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66 mand, and with all the diligence which befits it.

For that is not diligence, but a very subtle form of sloth, which leads us to do our work before its time, and to despatch it hastily, not caring whether it be done well or not, so that we may then quietly give ourselves up to the enjoyment of a sluggish rest, upon which our thoughts were bent, when we were hurrying through our task.

This great evil proceeds from the want of duly considering the value of a good work, when done at the right time, and with a determination to overcome the toil and difficulty which the sin of sloth puts in the way of newly-enlisted soldiers.

You must often, therefore, call to mind, that one ejaculation to God, one single bending of the knee to His honour, is worth more than all the treasures of the world; and that, whenever we do violence to ourselves and to our bad inclinations, the Angels bring to our souls a crown of glorious victory from the Heavenly Kingdom. And consider also, on the other hand, that from the slothful, God by little and little withdraws the graces which He had bestowed upon them; whilst to the diligent He gives more abundant graces, and permits them at last to enter into His joy.