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 the tie; for if this indissoluble bond symbolises the inseparable union of Jesus Christ with His Church, souls who have entered upon this blessed contract ought to keep their faith with Christ Himself, and never cause divorce between themselves and Him.

With this object, the smallest things that might displease the Heavenly Spouse must be avoided; for open ruptures are not the only things to be feared in marriage, but the least coldness. Without care, all such tend to divorce; and hence the smallest negligences should be promptly repaired, lest the delicacy of wedded love should be wounded, and so, being chilled, should soon die out.

Watch then, O Christian soul, over every little thing, for nothing so pleases one who loves as the evident desire to gratify him on all occasions; whilst, contrariwise, there can be nothing more terrible than that celebrated utterance of the Son of God: ' I would that thou wert cold or hot.' If you were one or the other, it might be possible to turn you towards good, and you would be capable of doing some work; but 'because thou art lukewarm,’ and inefficacious, nothing can be done with you — and ' I will begin and vomit thee out of my mouth.’