Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/275

 letters for  my  prince,  and  have  not  employed  a single one to help  me  to  examine  my  sins  and  prepare  for good confession.

But of  what  use  to  him  then  were  those  sighs  and intentions? They served  at  best  only  to  increase his despair. But, made  wise  at  the  cost  of  others, O Christian, to  live  mindful  of  your  eternal  salvation,  if  you  would  not  fall  into  the  same  despair, and remember that  everything  you  do,  say,  or  think, that is not  for  God,  is  lost. [ Reflect again  on  your sin .] It  is  indeed  time  for  you  to  change your life. What! will you  wait  for  the  moment  of death  to  awake  you  from  your  delusion — at  the  door  of eternity,  on  the  borders  of  the  abyss? There is  yet time, yet  opportunity  to  correct  your  error. My God ! spare me! I love thee  above  all  things! I sorry for  having  offended  thee  more  than  for any other  evil. Mary, my  hope,  pray  to  Jesus  for me. [Excite your  will  to  contrition, and  make  a firm resolution.]

ONSIDER, O man! how much  depends  upon gaining your  great  end,  that  is,  your  salvation, everything is  at  stake; for  if  you  reach  it,  then  you saved, then  you  will  be  for  ever  blessed,  and  will ?y for  ever  every  possible  good  of  soul  and  body: if you  fail,  you  will  lose  soul  and  body,  paradise God; you will  be  for  ever  miserable; you  will  be lost eternally. Behold here  the  greatest  of  all  affairs, the only important,  the  only  necessary  business: to love God  and  save  your  soul. Then say  no  longer, Christian: I will live  now  for  my  own  pleasure, after that  I will  give  myself  to  God,  and  hope