Page:AceticLibraryV2PreparationForDeath.djvu/174

 say? Which will you choose? Choose as a man, and not as a beast; choose as a Christian who has faith, and says, " What is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" (S. Matt. xvi. 26.)

Ah my God, Thou hast endowed me with reason; Thou hast given me the light of faith, whilst in time past I have acted like a brute beast, losing Thy grace for the sake of the miserable pleasures of my senses, which are passed away as a wind, leaving nothing save remorse of conscience, and an account with Thy Divine justice. " Enter not into judgment with thy servant."

Lord, do not judge me after my merits, but deal with me according to Thy mercy. Give me light; give me sorrow for my sins; give me pardon. " I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; O seek Thy servant: " for if Thou seekest me not,

I shall remain lost. Have pity upon me, by that Blood which Thou hast shed for my sake. I repent, O my Chief Good, of having left Thee, and of having willingly renounced Thy grace. I would that I could die of grief; but do Thou give me greater sorrow. Grant that I may attain heaven to sing of Thy compassion.

We understand that the really wise are they, who know how to obtain the Divine favour and heaven. Let us ever pray, then, to the Lord, that He may give to us the science of the saints, which the Lord gives to those who seek for it. Oh, how sweet a science is it to know how to love God, and to save the soul, which knowledge consists in knowing how to choose the way of eternal salvation, and to follow the means which lead to this end. The matter of saving the soul is of all matters most necessary; if we know everything, and do not know how to save ourselves, it would serve us nothing, and we should be for ever miserable; but on the contrary, we should be for ever blessed if we knew how to love God, although we may be ignorant of all else. S. Augustine says, " Blessed is he who knows Thee, although he knows not anything besides Thee."