Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/75

 that he  should  continue  to  do  still,  as  he  had  done  then."  If therefore  you  wish  to  know  the  most  proper  means  of  continuing always  a  good  religious  and  improving  much  in  virtue,  reflect well  upon  the  disposition  you  were  in,  when  you  first  left  the world,  and  entered  into  religion,  and  endeavour  to  continue always  in  the  same  state.  Consider  with  what  zeal  and  courage you  then  renounced  everything,  your  parents,  your  friends, riches,  pleasures,  and  all  the  conveniences  of  this  life.  Persevere and  still  retain  the  same  contempt  of  the  world,  the  same  forgetfulness  of  your  parents  and  of  all  other  conveniences  of  life,  and thus  you  will  become  a  good  religious.  Call  to  mind  also  with what  earnestness  and  humility  you  begged  to  be  admitted  into religion, and  remember  that  the  same  day  you  were  assured  of admittance,  you  thought  the  gates  of  heaven  had  been  open  to you. Remember what  gratitude  you  then  expressed,  and  how highly y°u  conceived  yourself  obliged  both  to  God  and  to religion. Persevere in  the  same  sentiments  of  humility  and spiritual comfort;  be  convinced  that  you  are  still  under  the same obligations,  as  you  were  the  first  day,  and  in  this  manner you cannot  fail  of  making  great  progress. In fine,  think  often with what  modesty  and  devotion  you  behaved  yourself  at  first after your  admittance;  remember  how  obedient,  how  humble, how fervent,  how  exact,  and  how  resigned  you  were  then;  continue always  the  same,  and  you  will  daily  improve  more  and more, and  continually  advance  in  virtue  and  perfection.

This means  is  much  recommended  by  holy  men,  as  I  shall shew hereafter,  but  first  it  is  very  necessary  clearly  to  explain its import. I do  not  mean  hereby,  that  you  need  not  be  more perfect now,  than  you  were  the  first  day  you  entered  into  religion, or  that  an  ancient  religious  should  content  himself  with  the virtue of  a  novice. For religious  orders  are  schools  of  perfection;  he  that  has  frequented  them  longer,  ought  to  have  learned, and improved  himself  more,  than  he  who  entered  them  later; and as  in  human  sciences,  he  that  has  studied  ten  years,  ought  to know  more  than  he  who  newly  begins  his  studies;  so  a  religious who has  laboured  for  a  long  time  to  advance  in  virtue,  ought without doubt  to  have  made  greater  progress  in  his  profession, than one  who  is  but  newly  entered  into  religion. But, as  a young  student,  who  at  first  was  very  diligent  in  his  studies,  and afterwards grows  idle,  is  told  that  if  he  pretends  to  become learned, he  must  continue  to  take  his  business  still  as  much  to heart,  as  he  did  at  the  beginning;  so  what  I  intend,  by  that