hinder him from attaining the proposed object, yet at most he will fail only in something of counsel, in an unimportant rule, slight imperfection or venial sin. But he whose object is only not to offend God mortally, will doubtless fall into some mortal 6in, if his bow is even in the slightest degree slackened, and if he fails to point at the object. It is thus that seculars fall so repeatedly into most grievous sins, and good religious are by the mercy of God preserved from them. And certainly were there no other advantage in religion, this alone would suffice to comfort us, and should urge us continually to thank the divine goodness for having called us thereunto. For to conclude, I hope, that, by the grace of God, you will pass your whole life here without mortal sin, whereas if you had lived in the world, perhaps you would pass scarcely one year, month, or week; no, not even one day or hour without falling into it.
Hence you may easily infer what danger the tepid religious is in, who scruples not the breaking of his rules, and who is not solicitous to aspire to perfection. It is very difficult for him to retain these sentiments, without being exposed to the danger of committing some great crime. But if you desire to improve in virtue, propose to yourself, for example, to acquire humility so perfect, that you may be able to receive contempts and injuries with joy; and after all this, God grant, you will be able to support them with patience. Resolve with yourself to make an entire submission of your will and understanding to everything ordained by your superiors; and God grant that, even after this resolution, you will not fail in the duty of obedience, and in the exactness it requires. In fine, resolve to be perfectly resigned on occasions the most arduous and extraordinary; and you will do not a little, by manifesting this resignation, when even the most easy and common trials occur.
It was well contrived by Almighty God, says St. Austin (Lib. de Perf. torn, vii.), to place the greatest and most perfect of his commandments at the head of all the rest. " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, with thy whole strength, and with thy whole mind." (Luke, x. 27.) This is the greatest and first commandment." (Matt. xxii. 38) This is the end for which the rest were given us, according to the words of the apostle: " The end of the precept is charity" (1 Tim. i. 5); and the excellence of this commandment is such, that the fathers and divines are of opinion, it is only in the other life we shall be able to fulfil it perfectly. For to have our hearts
