Page:AceticLibraryV2PreparationForDeath.djvu/89

 exclaim with all courage, "Lord, be Thou my helper." (Ps. xxx. 10.) " The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear?" (Ps. xxvii. I.) God, as Origen observes, cares much more about our eternal salvation than the devil does about our eternal ruin; because God loves us much more than the devil hates us.

God is faithful, observes the apostle, and will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, (i Cor. x. 13.) But you will say, " Many saints have died in great fear concerning their eternal salvation." I answer, that few are the examples of those who, having led a holy life, have afterwards died in great fear. Belluacensis observes, that the Lord permits this in some saints, in order to purge them when dying from some defect. Besides, do we not read that almost all God's servants have died with a smile upon their lips? To all, the Divine Judgment gives fear of death; but where sinners pass from fear to desperation, the saints pass to assurance. S. Antoninus narrates that S. Bernard being ill, was tempted to fear, but thinking upon the merits of Jesus Christ, he dismissed every fear, saying, " My merits are Thy wounds." S. Hilarion at first was afraid, but aftenvards he said, rejoicing, " Go forth, my soul, of what art thou afraid? For well nigh seventy years thou hast served Christ, and dost thou now fear death? " As if he wished to say, my soul, what dost thou fear after having served a God Who is faithful, and Who will never abandon him who has been faithful to Him in life? Father Joseph Scamacca being asked if he felt he was dying with confidence, answered, " What! have I been serving Mahomet all my life, that I should now doubt the goodness of my God as to whether He may wish me to be saved? "

If the thought of having once offended God at any time should torment us in death, we know that the Lord has promised to remember no more the sins of the penitent. " If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, .... they shall not be mentioned unto Him." (Ezelc xviii. 21, 22.) But some will say, how can we be sure that God has pardoned us? S. " Basil even, asks this question, and replies, " If we can say, I hate and abominate my sin; because he who hates sin, may rest secure that God has pardoned him already." The heart of man