Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/276

 to be  saved  after  all. O how many  has  this  false hope thrown  into  hell,  who  once  spoke  thus,  and who now  are  lost,  for  whom  there  is  now  no  deliverance! What man  would  ever  wish  to  be  damned? Yet he  is  accursed  of  God  who  sins  in  the  hope  of mercy. “ Cursed is  the  man  who  sins  in hope.”  You say, I will  commit  this  sin  and  afterwards  confess  it. Who. knows if  you  will  have  time  for  that? Who can give  you  the  assurance  that  you  will  not  die immediately after  you  have  committed  this  sin? Meanwhile you  lose  the  favour  of  God; and  what will become  of  you  if  you  do  not  obtain  it  again? God is  merciful  to  those  who  fear  him,  but  not towards those  who  despise  him. “ His mercy  is  to them  that  fear  him.”  ( Luke  i.  50.)  Do  not  say,  it  is all  the  same  whether  I have  two  sins  to  confess  or three — no; for  God  may  pardon  you  two  sins,  but not perhaps  the  third. God suffers  long,  but  he  will not suffer  always. “ He will  punish  them  in  the  fullness  of  their  sins.”  ( Zach . vi.  14.)  When  the  measure is full,  God  pardons  no  more,  But  punishes  sinners suddenly with  death,  and  casts  them  from  him,  so that  they  go  on  from  one  sin  to  another,  until  they fall into  hell — a punishment  far  worse  than  death itself. O my brethren,  mark  well  what  you  now read; cease from  sin  and  give  yourself  to  God. Fear lest this  should  be  the  last  warning  which  God  will send you. You have  gone  on  in  your  offences  long enough. He has  borne  with  you  long  enough. Tremble lest  the  first  mortal  sin  you  again  commit after this,  God  will  pardon  you  no  more. Consider well: your soul  is  at  stake — all  eternity  is  at  stake. How many  have  been  moved  by  this  great  thought of eternity  to  leave  the  world,  and  live  in  cloisters deserts, and  caves ! O unhappy sinner  that  I am !