Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/96

 to the  end  that  being  advertised  of  the  danger  he  is  in,  every one may  the  better  stand  upon  his  guard,  and  take  care  lest  he fell. Moreover as  to  the  preacher,  he  ought  not  note,  or  point out any  one  in  particular:  for  this  would  be  a  great  imprudence in him,  because  he  would  hereby  reap  less  fruit,  and  give  great occasion of  scandal. Wherefore it  would  be  very  ill  done  to think,  and  still  worse  to  express,  that  this  was  said  for  such  a  one, this for  another;  and  it  would  be  forming  a  very  rash  judgment of the  preacher  to  think  that  he  had  anything  so  unreasonable in view. But though,  both  on  the  preacher's  and  the  auditor's part,  there  ought  to  be  a  great  circumspection  in  this  matter,  and that it  is  always  very  good  that  every  one  takes  what  is  said  as said  to  himself,  yet  I  would  not  that  any  one  should  frame  to himself,  that  the  preacher  had  a  design  to  point  him  out;  for such a  thought  as  this  must  never  enter  into  our  minds;  but what I  desire  is,  that  laying  our  hands  upon  our  hearts,  we confront  our  life  and  actions  with  the  doctrine  he  preaches,  and say to  ourselves,  certainly  what  he  says  may  very  well  be addressed  to  me;  I  have  great  need  of  this  warning,  it  is  God that has  put  this  into  his  mouth  for  my  good. In this  manner we shall  let  nothing  pass,  from  which  we  may  not  derive  some fruit, either  for  our  amendment,  or  our  greater  perfection. The gospel  takes  notice,  that  after  the  discourse  our  Saviour had had  with  the  Samaritan,  she  said  to  all  she  met  with,  "  Come and  see  a' man  who  has  told  me  all  things  that  I  have  ever  done." (John, iv.  29.)  When  the  preacher  speaks  in  this  manner  to  his audience, and  tells  them  what  passes  in  their  hearts,  then  he may  securely  judge  that  he  effectually  makes  a  good  sermon,  and that his  exhortation  becomes  fruitful.

In the  last  place,  we  ought  to  be  convinced  that  the  word  of God  is  the  nourishment  and  sustenance  of  the  soul;  and  therefore we  should  always  endeavour,  in  every  exhortation  we tear,  to  carry  something  away  with  us,  and  conserve  and  lay it up  in  our  hearts,  whence  we  may  obtain  more  strength  and force to  begin  anew. " The  grain  which  is  sown  in  good ground,"  says  our  Saviour,  "  signifies  those  who  hear  the  word of  God  with  a  heart  well  disposed;  and  retain  the  same,  and make  it  bring  forth  good  fruit  in  due  season." (Luke, viii.  15.) St. Gregory  explaining  this  passage  says,  that  the  body  is  in  a very  bad  state  of  health,  when  the  stomach  cannot  keep  or retain  any  nourishment,  but  throws  up  whatever  it  takes. (Hom. 15.)    In  the  same  manner,  the  soul  is  in  a  dangerous