Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/261

 mined resolution  should  be  the  happy  effect  of  the union you  have  so  lately  contracted  with  Jesus Christ, and  of  all  the  graces  you  have  received  this last week. But perhaps  you  have  already  often  determined to  serve  God,  and  made  the  same  resolution after each  of  your  Communions,  which  is  so  recommended to  you; whence  came  it  then,  that  you  have been so  negligent? Why have  you  fallen  away  from your first  fervour? Why are  you  now  the  very  same as you  were  when  you  first  received  your  Saviour  in this  adorable  mystery? It is  because  your  resolutions hitherto  have  been  only  vague  and  verbal resolutions, such  as  relapsing  sinners  themselves seldom fail  to  make,  such  as  many  of  the  damned frequently have  made. But if  you  sincerely  intend to avoid  being  ranked  among  relapsing  sinners, you would  do  well  to  dwell  on  the  following  reasons or motives  for  perseverance: — First,  consider  that your divine  Redeemer,  whom  you  have  received  in the  Sacrament  of  his  Love,  will  at  all  times  be  as great,  as  good,  as  amiable,  as  merciful,  as  worthy  of your  whole  heart,  as  he  now  appears; consequently though you  may  change,  though  your  fervour  and desire to  advance  in  virtue  may  lessen  in  a month hence, perhaps  in  less,  you  should  nevertheless  persevere in  your  good  resolutions,  for  the  same  reasons which caused  you  to  make  them. You should  say  to yourself,  is  not  God  the  same  now  as  when  I felt that he  deserved  any  exertion  I could  make  for  his sake? None of  the  truths  of  religion  have  changed — death is  just  as  uncertain — judgment  as  terrifying — hell as  formidable — eternity  as  long  as  when  they made such  deep  impression  on  my  mind. Secondly, reflect on  the  difficulty  you  will  certainly  find  in  returning to  God,  if  once  you  completely  fall  off  from