Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/714

 some time  in  silence,  and  then  at  length  burst  forth  into  these  words:

Now thou  dost  dismiss  thy servant, O Lord,  according  to thy  word,  in  peace! Remember, I beseech thee,  that  thou hast made  me  as  the  clay; and enter not  into  judgment  with thy servant,  for  in  thy  sight no man  living  shall  be  justified! Remember me,  thou who only  art  without  sin, Christ, the  Saviour  of  the world; bring me  out  of  the death of  this  body,  and  translate me  to  thy  kingdom! I know that  I merit  not  to  behold thee,  yet  thou  knowest that my  hope  has  been  ever in thy  mercy!

And now,  too,  in  dying,  O Christ,  will  I breathe  out  my last  breath  in  the  confession of thy  holy  Name. Uphold me, therefore,  according  to thy  great  mercy,  and  let  me not  be  disappointed  of  my expectation. As I speed  on my  way,  open  to  me  the  gate of life; and  let  me  not  be  met by the  princes  of  darkness. Let thy  hand  lead  me  into  a place  of  refreshment,  even though it  be  the  last  of  the mansions which  thou  hast prepared for  thy  servants who fear  thee!

At these  words  he  expired.

Of Saint  Bernard, Abbot  of Clairvaux, — who,  in  an  illness which it  was  thought  would be his  last, with  weighty  and undoubtedly golden  words confounded the  accusations  of the  enemy,— the  author  of  his Life, who  was  himself  present at  the  time, thus  speaks:

And now  when  he  seemed to be  on  the  point  of  breathing his  last,  he  seemed  to himself  to  be  brought  before the Lord’s  judgment-seat. There, too,  stood  Satan  over against him,  attacking  him with wicked  accusations. But when he  had  made  an  end  of all  his  charges,  and  the  man of God  was  to  speak  for  himself, nothing  terrified  or  disturbed, he  said:

“ I own I am  not  worthy, nor can  I,  by  my  own  merits, obtain the  Kingdom  of  Heaven. But my  Lord,  who holds it  of  double  right,  that is to  say,  by  his  Father’s  inheritance and  by  the  merit  of his  Passion,  contents  himself with one,  and  gives  to  me  the other. By his  gift  I claim  it rightfully  and  I am  not  confounded. ’ At these  words  the enemy was  put  to  shame,  &amp;c.

''Oh, beautiful  words! how deeply to  be  impressed  on  all dying  persons.''

Thou knowest,  O Lord, that my  life  when  I reflect upon it,  must  be  called,  not so much  a life  as  a period  of confusion. But in  the  spirit  of humility,  and  with  a contrite