Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/66



The great  masters  of  a  spiritual  life  tell  us,  that  one  of  the  means most conducive  to  our  advancement,  is  not  to  content  ourselves  with applying to  it  in  a  general  manner,  but  that  we  must  descend  to particulars. Cassian relates  that  the  Abbot  Moyses,  one  day,  in  a spiritual  conference,  asked  his  religious,  "  What  was  it  they  aimed at  by  all  their  praying,  fasting,  watching,  and  other  austerities?" When they  answered,  (i  That  it  was  the  kingdom  of  heaven:"  he replied,  "  I  know  very  well  that  heaven  is  your  last  and  great  end; but  what  is  the  immediate  and  particular  object  by  which  you  mean to  attain  your  last  end?"  (Cass.  Col.  V.  cap.  iii.  and  iv.)  For  as  a husbandman,  whose  principal  view  is  to  reap  a  plentiful  crop, applies,  with  all  possible  care,  to  cultivate  his  land  well,  and  to  root out  the  weeds;  because  these  means  are  necessary  to  be  taken,  in order  to  attain  the  object  of  his  desires:  and  as  a  merchant,  who aspires  to  nothing  but  riches,  seriously  considers  what  particular commerce  may  be  most  conducive  to  the  increase  of  his  wealth, then  embarks  into  that  business  with  his  whole  stock,  and  devotes his  whole  time  and  industry  to  it.  In  like  manner,  although  the chief business  of  a  religious  is  to  work  out  his  salvation,  nevertheless, it  will  not  be  sufficient  for  him  to  undertake  it  in  general, saying, "  I  intend  to  save  my  soul;  I  will  become  a  perfect  religious but  he  must  consider  in  particular,  what  vice  or  passion chiefly  opposes  his  advancement,  what  virtue  he  stands  most  m  need of.  It  is  upon  these  two  points  he  must  continually  exercise  himself, so  that  advancing  gradually,  and  reflecting  with  attention,  sometimes on  one  action,  sometimes  on  another,  he  may  more  easily attain  the  perfection  he  desires.  An  ancient  father  of  the  desert gave  the  same  advice  to  an  anchoret,  who,  after  having  a  long  time persevered  with  diligence  and  fervour  in  devotion,  became  at  last  so negligent  in  the  discharge  of  his  spiritual  exercises,  that  he  fell  into a  state  of  tepidity  and  indifference;  at  length  desiring  to  recover  his former  fervour,  but  imagining  that  all  the  avenues  to  it  were  closed against him,  he  knew  not  where  to  begin  to  open  a  passage. Upon which, the  good  father,  in  order  to  console  and  encourage  him,  told him this  parable. — A certain  man,  says  he,  having  a  field,  which