that hath promised pardon to those who repent, has not promised another day to those who continue in their vices. Perhaps I shall have time; and perhaps I shall not. Must I not have lost my senses to trust my salvation to a mere perhaps?
[Reflect now upon the time you have been deferring your conversion to God, and tremble at the sight of your danger.]
“I said, Now I have begun.” — Psalm lxix.
“ We cannot be too cautious where eternity is at stake.”— St. Gregory.
FOURTEENTH DAY.— ON HUMAN RESPECT.
1. What will the world say? Let it say what it will. Should the talk of fools hinder you from being wise? What will my acquaintances say? They will say that you fear God more than you fear man; the greatest libertines will secretly admire you, and acknowledge within themselves that you are doing right. But what matters it, after all, what people may say of you, provided you do your duty, and that God be satisfied?
2. Oh! what cowardice to blush at the Gospel! To wear the livery of a prince is held honourable: is it then shameful to wear that of Jesus Christ? The lowest mechanics make open profession of the trades they follow; and yet Christians in the Church, blush at being thought Christians! The Son of God will deny before his Father in heaven the Christians who shall have denied him before men.
3. What, then! is there anything in Jesus that you should be ashamed of? Is his name infamous? Is it shameful to follow his maxims and example? But let people say what they will, the man that is most esteemed is he who serves God with most fidelity, and who openly professes himself to be a follower of Christ.
Ask yourself seriously whether this phantom of the world doth
