chastisement of a merciful Father turn not into the punishment of a severe Judge!
iii. The third end was, that the fear of this chastisement and of this dust in which the flesh is to rest, might be a spur to our backwardness to do penance for our sins committed, and a bridle to our sensual proneness to curb our passions. So that if the remembrance of the sovereign benefit that Almighty God did to us, to take us out of the dust of the earth, be not sufficient to spur and to curb us, yet at least the remembrance may suffice, that when we least think of it we shall be turned into dust, and so what love could not do fear may bring to pass.
Colloquy. — Therefore, O my soul, take counsel of the prophet who saith, "In the house of Dust sprinkle thyself with dust " [1] and seeing thou livest in flesh, which is dust, and art shortly to dwell in the house of dust, which is the grave, sprinkle thyself with dust and ashes, doing penance for thy sins; and with the remembrance of this dust defeat the sweet and pleasing things of this life, that they may not carry thee after them to death everlasting.
POINT III.
1. Hence I will ascend to consider the spirit that is included in these words, pondering that not without cause they say not unto me, " Remember that thou" wast " dust," but that " thou art dust" at this present; to signify that of my corrupt nature I am earth and dust, since I am inclined to earthly things, as riches, honours, and pampering of the flesh, and that "as dust" [2] I am mutable and unstable, suffering myself to be tossed with the " wind" of every temptation, especially of vanity. And if I restrain not myself I shall turn into earth and dust, following my
