Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/86

 ''path of  the  just,  says  Solomon,  as  a  shining  light  goeth  forwards and  increaseth  even  to  perfect  day. The way  of  the wicked  is  darksome:  they  know  not  when  they  fall.''  As  light increases constantly  from  sunrise  to  full  day,  so  the  path of the  saints  always  advances;  but  the  way  of  sinners becomes continually  more  dark  and  gloomy,  till  they know not  where  they  go,  and  at  length  walk  into  a  precipice. " Not  to  advance,"  says  St.  Augustine,  "  is  to  go back." St. Gregory  beautifully  explains  this  maxim of spiritual  life  by  comparing  a  Christian  who  seeks  to remain  stationary  in  the  path  of  virtue  to  a  man  who  is in  a  boat  on  a  rapid  river,  and  striving  to  keep  the  boat always in  the  same  position. If the  boat  be  not  continually propelled  against  the  current,  it  will  be  carried away  in  an  opposite  direction,  and  consequently, without continual  exertion,  its  station  cannot  be  maintained. Since the  fall  of  Adam  man  is  naturally  inclined to  evil  from  his  birth. For the  imagination  and thought  of  mans  heart  are  prone  to  evil  from  his  youth.  If he  do  not  push  forward,  if  he  do  not  endeavor,  by  incessant efforts,  to  improve  in  sanctity,  the  very  current of passion  will  carry  him  back. " Since  you  do  not  wish to  proceed,"  says  St.  Bernard,  addressing  a  tepid  soul, " you  must  fail." " By  no  means,"  she  replied;  "  I  wish to  live,  and  to  remain  in  my  present  state.  I  will  not consent  to  be  worse;  and  I  do  not  desire  to  be  better." "You, then,"  rejoins  the  saint,  "wish  what  is  impossible." Because, in  the  way  of  God,  a  Christian  must