Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/100

 ever in  a  state  of  recollection  and  union  with  God, as long  as  thou  livest,  and  as  far  as  may  be  possible, turn everything  that  thou  mayest  see  or  hear  into  an occasion  for  raising  thy  mind  to  God,  or  for  taking a glance  at  eternity. For example,  when  thou  seest running water,  reflect  that  thy  life  is  also  in  like manner running  on,  and  carrying  thee  nearer  and nearer to  death. When thou  seest  a  lamp  going  out for want  of  oil,  reflect  that  thus  also  one  day  thou  wilt have to  bring  thy  life  to  its  end. When thou  seest the graves  or  remains  of  the  dead,  consider  that  thou also hast  to  become  like  them. When thou  seest the great  ones  of  this  world  rejoicing  in  their  wealth or distinction,  pity  their  folly,  and  say,  For  me  God is sufficient:  "  Some  trust  in  chariots,  some  in horses,  but  we  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  "  (Ps.  xix.  8). Let these  glory  in  such  vanity;  I  will  make  nothing my glory  but  the  grace  of  God,  and  the  love  of  Him. When thou  beholdest  the  pompous  funerals  or  the fine sepulchral  monuments  of  great  folks  who  are dead, say:  If  these  are  damned,  what  is  the  good  of this  pomp  of  theirs  to  them? When thou  beholdest the sea  in  a  calm  or  a  storm,  consider  the  difference which there  is  between  a  soul  when  in  the  grace  and when out  of  the  grace  of  God. When thou  seest  a tree  that  is  withered,  consider  that  a  soul  without God is  serviceable  for  nothing  but  to  be  cast  into  fire. If thou  ever  happen  to  see  one  who  has  been  guilty of some  great  crime,  trembling  with  shame  and  fright in the  presence  of  his  judge,  or  of  his  father,  or  of his  bishop,  consider  what  the  panic  of  a  sinner will be  in  the  presence  of  Christ  his  judge. When it thunders,  and  thou  becomest  alarmed,  reflect how those  miserable  ones  who  are  damned  tremble, as  they  hear  continually  in  hell  the  thunders of  the  Divine  wrath. If thou  ever  seest  one  who has been  condemned  to  suffer  a  painful  death,  and saying: Is  there,  then,  no  longer  any  means  for  my