A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [44]
who wear the appearance of
holiness (of others I will say nothing), not one pays attention to my words,
that he may be converted and reform his life, so is it come to that pass
that among a hundred, not one but falls into the snare of death unprepared;
as also certainly happens to those who die suddenly, or in an unconscious
state; for the comforts of the body, perishable love, and the greedy
pursuits of sustenance, blind the multitude. But if thou wouldst be
delivered from this miserable and unprovided death, then follow my advice.
Behold, diligent meditation on death, and faithful assistance given to thy
poor soul, who appeals so piteously to Thee, will advance thee so far that
thou wilt not only be without fear, but more, thou wilt expect death with
all the ardour of thy heart. Think of me every day, and write down my words
in the bottom of thy heart. In my bitter distress see what thy future lot
will be; look what a night this is. Oh, happy the man, that ever he was
born, who arrives well prepared at this hour, for his passage will be a good
one, however bitter his death; behold the bright angels will guard him, the
saints escort him, the celestial court receive him; his final marching forth
will be a glorious entry into his everlasting fatherland. But me, alas!
where will my soul lodge this very night in that strange, mysterious
country? Oh, my soul, how art thou utterly forsaken! O God, how very
miserable she will be among all miserable souls! Who is there that will help
her with entire fidelity? And now let me put an end to my sad complaints;
for my hour is come. I see now that it cannot be otherwise. My hands begin
to grow cold, my face to turn livid, my eyes to lose their sight. Alas, the
shocks of furious death wrestle with my poor heart. I begin to fetch my
breath very hard. The light of this world begins to vanish from me. I begin
to see into the next world. O God, my God, what a sight! The horrible forms
of black Moors assemble together; the wild beasts of hell surround me. They
gloat over my poor soul to see if it will be theirs. O Thou just judge of
the severe judgment seat, how very heavy in Thy scales are those things
which in ours are so light! The cold sweat of death bursts, from very
anxiety, through my flesh. Oh, the wrathful aspect of the severe judge, how
very sharp Thy judgments are! Now let me turn in spirit to that world where
I am led by the hand into Purgatory, and where, in the land of torments, I
see anguish and distress. O God, I see the wild, hot flames dart up on high,
and meet over the heads of suffering souls. They wander up and down amid the
dark flames, and great is their affliction. What heart would like to
contemplate our pangs, the bitterness of our woe? Many a sad cry is heard.
Help! help! ah, where is all the help of our false friends? Where are the
fair promises of our false friends? How have they deserted us, how have they
utterly forgotten us? Oh, have pity on us, some little pity; at least you
our best beloved friends! What services have we not rendered you, and how
are we now repaid. Oh that we should not have warded off these sufferings
when we could have done so with things so trifling! Is not the least torment
here greater, much greater, indeed, than any torment ever was on earth? One
hour in Purgatory lasts a hundred years. Lo! now we boil, now we burn, now
we shriek aloud for help; but, more than all it is our misfortune to be
deprived so long of the joy of His countenance; this it is that cuts through
the heart, the sense, the soul!--And thus I expire.
The Servant.--O Eternal Wisdom, how hast Thou forsaken me! O God, how
has death all at once become present before me! Alas, thou soul of mine, art
thou still in my body? Lord of Heaven, do I still live? Ah, Lord, now will I
praise Thee, and vow reformation to Thee till death. Oh, how very terrified
I am! I did not think death was so near me. Truly, Lord, this sight shall
not fail to profit me; every day I will be on the watch for death, and will
look about me that
holiness (of others I will say nothing), not one pays attention to my words,
that he may be converted and reform his life, so is it come to that pass
that among a hundred, not one but falls into the snare of death unprepared;
as also certainly happens to those who die suddenly, or in an unconscious
state; for the comforts of the body, perishable love, and the greedy
pursuits of sustenance, blind the multitude. But if thou wouldst be
delivered from this miserable and unprovided death, then follow my advice.
Behold, diligent meditation on death, and faithful assistance given to thy
poor soul, who appeals so piteously to Thee, will advance thee so far that
thou wilt not only be without fear, but more, thou wilt expect death with
all the ardour of thy heart. Think of me every day, and write down my words
in the bottom of thy heart. In my bitter distress see what thy future lot
will be; look what a night this is. Oh, happy the man, that ever he was
born, who arrives well prepared at this hour, for his passage will be a good
one, however bitter his death; behold the bright angels will guard him, the
saints escort him, the celestial court receive him; his final marching forth
will be a glorious entry into his everlasting fatherland. But me, alas!
where will my soul lodge this very night in that strange, mysterious
country? Oh, my soul, how art thou utterly forsaken! O God, how very
miserable she will be among all miserable souls! Who is there that will help
her with entire fidelity? And now let me put an end to my sad complaints;
for my hour is come. I see now that it cannot be otherwise. My hands begin
to grow cold, my face to turn livid, my eyes to lose their sight. Alas, the
shocks of furious death wrestle with my poor heart. I begin to fetch my
breath very hard. The light of this world begins to vanish from me. I begin
to see into the next world. O God, my God, what a sight! The horrible forms
of black Moors assemble together; the wild beasts of hell surround me. They
gloat over my poor soul to see if it will be theirs. O Thou just judge of
the severe judgment seat, how very heavy in Thy scales are those things
which in ours are so light! The cold sweat of death bursts, from very
anxiety, through my flesh. Oh, the wrathful aspect of the severe judge, how
very sharp Thy judgments are! Now let me turn in spirit to that world where
I am led by the hand into Purgatory, and where, in the land of torments, I
see anguish and distress. O God, I see the wild, hot flames dart up on high,
and meet over the heads of suffering souls. They wander up and down amid the
dark flames, and great is their affliction. What heart would like to
contemplate our pangs, the bitterness of our woe? Many a sad cry is heard.
Help! help! ah, where is all the help of our false friends? Where are the
fair promises of our false friends? How have they deserted us, how have they
utterly forgotten us? Oh, have pity on us, some little pity; at least you
our best beloved friends! What services have we not rendered you, and how
are we now repaid. Oh that we should not have warded off these sufferings
when we could have done so with things so trifling! Is not the least torment
here greater, much greater, indeed, than any torment ever was on earth? One
hour in Purgatory lasts a hundred years. Lo! now we boil, now we burn, now
we shriek aloud for help; but, more than all it is our misfortune to be
deprived so long of the joy of His countenance; this it is that cuts through
the heart, the sense, the soul!--And thus I expire.
The Servant.--O Eternal Wisdom, how hast Thou forsaken me! O God, how
has death all at once become present before me! Alas, thou soul of mine, art
thou still in my body? Lord of Heaven, do I still live? Ah, Lord, now will I
praise Thee, and vow reformation to Thee till death. Oh, how very terrified
I am! I did not think death was so near me. Truly, Lord, this sight shall
not fail to profit me; every day I will be on the watch for death, and will
look about me that