Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/40

 the world  by  his  evil  example,  and  the  devil  triumphs. With good  reason  then  does  Ecclesiasticus  exclaim  to  all the children  of  Adam,  "  Flee  from  sins  as  from  the  face of  a  serpent — the  teeth  thereof  are  the  teeth  of  a  lion, killing  the  souls  of  men." (Eccles. xxi.  2.)  Let  not  this divine monitor  cry  out  in  vain.

I. He  who  sincerely  hates  mortal  sin  must  make  every exertion to  avoid  venial  transgressions,  for  "  he  that contemneth  small  things  shall  fall  by  little  and  little." (Ecclus. xix.  1.)  Venial  sin  disposes  to  mortal  sin. 1. In regard  to  the  matter  of  sin;  for  the  matter  is  generally of the  same  nature  in  both  mortal  and  venial  sin,  and consequently when  a  person  has  formed  a  familiarity with the  smaller  matter  by  frequent  venial  sins,  he  easily passes to  mortal  guilt. 2. In  consequence  of  the  failure of our  spiritual  strength,  which  is  diminished  by  frequent venial sins. Hence in  this  state  we  easily  give  way under the  attacks  of  temptation;  for  "  by  slothfulness  a building  shall  be  brought  down  and  through  the  weakness of  hands  the  house  shall  drop  through." (Eccles. x. 18.)  3. In consequence  of  the  withdrawal  of  divine assistance, which  is  frequently  the  consequence  of  voluntary venial  sin;  for  that  man  does  not  deserve  much help who  spares  his  own  exertions. "He who  soweth sparingly  shall  also  reap  sparingly." (2 Cor.  ix.  6.)

II. What caution  a  man  uses  who  has  any  inflammable matter  in  his  house. He spares  no  exertion  to prevent  accidents  and  to  ensure  safety. And yet  there is no  substance  in  physical  nature  more  inflammable than is  concupiscence  in  moral  nature. King David,  the man who  was  "according  to  God's  own  heart,"  by  an