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 who are  given  to  the  habit  of  only  one  mortal  sin — oh, remember! that as  it  is  not  necessary  to  have  all diseases to  die,  so  neither  must  one  be  wholly  bad  to be  condemned. One tag  on  an  article  will  bring  it to  its  destination,  and  sin  is  the  label  of  the  soul  expressed to  hell, — the  label  nothing  can  remove  but the blood  of  Jesus  Christ. And lastly,  you  who  are given only  to  venial  faults — oh  beware! Like St. Peter  you  follow  Christ — but  afar  off. Take care  lest your next  act  be  to  deny  your  Lord. Because you are neither  hot  nor  cold,  the  Lord  will  spit  you  out of His  mouth  as  a  loathsome  thing,  not  to  be  taken back without  an  effort,  without  disgust. While the clouds of  God's  wrath  are  gathering  above  you,  you, because of  your  one  or  two  good  qualities,  send  up the  lightning-rod  of  self-conceit  and  feel  perfectly secure. Your danger  is  greater  than  that  of  the  out and out  sinner;  for  often  the  very  enormity  of  a sin  will  drive  the  sinner  up  to  the  highest  virtue,  while the mediocre  remain  in  their  mediocrity,  thus  verifying Our  Lord's  words  "  that  the  first  shall  be  last and  the  last  first."

Brethren, may  we,  one  and  all,  spend  the  Advent  so awake  to  our  most  important  duties  as  to  merit  to receive  Christ  worthily  at  Christmas;  and  may  we spend  our  lives  so  vigilant  in  God's  service  that,  at  His final coming,  we  may  be  among  His  blessed  servants whom He  shall  find  watching.