inclinations, and turning myself into an earthly, ambitious, sensual and vain man. For which I am greatly to humble myself and to tremble at my own mutability and weakness, and at the peril in which I live.
2. Then will I ponder how by God's grace I may free myself from these dangers, remembering that as well I myself as all those earthly things that I love are to end and to turn into dust. And in this spirit when I behold a rich and powerful man whose riches and power carry my eyes after him, that avarice and ambition may not overthrow me I will remember that he is but " dust" and that his gold and silver is earth, and that all shall return to that. And if I see any beautiful woman, that I may not be tempted and vanquished by luxury I will also remember that she and all her ornaments are dust, and that therein they shall rest. And in this spirit I will apply these words to all things upon earth, saying to myself, " Remember that what thou seest and desirest is dust, and shall turn into dust and ashes; and if thou dost love it inordinately, thou likewise shalt be dust and earth as it is. Therefore love God only and celestial riches, that by virtue of His grace it may be said to thee, " Thou art heaven, and to heaven thou shalt return, transforming thyself by love into heaven which thou lovest."
POINT IV.
Fourthly, I am to consider that God our Lord, by the means of the dead and of their skulls and bones, says to me these very words, " Remember that thou art dust, and that into dust thou shalt return," that they may be the more strongly imprinted on my heart, and that out of them I may gather the greater profit. This I may consider, calling to memory that memorable sentence of Ecclesiasticus, which comprehends the sense and spirit of the said words, "Memor esto judicii mei, sic enim erit tuum, mihi heri, et
