Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/43

 struck the  two  sons  of  Aaron  with  sudden  death,  in  the sight of  all  the  people,  because  in  haste  they  used  in their  thuribles  unsanctified  fire;  "  fire  coming  out  from the  Lord  destroyed  them." (Lev. x.  2.)  3. He commanded a  poor  man  to  be  stoned  to  death  for  having gathered a  few  sticks  on  the  sabbath  day. (Num. xv.  35.) Lastly, He  inflicted  death  on  Moses  before  he  could  enter the promised  land,  although  he  most  ardently  desired  to enter  it;  and  his  fault,  as  the  holy  Fathers  expounded  it, was some  small  degree  of  diffidence  when  God  commanded him  to  strike  the  rock. Compare these  and other examples  with  your  faults,  and  you  will  discover that you  have  deserved  more  severe  punishments. Shudder at the  idea,  and  repent.

II. God has  ordained  more  severe  punishments  than these, for  venial  sin,  after  life  is  over,  in  purgatory. "The purgative  fire,"  writes  St.  Augustine,  "will  be more  severe  than  any  pain  whatsoever,  that  can  be  seen, felt,  or  even  understood  in  this  life." There, every  debt which has  been  contracted  will  be  exacted  to  the  last farthing, and  no  satisfaction  will  suffice  but  suffering; and "which,  of  you,"  exclaims  Isaias,  "  can  dwell  with devouring  fire!" (Is. xxxiii.  14.)

III. Since you  would  not  consent  to  remain,  even  for a very  short  time,  in  flames,  even  to  gain  the  whole world, how  reasonable  it  is  that  you  should  begin  to  do penance  for  what  is  past. If through  human  frailty  you cannot avoid  every  venial  sin,  shun  at  least  those  of greater  consequence,  and  endeavor  continually  to  diminish their  number,  in  order  "  that  the  purgative  fire,"  as St.  Augustine  again  remarks,  "may  find  little  or  nothing in  you  to  consume."