and calling me to Thy love. Yes, for I wish to love Thee, my Saviour and my God, and I wish never more to despise Thee. Thou hast already" borne with me long enough. I "feel that Thou wilt not bear with me any longer. Ah, wretched me, if after so many graces I should again offend Thee! O Lord, I do sincerely wish to change my life, and as much as I have hitherto offended Thee, so much do I wish to love Thee. I am consoled, for I have to do with Infinite Goodness, Which, indeed, Thou art. I repent beyond every other evil for having so despised Thee, and I promise to give Thee all my love for the future. Pardon me through the merits of Thy passion; remember no more the sins I have committed against Thee; and give me strength to be faithful to Thee in the life that remains to me. I love Thee, O my Sovereign Good, and I hope ever to love Thee. My beloved Lord, never more will I leave Thee.
Third Point.
" But I am young; God takes compassion upon youth; when I am old, I will give myself to God." This is the fifth delusion. Art thou young? But dost Thou not know, that God takes not account of the years, but the sins of each one? Art thou young? But how many sins hast thou committed? There may be many old men, who perhaps have not committed one-tenth part of the sins which have been committed by thee. And knowest thou not, that the Lord has fixed the number and the measure of the sins which He will pardon to each one? " The Lord patiently expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, He may punish them in the fulness of their sins." (2 Mace. vi. 14.) That is to say, God has patience, and waits until a certain time; but when the measure of the sins which He has determined upon pardoning is full, He no longer pardons, but He chastises the sinner; either by sending him a sudden death in the same state of condemnation in which he has been living, or else by leaving him to his sin, which punishment is worse than death. " I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up." (Isa. v. 5.) If thou hadst a garden, around which thou shouldst have
