Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/274

 spirit of  penance, and  make the  firmest  resolution — especially , never  more  to  think  of  this  or  that  bad  or  vain object , but  rather  on something  quite  opposite.]

II. Consider what  stings  of  conscience  it  will  give you at  the  moment  of  death  to  remember,  that  you have not  thought  of  serving  God! What sorrow, when, at  the  end  of  your  days,  you  see  that  there  is nothing  left  to  you,  at  that  hour,  of  all  your  possessions, honours,  splendour,  and  pleasures,  but  a handful of  dust! what consternation  then  to  see  that  you have lost  the  favour  of  God,  and  your  immortal  soul, for the  sake  of  vain  trifles  and  things  that  perish, when it  is  too  late  to  remedy  the  evil,  too  late  for you to  try  the  better  way! O what despair! O cruel torment! You will  then  see,  but  too  late,  how great is  the  value  of  time; you  would  willingly  purchase it  then  with  your  blood,  but  alas! you will  not be able. O bitter day  for  him  who  has  not  served and loved  God ! [Awaken in  your  breast  the  sentiments of  contrition, and  make  a firm  resolution .]

III. Consider how  men  neglect  their  salvation, that great  end  of  man. They do  not  forget  to  amass riches, to  eat,  to  prepare  entertainments,  and  make all things  comfortable  about  them: but  they  think little of  serving  God. You have  thought  so  little  of saving  your  soul,  and  you  consider  your  everlasting end a thing  of  little  consequence. And thus  the greater part  of  Christians,  are  hurrying,  feasting, singing, dancing,  and  playing,  on  their  way  to  hell, O if they  only  knew  the  meaning  of  that  word  Hell! O man! what pains  thou  takest  to  be  lost,  and  wilt thou do  nothing  to  be  saved?

When once  the  private  secretary  of  a king  was lying on  his  death-bed,  he  exclaimed:  Miserable  man that I am! I have used  so  much  paper  in  writing