In true humility they stood, in simple obedience they lived, in charity and patience they walked; thus they made daily progress and obtained great grace from God.1

Such men have been given as examples for all professors of religion, and we should be stimulated by them to progress, not led to relax our efforts by the number of the lukewarm.

5. At the commencement of each religious society how great was the ardour of every member! What devotion to prayer! What emulation in holiness! How strict the discipline! How great the reverence and obedience to the will of the superior in all matters!

Their footprints, now untrodden, prove still what truly holy and perfect men they were who, battling so energetically against the world, prevailed.

Now a man is esteemed great if he is not the perpetrator of a heinous crime, or if he bears with patience what he has undertaken.

6. Alas! what a state of lukewarmness and of negligence is ours! So soon do we decline from our first fervour, and already through mere lassitude and lukewarmness we are tired of life!

May the love of virtue not be dormant in thee, for thou hast very often seen many examples of devout men !

Ephes. v. 2. "An offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.'

CHAPTER XIX.

ON THE LIFE-PRACTICE OF A TRUE CHRISTIAN MAN.1

HE life of a good man ought to abound in all the virtues, so that he may be in his heart what he appears in his conduct. In fact, he ought to be better than he seems, because God is our judge, and wherever we may be, we ought to reverence Him and walk pure in His sight like the angels.

2

We ought to daily renew our vows, and excite ourselves to fervour, as if each day were the first of our conversion, and say," Assist me, O Lord God, in my good resolutions, and in Thy holy service, and grant that this day I may begin to walk worthily, for I have done nothing hitherto."3

2. According to the strength of our resolution is the rate of our progress, and much diligence is needed by one who desires much progress.

For if he often fails whose resolutions are strong, how will it be with him who rarely or feebly resolves?

1 The Latin title is De exercitiis boni Religiosi. Dibdin translates it, "The Exercise of a true Christian," but this, it seems to the present translators, hardly conveys the meaning of the author. 2 Prov. xxiv. 12. "Doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it?" Job viii. 6. "If thou wert pure and upright, surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.".

3 Ps. cviii. 6. "Save with Thy right hand, and answer me.” Ps. lxxvi. 11. "Vow and pay unto the Lord your God."

We abandon our principles under various circumstances, and even a slight omission of religious exercises can scarcely pass without injury.

The good resolutions of the righteous depend upon the grace of God rather than upon their own wisdom; in Him they always trust in all their aspirations. For man proposes but God disposes; "the way of man is not in himself."

3. If some customary exercise be at any time omitted for the sake of some act of piety, or of some brotherly kindness, it will be easily resumed afterwards; but if it be omitted through weariness of mind or indolence, the omission is sinful and will be injurious.

Strive as earnestly as we will, we shall always come short in many things. Therefore something definite must be kept before the mind, and we must strive most earnestly against those sins which most easily beset us.

The circumstances into which we allow ourselves to be thrown, as well as the thoughts which we allow in our minds, must be narrowly watched and ordered, because both exercise great influence on our progress.

4. If thou canst not examine thyself always, thou canst do so occasionally, and at least once a day, in the morning or in the evening. In the morning resolve, and in the evening examine thy conduct throughout the day, what thou hast said, and done, and thought; for thou mayest have often displeased God in word, deed, or thought, and offended thy neighbour.

1 Jer. x. 23; 2 Cor. iii. 5. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves."

2 Ps. lv. 17.

Gird thyself like a man against the wickedness of the devil. Bridle thine appetite, and thou wilt with the more ease bridle all sensual desires.1

Never be without some kind of occupation, but always be engaged in reading or writing, in prayer or meditation, or in some active duty for the general good.

Devotional exercises must be taken with discretion, not equally by all.

5. Such religious practices as are not common should not be displayed, for personal devotions are better in secret.

Care must be taken not to be listless in the public devotions, and careful about the private; thoroughly and faithfully carry out such as are due from you, and have been enjoined, then, if opportunity offers, return to thyself as thy spirit of devotion dictates.

All cannot use the same scheme, but one is suited to this man, and another to that man. Again, different devotions are adapted to different times; some for times of feasting, others for times of fasting; some we require in time of temptation, others in time of peace and repose. Some meditations are suitable for our times of sorrow, others when we rejoice in the Lord.

6. As the principal feasts approach, our good exercises ought to be renewed, and the good offices of the saints the more fervently implored. From the time of one festival to that of another, we should form such good resolutions as if we were about to leave this world and go to an everlasting feast.

At these times of devotion we ought so earnestly to

Job xxxviii. 3. "Gird up thy loins like a man."

prepare ourselves, so devoutly to persist, and so strictly to watch over our religious duties as if we were shortly about to receive from God the reward of our labour.

7. And if this be deferred, let us believe that we are not yet well prepared, not yet worthy of that so great glory which shall be revealed in us at the appointed time; and let us study to prepare ourselves better for death.1 "Blessed is that servant," says the Evangelist Luke, "whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. a truth, I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath."2

Of

CHAPTER XX.

ON LOVE OF SOLITUDE AND SILENCE.

EEK a suitable time for meditation, and frequently reflect on divine mercies.

be amusing.

Leave curious questions and read rather what will promote sorrow for sin than what will

If you withdraw yourself from too much conversation and from idle visits, not hearing every new thing or every idle rumour, you will find sufficient time and suitable oppor

Rom. viii. 18.

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

2 S. Luke xii. 37, 43, 44; S. Matth. xxiv. 46, 47. "Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find

watching."