several days, would feel inclined to go back, particularly when he calls to mind the sentence the Saviour of the world pronounces against him, " Whosoever puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of heaven?" (Luke, ix. 62.) These are the words which should make us tremble; and the great St. Austin, upon this occasion, says, we cannot possibly prevent ourselves from descending, but by always striving to ascend; for as soon as we begin to stop, we descend, and not to advance, is to go back; so that if we wish not to go back, we must always run forward without stopping. (Ep. 113 to Dem. V) St. Gregory, St. Chrysostom, St. Leo Pope, and many other saints, say the same, and express themselves almost m in the same terms. But St. Bernard enlarges on this subject in two of his epistles, wherein addressing himself to a negligent and tepid religious, who contents himself with leading an ordinary life, and struggles not for his advancement, he thus discourses with him in the following dialogue: Well! will you not advance? No. What then? Will you go back? By no means. What will you do then? I will remain as I am, and grow neither better nor worse. Then you will do what is impossible, for in this life there can be no state of permanency. This is a privilege appertaining to God alone, "With whom there is no change nor the least shadow of vicissitude." (Jas. i. 17.) "I am the Lord," says he, "and I do not change." (Mai. iii. 6.) But all things in this world are subject to a perpetual change. " All shall grow old like a garment," says the Psalmist, speaking of the heavens, " and as a garment thou shalt change them; but as for thee, O Lord! thou art always the self-same, and thy years shall not fail." (Ps. ci. 28.) Man, above all, according to the testimony of holy Job, is never long' in the same condition; " He passeth like a shadow, and never continueth in the same state." (Job,xiv.2.) Jesus Christ himself, as St. Bernard adds, as long as he lived here on earth and conversed with man, was never stationary; "He grew in wisdom, age, and favour, before God and men." (Luke, ii. 52.) That is to say, that as he grew in age, he gave more signal proofs of his wisdom and holiness, " And prepared himself as a champion to run his race" (Ps.xviii.7) of labour and sufferings. St. John also declares, that "Whoever saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked." (1 John, ii. 6.) But if, while our Saviour runs on, you stop, is it not clear that you will remain behind him instead of approaching near him?
