Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/91

 of not  persevering. "Wherefore it  is  very  necessary  to  confirm and  fortify  your  heart  by  grace"  (Heb.  xiii.  9)  and  in  time  to lay  a  solid  foundation  of  true  virtue.

Albertus Magnus,  explaining  by  what  means  we  ought  to  confirm ourselves  in  virtue,  to  be  the  better  able  to  persevere,  says, that a  true  Christian  ought  to  be  so  well  grounded  in  virtue,  and have it  so  firmly  rooted  in  his  heart,  that  it  may  be  always  in his  power  to  practise  it,  without  any  dependence  upon  what other men  can  say  or  do  to  him. There are  persons  who  outwardly seem  to  have  the  spirit  of  meekness  and  humility,  so  long as nothing  thwarts  them,  and  all  things  happen  as  they  wish; but upon  the  least  cross  accident  that  occurs,  this  peace vanishes, and  they  presently  take  fire,  and  discover  what  they are. Such men  as  those,  says  Albertus,  have  not  the  virtue  of peace  and  humility  in  their  own,  but  in  other  men's  minds  and humours; so  that  if  your  virtue  be  such  as  this,  it  belongs  to others  and  not  to  you,  since  it  lies  in  their  power  to  give,  or take  it  from  you,  whensoever  they  please. But your  virtue,  if  it be  true,  must  be  your  own,  and  not  of  another's  growth,  and  the fund ought  always  to  be  at  your  own  disposal,  without  any  dependence upon  another. We may  make  a  very  just  comparison of such  persons  as  those,  to  a  stagnant  water  which  yields  no  bad smell or  vapour,  so  long  as  you  do  not  trouble  it;  but  disturb it once,  and  it  sends  forth  so  intolerable  a  stench  as  is  enough to poison  the  standers  by. Just so  it  is  with  these  men. As long as  you  leave  them  to  themselves,  as  long  as  nobody  vexes them they  are  in  profound  peace,  they  seem  as  quiet  as  stagnant water that  offends  nobody;  but  as  soon  as  they  are  molested  or the  least  moved,  presently  such  pernicious  vapours  are  raised,  as give  great  scandal,  and  very  bad  example  to  their  neighbour. " Touch  the  mountains"  (Ps.  cxliii.  5),  says  the  Psalmist,  "  and they  will  smoke."

Amongst the  many  means  religion  furnishes  us  with  for  our better assistance  and  encouragement  in  our  spiritual  progress, a principal  one  is  that  of  sermons,  and  spiritual  exhortations.