Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/94

 neglect and  discontinue  their  practice."  Father  Natalia  takes  a cursory  notice  of  this,  in  his  remarks  upon  the  Constitutions; saying,  that  though  the  Constitutions  speak  only  of  eight  or fifteen  days,'  yet,  the  custom  observed  throughout  the  whole society  is  to  make  these  exhortations  regularly  every  week. And  doubtless  none  could  speak  with  more  certainty  on  this point  than  he,  who  visited  almost  all  the  houses  of  the  society, and  knew  perfectly  well  all  their  practices.  Hence  these  exhortations being  made  on  subjects  already  very  well  known  to  us, our  facility  in  forgetting  them  is  the  reason  why  they  cannot  be too  often  set  before  our  eyes.  But  suppose  we  remember  them ever  so  well,  yet  it  would  be  in  vain  that  our  memories  should  be faithful,  if  our  wills  also  be  not  fervent;  and  therefore  it  is  to warm  and  animate  us,  that  the  obligations  we  have  contracted by our  profession,  and  the  end  for  which  we  came  to  religion, are so  often  repeated  and  inculcated  to  us. The opinion  of  St. Austin  is  very  true,  that  "The  understanding  is  quick  and  ready, but  the,  motion  of  the  will  is  very  slow:"  wherefore  we  ought often to  touch  and  treat  upon  the  same  matter,  and  in  a  manner rivet it  in  our  minds,  as  St.  Paul  endeavoured  when  he  wrote to the  Philippians,  saying,  "  Moreover,  my  brethren,  rejoice  in our  Lord:  it  is  no  pain  at  all  to  me,  but  for  you  it  is  very necessary,  that  I  often  write  and  repeat  the  same  thing  to  you." (Phil. iii.  1.)  The  apostle  having  been  wrapt  to  the  third heaven, without  doubt  wanted  not  matter;  he  had  new  things enough, and  very  elevated  too,  to  tell  them  of:  yet  for  all  this, he believed  himself  obliged  to  repeat  only  these  things,  wherewith he  had  before  entertained  them;  because  he  knew  these were more  necessary  for  them  than  the  others. And this ought to  be  the  particular  object  of  him  who  makes  exhortations or sermons. He ought  not  to  think  of  what  may  make  himself appear more  eloquent,  or  more  profound;  for  hereby  he  would rather preach  himself,  than  preach  to  others. But he  should consider what  will  be  most  useful  to  his  audience,  and  propose only those  things  from  which  they  may  reap  most  profit. Thus they will  not  become  weary  of  hearing  those  common  things  they already know;  because  they  will  presently  perceive,  that  either they neglect  to  perform  them  or  at  least  to  not  practise  them with all  possible  perfection;  and  therefore  it  is  always  necessary they should  be  put  in  mind  of  them.

In the  fourth  place  it  will  be  of  very  great  profit,  that  whatever is said  in  exhortations,  be  received  by  us  as  particularly  said  to