cian visits the sick man, prescribes remedies for him, and makes him sensible of his maladies; but when he sees that his patient does not obey him and on this account grows worse and worse, he takes leave of him and forsakes him. It is thus that God deals with obstinate sinners; after a certain time he speaks but little to them, and only assists them with grace just sufficient to enable them to save their souls, but they will not save them. The darkness of their minds, the hardness of their hearts, and the inveteracy of their wicked habits render it morally impossible for them to gain salvation. But, O God, since thou still callest me to repentance, thou hast not yet abandoned me; I desire never more to forsake thee. I love thee, O infinite goodness; and because I love thee I am exceedingly sorry for having offended thee. I love thee, and I hope through thy blood to love thee for ever. Suffer me not to be any more separated from thee. Holy Mary, virgin of virgins, become my advocate.
Meditation Forty-first.
On the examination at the particular judgment.
I. IN the same moment and in the same place in which the soul departs from the body, the divine tribunal is erected, the indictment read and the sentence pronounced by the sovereign Judge. Whom he foreknew, says St. Paul, he also predestinated to be made conformable to his Son them he also justified, Rom, viii. 29. In order therefore to be made worthy of glory, our lives must be made conformable to the life of Jesus Christ. Hence it is that St. Peter says that, in the day of judgment.
