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PREFACE OF BELLARMINE.
Being now free from Public business and enabled to attend to myself, when in my usual retreat I consider, what is the reason why so very few endeavor to learn the "Art of dying Well," (which all men ought to know,) I can find no other cause than that mentioned by the Wise man: The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite. " (Eccles 1:15) For what folly can be imagined greater than to neglect that Art, on which depend our highest and eternal interests; while on the other hand we learn with great labor, and practice with no less ardor, other almost innumerable arts, in order either to preserve or to increase perishable things?
