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 tormented more by heaven than by hell; " for that which will afflict them chiefly in all eternity, will be to see that they have lost heaven and the Highest Good, that is God; not indeed through any evil providence, or by the evil designs of others, but by their own fault. The soul will see that it was created for heaven; that God had given to it the choice of procuring either life or death. " Before man is life and death, and whether him liketh shall be given him." (Ecclus. xv. 17.) So it will see that it was in its hand, if it willed, to render itself eternally happy; and it will see that of itself it has chosen to cast itself into that gulf of torment, from which it will never be able to escape, nor will any one else be able to procure its freedom. It will see, amongst the saved, so many of its companions who were placed in the same, or perhaps in greater danger from sin, but who had the knowledge to restrain themselves, or to commend themselves to God; or, albeit if ever they fell, since they had the wisdom to arise and give themselves to God, they were saved. But this lost one, since he willed not to put an end to sin, has come unhappily to his end in hell, in that sea of torments, without the hope of being able to better himself further.

My brother, if in past time you even have been so foolish as to have willed to lose heaven and God for some wretched pleasure, procure a remedy now that there is time. Do not choose to continue to be so foolish. Tremble lest you should have to weep over your disgrace in eternity. Who knows whether this consideration which you are now reading may be the last call that God will give you. Who knows but that if now you do not change your life, at that other deadly sin which you may commit, the Lord will abandon you, and for this afterwards send you to suffer eternally amidst that crew of foolish ones who are now in hell, and are confessing their error. " Therefore we have erred; " but they confess it, being desperate, seeing that there is no longer any remedy for their error. When the devil tempts you to sin anew, think of hell, and have recourse to God; the thought of hell will deliver you from hell. " Remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss." (Ecclus. vii. 36.) For the thought of hell will make you fly to God.