become useless to them: the bread of the strong does not fortify their souls, therefore the sacraments which are a source of grace and salvation to other sinners, become the chief subject of their condemnation. As to their ingratitude, what can be more ungrateful, than to trample on the sacred blood which purified their souls? to insult a God again who so often received them with mercy! Ah! 1 will never be guilty of such ingratitude; I will never expose my soul to such danger; but I must not depend on my own strength; though I trust in the mercy of God, that the spirit of sin has gone forth from me, yet has he not perhaps already said that he would return? (Luke xi. 24.) Does he not perceive, with envy and rage, that my soul is, as the Gospel says, swept and garnished? (Ibid.) That it is purified by a good confession, and adorned with the robe of sanctifying grace; with the ornaments of virtuous desires and holy resolutions? Has not that wicked spirit determined to disturb the happiness I now enjoy, and to tempt me again with seven times more violence than before? O my God! my strength! my refuge! thou knowest that the least temptation would be too strong for me, if 1 be abandoned to myself. O stay with me, then, my God! protect me from mine enemies; and rather take me out of the world, than permit me to commit one mortal sin.
Second Point. — The second description of relapsing sinners, are those who communicate regularly, yet continue to commit venial sins deliberately, and persevere in a course of tepidity and negligence. Those are persons whose example you should most carefully guard against, because you would be more likely to imitate them than notorious sinners. The
