other actions,  with  so  much  attention  and  exactness,  that  our  conscience may  have  nothing  to  reproach  us  with,  and  that  thereby we may  obtain  that  special  grace,  which  is  so  requisite  for  our salvation. It is  therefore  plain,  that  we  ought  to  set  a  great  value upon small  things,  if  those  things  can  be  called  'small,  which  are capable either  of  procuring  us  so  much  happiness,  or  of  drawing down upon  us  so  much  misery. Hence, "  He  that feareth  God," says the  Wise  Man,  "  neglecteth  nothing." (Ec. vii.  19.)  Because he knows  that,  from  the  slightest  faults,  we  fall  by  little  and  little into great  crimes;  and  is  afraid  that  if  he  deals  not  liberally  with God, his  Divine  Majesty  will  cease  to  deal  liberally  with  him.

To conclude — I  say  that  this  point  is  so  essential  and  so necessary  to  be  observed  by  every  good  Christian  that  we  ought  to hold  it  for  a  general  maxim,  that-  as  long  as  we  consider  the  smallest things in  devotion,  as  matters  of  great  importance,  all  will  go  well with us,  and  we  shall  attract  the  blessings  and  assistance  of  Heaven. But, on  the  contrary,  if  we  neglect  them,  we  shall  expose  ourselves to great  danger;  for  it  is  only  by  this  carelessness  and  indifference that sin  can  find  entrance  into  the  soul  of  a  religious. This is what  our  blessed  Saviour  intimated  to  us  when  he  said,  "  He  that is  faithful  in  that  which  is  least,  is  faithful  also  in  that  which  is greater: — And  he  that  is  unjust  in  that  which  is  little,  is  unjust also  in  that  which  is  greater." (Luke, xvi.  10.)  When,  therefore, you desire  to  know  whether  you  advance  in  virtue,  upon  which you should  often  reflect  with  attention,  examine  carefully  whether you are  faithful  in  small  things,  or  whether  you  despise  and  neglect them; if  you  perceive  that  you  make  no  account  of  them,  and  yet that your  conscience  feels  not  the  remorse  she  had  used  to  feel  on similar  occasions,  be  sure  speedily  to  remedy  this  evil  with  all possible care. For St.  Basil  says,  "That  the  devil,  when  he cannot  prevail  on  us  totally  to  abandon  religion,"  strains  every  nerve to dissuade  us  from  aiming  at  perfection,  and  to  excite  in  us  an  indifference for  small  things;  hoping  at  least  to  deceive  us,  by instilling  into  us  a  vain  confidence  that  God,  in  consequence  of such  neglect,  will  not  deprive  us  of  his  holy  grace."  (Bas.  ser.  de renun.  &amp;c.  spir.  perfec.)  But  we,  on  our  part,  should  always endeavour  to  act  in  such  a  manner  that  it  may  be  as  impossible  for him  to  divert  us  from  perfection,  as  to  persuade  us  to  forsake religion;  for  this  purpose  we  must  always  aspire  to  perfection,  and set  a  great  value  upon  the  smallest  things  conducive  to  it.