mercy: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. I am so sorry for having been hitherto opposed to thy will, as to be ready to die to expiate my offences; but now I love thee, and will nothing but what thou wiliest. Grant me thy love, that I may be faithful to thee. And, Mary, give me your powerful assistance.
Meditation Fifty-thirdd
On the certainty of death.
I. HOW is it possible, O God, that there should be any Christians, who believe that they must one day die, and that after death an eternity of happiness or misery awaits them; who know that on the moment of death will depend their being happy or miserable for ever; and yet adopt not all the means of securing for themselves the blessing of a good death? Give, O Lord, tears to my eyes that I may bewail my offences against thee. I knew that by offending thee I should forfeit thy grace and condemn myself to eternal torments; I knew this, and yet I was not restrained from committing sin. I am sorry, O God, for having dishonoured thee, by renouncing thee for the sake of my own wretched inclinations; have pity on me.
II. If we hear of one dying suddenly who did not live prepared for death, we compassionate him, and say: “Alas! what has become of his poor soul?” And yet why are we not ourselves prepared at all times to die? It may be that the misfortune of a sudden death may not happen to us; but whether sooner or later, whether prepared or unprepared, whether we think of it or not, we must one day surrender our souls into the hands of God.
