the broad beaten way of a loose life, says that those are the men whom the prophet calls " beasts of the field" (in Ps. viii.), because they always range in a spacious place, and will not be confined by rule or discipline. And Gerson says, that by this kind of language, " It is enough for me to live as others do; if I be but saved it is sufficient; I aspire to no greater perfection a man readily manifests the imperfect and bad state of his own interior, since he is not willing to enter by the narrow gate. He adds, moreover, that persons who, through sloth and tepidity, think it sufficient to obtain the lowest seat in heaven, have great reason to fear that they will be condemned with the foolish virgins who fell asleep without having made any provision, or with the negligent servant who buried the talent he had received, and took no pains to improve it. He was cast into exterior darkness, and we read not in the gospel, that he was condemned for anything else, than for having neglected the talent his master had entrusted him with.
But to put the shameful and deplorable state of these men in a still clearer point of view, the same Gerson advances this example. Image to yourself, says he, the father of a family, rich, noble, having many children, each of whom is qualified to promote the interest and honour of the family. All apply with zeal to the performance of their respective duties except one, who, through sloth, leads a loose and shameful life, though, provided he did but apply himself, he is as well qualified as the rest for performing virtuous actions. Still he does nothing worthy his birth and talents, but contents himself, as he says, with a small fortune, and since he has wherewith to live at ease, he will take no pains to increase his property, nor will he trouble his mind with projects of ambition. His father calls upon him, exhorts, entreats him to adopt nobler sentiments, reminds him of his good qualities and noble birth, proposes to him the example of his ancestors and of the rest of his brothers; but when he sees that notwithstanding all he does, he cannot prevail on him to rise out of his sloth, and to lead an active life, he must needs conceive against him a very just indignation. It is the same with God. We are all his children and brothers of Jesus Christ. He would not have us content ourselves with an idle life, but exhorts us to perfection in these words: " Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father." (Matt. v. 48.) Consider how holy and perfect he is; think on what your birth obliges you to, and endeavour to shew by your actions, that you are the true children of such a father; take examples from your brothers also, and if you will, look upon your eldest brother Jesus Christ, who most freely gave his
