Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/140

 whole world,  and  suffer  the  loss  of  his  soul?" (Mark  viii.  36.)

O my  God,  in  the  future  I  will  follow  more faithfully the  example  of  the  saints. I will take to  heart  the  admonition  of  the  Holy Spirit: "In  all  thy  works  remember  thy  last end." I will  often  go  in  thought  to  my  deathbed, to  God's  judgment-seat,  to  heaven,  and to hell. I will  endeavor  most  earnestly  to lead  such  a  life  now  as  I  would  wish  to  have lived if  I  had  reached  the  end  of  my  earthly pilgrimage.

"What does  this  count  for  eternity?" or, " How  does  this  look  in  the  light  of  eternity?" was the  question  proposed  to  himself  by  St. Aloysius  at  the  beginning  of  any  important work. Meditate often  on  the  four  last  things.

Leaves have  their  time  to  fall, And flowers  to  wither  at  the  north  wind's breath,

And stars  to  set;  but  all  — Thou hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  O Death!

—Mrs. Hemans.

But yesterday  the  word  of  Caesar  might Have stood  against  the  world;  now  lies  he there,

And none  so  poor  to  do  him  reverence.

— Shakespeare.

"Behold, short  years  pass  away;  and  I  am walking  in  a  path  by  which  I  shall  not  return" (Job xvi.  23).