Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/612

 thou shouldst  work  out  thy salvation, that  thou  shouldst strive to  go  in  at  the  strait gate, and  go  by  the  way which, though  narrow,  is  a way  that  leads  to  life. Nothing is better  able  to  lessen the fear  of  death  than  a life led in  the  continual  fear  of God,  and  contempt  of  the enjoyments of  the  present,  in the  hope  of  the  life  that  is  to come. Chastise, therefore, too, thy  body  with  St.  Paul, and bring  it  to  subjection. To him,  behold,  the  world was crucified,  and  he  to  the world; how, then,  could  he die  otherwise  than  cheerfully? Believe me,  not  one  who  is dead  already  to  his  sins  and to the  world  is  ever  unwilling to die. For of  what  is  death able to  deprive  one  who  loves nothing that  is  in  the  world, but all  whose  treasure  is  in Heaven?

Yet hearken  to  what  thou wilt deem  a yet  greater  marvel, that  such  persons  have no fear  even  of  the  death  so dreaded  by  others; I mean,  a sudden  and  unexpected  death. And why? Is it  because  such a death is  more  evil  than others? Not so; but  because it commonly  seizes  them unprepared, and  too  much entangled in  earthly  things. For to  those  whom  it  finds prepared it  is  so  far  from being evil,  that  to  them  it  is rather  an  easy  and  a ready transit from  the  ills  of  this life to  the  blessings  that  are eternal, and  to  the  rest  that shall have  no  end.

Oh, how  secure  and  happy is the  death  of  one  whom  no worldly  affection  ties  down to earth! With what  alacrity does  one  go  the  way  of all  flesh  whose  study  it  has been to  trample  under  foot within himself  all  desires  of the  flesh? To such  a one will death  not  be  terrible  and unwelcome, but  rather  as  a tranquil  slumber  that  comes to refresh  the  limbs  that  are wearied after  labour  and  fatigue! Hence it  is  that  my friends  are  said  to  die  in the  Lord,  because,  while they lived,  they  made  me  the aim and  end  of  their  life; every act  and  intent  of  it they  directed  to  me; and  to me  they  attain  in  death  at last,  who  am  the  end  and object of  their  being,  and therefore in  peace  in  the  selfsame they  sleep,  and  are  at rest; where  there  shall  be  no more  any  mourning,  or  crying or  sorrow,  for  the  former things  are  passed  away. Hence it  is  but  just  that  their death should  bear  the  name, as it  has  the  reality,  of  peace.

For since  the  life  of  man is a warfare  upon  earth,  and you have  a severe  conflict  to wage  against  the  princes  of darkness,  my  Elect  die  in peace,  because  all  their  wars and combats  are  set  at  rest in death,  and  because  they fought stoutly  under  my banner,  and  followed  me  as