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
