Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/49

 we must  either  be  saved  or  lost. It will  not  do  to  say: I shall  be  satisfied  with  not  going  to  hell;  I  shall  not  be concerned  at  being  deprived  of  heaven. No; either heaven or  hell;  either  forever  happy  with  God  in  heaven in an  ocean  of  delights,  or  forever  trampled  upon  by devils  in  hell  in  an  ocean  of  fire  and  torments:  either saved, or  lost;  there  is  no  alternative.

O Jesus! I  have  hitherto  chosen   hell,  and   for  years past I  should  have  been  suffering  there,  if  in   pity  Thou hadst not  borne  with  me. I thank  Thee,  O  my  Saviour! and  I   am   sorry   above   every  evil   for   having  offended Thee. I hope,  for  the  future,  with  the  assistance  of  Thy grace, to  walk  no  more  in  the  way  that  conducts  to  hell. I love  Thee,  O  my  sovereign  good! and  I  desire  to  love Thee forever. Grant me  perseverance  in  good,  and  save me through  that  blood  which  Thou  hast  shed  for  me. O Mary, my  hope! intercede for  me.

I. Pharaoh,  when  Moses  announced  to  him  the  orders of God  for  the  liberation  of  the  Hebrews,  insolently  answered,  Who  is  the  Lord,  that  I  should  hear  His  word? . .  . I  know  not  the  Lord. It is  thus  that  the  sinner  replies  to his  own  conscience  when  it  intimates  to  him  the  divine precepts, which  forbid  him  to  do  that  which  is  evil:  "I know  not  God;  I  know  that  he  is  my  Lord,  but  I  will not  obey  him."

Thus have  I  too  often  addressed  Thee,  O  God! when I have  committed  sin. If Thou  hadst  not  died  for  me,

O my  Redeemer! I should  not  dare  to  crave  Thy  pardon; but Thou  hast  offered  me  Thy  pardon  from  the  cross,  if