danger of persevering in ordinary faults and habitual negligence, requires even more serious reflection on your part, than the misfortune of falling into grievous sin; because as yet the fear and love of God must have sufficient influence over your mind, to make you tremble at the idea of committing mortal sin after communion; but it is too common at your age, for relapses into venial sin to appear much less criminal and dangerous than they really are. That you may conceive how important it is to profit by each of your communions, reflect seriously on the parable of the slothful servant in the Gospel, who buried the talent he received from his master. Take particular notice, that he is not accused of having made bad use of it; his only crime is, not having made any use of so favourable a means for promoting his own interests. On his master’s return, he is not found richer than before, though he could have become so; he frustrates the benevolent designs of his Lord, and on that account alone he is treated with the utmost severity, and deprived of the talent bestowed on him, which is transferred to another. This is a clear and striking figure of those who receive the adorable Eucharist, yet bury that precious talent, that is, make no use of it for advancing the business of their salvation; who, after years spent in regularly frequenting the sacraments, are not perceived ta have corrected one single fault, or acquired one single virtue. This dangerous and disedifying system is chiefly attributed to our weakness, and perhaps with too much justice; how many persons, to the disgrace of religion and scandal of their neighbour, continue from one communion to another as proud and vain, as negligent in their spiritual exercises, and thoughtless of their domestic duties; as
