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 to pardon  and  save  us;  hence  if  in  this  life  he  chastises us for  our  sins,  he  does  so  in  his  mercy,  for  by  so  doing he frees  us  from  eternal  woe. How unfortunate,  then, is the  sinner  who  escapes  punishment  in  this  life!

Since then,  O  God! I have  so  much  offended  Thee, chastise me  in  this  life,  that  Thou  mayest  spare  me  in the  next. I know  that  I  have  certainly  deserved  hell;  I accept  all  kinds  of  pain,  that  Thou  mayest  reinstate  me in  Thy  grace  and  deliver  me  from  hell,  where  I  should be forever  separated  from  Thee. Enlighten and  strength en me  to  overcome  every  obstacle  to  Thy  favor.

3. He  who  makes  no  account  of  the  divine  threats  ought much to  fear  lest  the  chastisement  threatened  in  the Proverbs should  suddenly  overtake  him. The man  that with a  stiff  neck  despiseth  him  that  reproveth  him,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed  j  and  health  shall  not  follow  him. A sudden  death  shall  overtake  him  that  despises  God's  reprehensions,  and  he  shall  have  no  time  to  avoid  eternal destruction.

This, O  Jesus! has happened  to  many,  and  I  indeed have deserved  that  the  like  should  happen  to  me;  but,

O my  Redeemer! Thou hast  shown  that  mercy  towards me which  Thou  hast  not  shown  to  many  others  who  have offended Thee  less  frequently  than  I  have  done,  and  who are now  suffering  in  hell  without  the  least  hope  of  ever again being  able  to  regain  Thy  favor. I know,  O  Lord! that Thou  desirest  my  salvation,  and  I  also  desire  it,  that

I may  please  Thee. I renounce  all,  and   turn  myself  to Thee,  who  art  my  God  and  my  only  good. I believe  in Thee,  I  hope  in  Thee,  I  love  Thee,  and  Thee  alone. O infinite goodness! lam exceedingly  displeased  with  my self  for  having  hitherto  done  evil  against  Thee;  and  I wish  that  I  had  suffered  every  evil  rather  than  offended Thee. Suffer me  not  any   more  to  depart  from  Thee,