Human natures differ as much as pebbles on the sea shore.  One man’s meat has often proven poison to another.  In the religion of Jesus Christ there is something more than the Commandments given to Moses.  Love of God has degrees of intensity and perfection.  Such words as sacrifice, mortification, self-denial have a meaning as they have always had.  God gives more to some, less to others; He demands corresponding returns.  These are things Horatio ignores.  Yet they are real, real as his own empty and conceited wisdom.

CHAPTER XL.  THE PROFESSION.

One of the advantages of the monastic life, created by vows, is that it is wholly in keeping with human nature such as God created it.  Men differ in their spiritual complexion more widely even than they do in mental caliber and physical make-up.  All are not fitted by character and general condition for the same ’career; we are “cut out” for our peculiar tasks.  It is the calling of one to be a soldier, of another to be a statesman, because each is best fitted by nature for this particular walk of life.  The born poet, if set to put together a machine, will, in the majority of cases, make a sorry mess of the job, and a bricklayer will usually prove to be an indifferent story-writer.

So also one is called to be a good Christian, while his brother may be destined for a more perfect life.  If there are vocations in the natural life, why should there not be in the supernatural, which is just as truly a life?  If variety of aptitudes and likes determine difference of calling, why should this not hold good for the soul as well as for the body and mind?  If one should always follow the bent of one’s legitimately natural inclinations, no fault can reasonably be found if another hearkens to the voice of his soul’s aspirations and elect a career in harmony with his nature.

There are two roads on which all men must travel to their destiny.  One is called the way of Precept, the other the way of Counsel.  In each the advantages and inconveniences are about equally balanced.  The former is wide and level with many joys and pleasures along the way; but there are many pitfalls and stumbling blocks, while on one side is a high, steep precipice over which men fall to their eternal doom.  Those destined by Providence to go over this road are spiritually shod for the travel; if they slip and tumble, it is through their own neglect.

Some there are to whom it has been shown by experience—­very little sometimes suffices—­that they have, for reasons known alone to God, been denied the shoe that does not slip; and that if they do not wish to go over the brink, they must get off the highway and follow a path removed from this danger, a path not less difficult but more secure for them.  Their salvation depends on it.  This inside path, while it insures safety for these, might lead the others astray.  Each in his respective place will be saved; if they exchange places, they are lost.