derstanding proposes to it, that value, which our understanding sets upon any object, becomes of necessity the measure of our desires. And our will being the absolute mistress that commands all the interior and exterior faculties of our souls, we never exert ourselves for the attainment of any object, but according to that degree wherein our will is moved to desire it. In order, then, that we earnestly desire it, and diligently exert ourselves for its attainment, it is necessary that we hold in high estimation whatever relates to our advancement in perfection. For, these things bear such reciprocal relation, that the measure of the one is the infallible rule of the other.
To carry on his trade to advantage, a jeweller should know well the value of precious stones : otherwise he may happen to sell at a low rate a jewel of great value. Our traffic is in precious stones ; " and we are all merchants in the kingdom of heaven, and seek for fine pearls." (Matt xiii. 45.) We should, therefore, be good judges of the merchandise we trade in, lest, by a strange abuse, we give gold for dirt, and part with heaven, for earth. u Let not the wise man," says our Saviour, by the mouth of the Prophet Jeremy, " glory in his wisdom, .nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in the abundance of his wealth ; but let him that does glory, glory in his knowledge of me." ( Jer. ix. 23.) The most valuable of all treasures consists in the knowledge, love, and service of God ; this is our greatest, and, indeed, our only affair ; or to say better, it is for this we were created ; for this we entered into religion ; and it is in this alone, as in our only end, we ought to repose ourselves, and establish our greatest glory.
I wish, therefore, that this esteem of perfection and of spiritual things conducive to it, would make a deep impression on the hearts of all men, and particularly of religious ; and that we take care to encourage each other to it, not only by our words, and ordinary conversation, but much more by our actions, and the general tenor of our lives. By this means, those as yet but novices in the way of virtue, and such as are more advanced in it, and all in general, must acknowledge, that in religion we should attach importance to spiritual things only. In fine, as St. Ignatius sets forth in his Constitutions : " What we value most in religious persons is not depth of learning, nor great talents for preaching, nor any other natural or human endowment ; but it is humility and obedience, a spirit of recollection and prayer." (Cons., p. 10.) It is this we must, from the
