Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/595

 wonderful, that  are  above thee? Behold, one  thing  is  necessary: To  know  how  to  die. This is  truly  the  art  of  arts, and science  of  sciences. He who knows  this  will  be  never the worse  if  he  knows  not the rest. But he  who  knows not this  will  gain  nothing, though he  know  all  beside. Do not  all  other  things  relate to earth  and  its  short  life: but this  to  Heaven  and  its boundless eternity?

Therefore, as  long  as  thou livest, be  learning  to  die,  and the more  so,  that  of  this art there  is  but  one  experiment to  be  made; which,  if it  fail  of  success,  thou  wilt never be  able  to  correct  thy error. In other  arts,  if  a fault  is  committed  the  first time through  carelessness  or ignorance,  it  is  easily  corrected the  second; but  in  this,  if there  be  made  but  one  mistake, repentance  afterwards will be  useless  and  too  late. For then  the  gate  of  my mercy  will  be  shut,  and  there will be  no  hope  of  pardon  remaining for  ever. Wheresoever the tree  falls,  whether  to  the south or  to  the  north,  there shall it  be. He is  wisest  who often thinks  upon  his  end, and strives  now  to  be  in  his life such  as  he  wishes  to  be found  in  his  death. Who is wise,  and  will  keep  these things?

It is  indeed  great  wisdom for a man  to  look  into  himself, to know  himself,  to  know,  I say,  what  man  is,  that  has  a body  from  the  ground  and  a spirit  from  heaven,  and  that the one,  by  death,  returns into its  earth  from  whence  it was  taken,  but  the  spirit  returns to  God  who  gave  it, that it  may  receive  according as it  has  done  in  the  body, whether it  be  good  or  evil.

My son,  meditate  on  these things, contemplate  them, dwell on  them. Remember thy last  end,  and  thou  shalt never sin; and  nothing  will avail so  much  to  make  thee temperate in  all  things. For how shalt  thou  lift  up  thy heart, or  what  cause  shalt  thou have to  be  proud,  thou  who art dust  and  ashes,  and  soon to return  to  the  dust? Will it be  any  pleasure  to  thee  to foster  and  pamper  thy  flesh with luxuries,  which  will shortly be  the  portion  of snakes,  and  vermin,  and worms? How canst  thou  set thy heart  upon  the  riches  and honours and  vanities  of  the world, from  which  cruel  death will separate  thee,  to-day perhaps, or  to-night,  however unprepared  and  unwilling? And then  whose  shall those things  be  which  thou hast provided? Oh, how  easy is it  for  him  to  despise  all things, who  is  ever  reflecting that he  must  die! Oh, that men would  be  wise,  and  would