Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/205

 ourselves with  roses  before they be  withered. Among them, too,  are  some  who promise themselves  length of days,  and  meantime  pass their days  in  pleasures,  as though  it  would  be  time enough at  the  last  to  recount the years  that  are  gone  in  the bitterness of  their  soul,  and then to  ask  thee  not  to  remember the  sins  and  the  ignorances of  their  youth. As though it  were  just,  that where sin  abounded,  grace should much  more  abound. Thus they  speak  foolishly  in their  heart,  and  to  this  their life and  their  very  works  bear witness.

Christ. I know that  the number of  the  foolish  is  infinite, but  be  not  emulous  of the  evil-doers,  and,  if  sinners entice thee,  consent  not  to them. Walk not  with  them: restrain thy  foot  from  their paths. For when  sudden  calamity shall  fall  upon  them, and destruction  as  a tempest shall be  at  hand; when  tribulation and  distress  shall  come upon them,  then  shall  they call upon  me,  and  I will  not hear; because  they  despised all my  counsel,  and  neglected my reproofs. Hearken, whosoever thou  art,  who,  in  the hope to  live  longer,  delayest to live  better. Fool, what  if this  night,  what  if  this  very hour, I require  of  thee  thy  unhappy soul! whither, thinkest  thou,  will  it  go? Oh, how many thousands  of  men  have been deluded  by  that  hope,  or rather  foolish  presumption! But now  they  are  laid  in  hell, death feeds  upon  them,  and, above all  things,  they  are  tormented by  this,  that  they neglected to  do  good  works while they  had  time,  and,  for the sake  of  an  uncertain  hope, neglected the  sure  remedy  for the recovery  of  their  salvation, not  so  much  wishing  to abandon,  as  to  defer  their  penance. But that  procrastination has  been  their  destruction: for  their  life  has*  been cut off  as  by  a weaver,  when they seemed  but  to  begin  it. They died  before  they  knew they were  dying. And now infer for  thyself  what  kind  of repentance  was  theirs  at  the last. Then they  most  repented, and  still,  but  in  vain, repent, that  they  neglected penance at  the  seasonable time, and  did  not,  as  they easily might,  at  the  expense of a few  hours,  ransom  themselves from  eternal  torments.

Oh, that  thou  wouldst  gain wisdom from  the  loss  of  others, and become  more  cautious  in so  serious  a matter! True, I have  promised  pardon  to  the penitent, but  I have  not  promised life  to  the  deferrer  of his  penitence  till  to-morrow. To-day, then,  if  thou  wilt hear my  voice,  harden  not