Meditation for Tuesday

On this day thou shalt think upon the miseries of human life, that from them thou mayest see how vain is the glory of the world, and how worthy of being held in contempt it is, seeing that it rests upon so weak a foundation as this poor human life. And, although the defects and miseries of this life are well-nigh innumerable, thou shalt now take but seven of them for thy especial consideration.

Consider, first, how short this life is ; for its longest span is but seventy or eighty years, and then there is but labour and sorrow in it. And if from this then is taken the period of infancy, when life is little more than merely animal existence ; or the time which is spent in sleep, when our senses and our reason are at rest, we shall find it even shorter than it seemed. If, besides all this, thou comparest it with the eternity of the life to come, it will appear to them to be but a pin’s point. See then from this how insane they are who, for the enjoyment of a breath of life so short, bring upon themselves the loss of that rest which is to be for ever.

Consider, secondly, how uncertain is this life—another defect in addition to those spoken of, seeing that not only is it so short, but this very shortness is not sure, but doubtful. For how many are there who come to those seventy or eighty years we have spoken of? To how many is the thread cut short in the very beginning of Mentat Prayer. 17 of its spinning? How many pass away in the flower of their youth? “Ye know not,” says our Saviour, “when” your Lord “cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning.”

For the better understanding of this, remind thyself of the many persons thou hast known in the world, especially amongst thy friends and acquaintances, and of persons illustrious and distinguished, to whom, at divers ages, death leapt down, and at one swoop dismissed in confusion all their plans and hopes.

Think, thirdly, how fragile and brittle is this life, and thou shalt find that there is no glass vase so delicate ; how a breath of wind, the sun, a cup of cold water ‘is enough to rob us of it, as is evident in the daily experience of many to whom some such occasion as I have spoken of is sufficient to carry them off in the very flower of their age.

Think, fourthly, how changeable is life, how it never continueth in one stay! For this, thou shouldest consider the changes taking place in our bodies, which never for long remain in the same state of health or disposition ; and how still more our minds 1 S. Mark xiii. 35.

change which are like the sea tossed about by divers winds, and waves of appetite and passion, and cares which disturb us every hour.

And, lastly, consider what are called the changes of fortune which never abides for long, or in the same stage of prosperity, to gladden the affairs of this life, but is ever moving backwards and forwards. Beside all this consider how continuous must be the movements of this life, since neither day nor night abide with us—but are ever, and rightly so, losing themselves. Then, what is our life but a candle, which is ever wasting, and is wasting the more, the more it burns and is shining? As said patient Job, What is our life but a flower which in the morning opens, and at mid-day withereth, and in the evening is cut down.’ So, too, by reason of this continual changing, saith God by the mouth of Isaiah, “ All flesh is grass, and all the glory of it as the flower of the field.”? And upon these words S. Jerome says, “In very truth, if one thinks of the frailty of our flesh, and how at every point and moment of time we are increasing or decreasing, without ever continuing in I XIV- A ai xl. 6.

the same condition, and how what we are now speaking about, planning and speculating upon is passing away out of our life, he will not hesitate to call our flesh grass, and all the glory of it but as the flower of the field.” He that now is but an infant soon becomes a boy, and the boy a lad, and the lad quickly comes to old age, and on finding himself old, marvels to see he is a lad no longer. The fair woman, who once drew after her troops of impassioned youths, soon finds her face furrowed with wrinkles, and she that once was so attractive, quickly comes to be repulsive.

Fifthly, consider how deceitful life is, which is perhaps its worst feature. It deceives so many, and draws after it so many, and so blind, lovers of it; for it appears beautiful when it is ugly, and sweet when it is bitter, long when it is short to oneself, and happy when miserable. There is no danger or trouble to which men will not commit themselves for its sake, even though it should be with the loss of the life everlasting.

Consider, sixthly, that besides being so short, as we have said, this short span of life is subject to so many miseries, both of soul and body, that it is nothing else than a vale of tears, a sea of unending troubles. S. Jerome writes that Xerxes, that allpowerful king, who levelled the mountains, and overcame the seas, having ascended a hill, that from thence he might inspect the army of so many nations under his command, is said to have burst into tears. And when asked why he wept, he answered, “I weep because in so few years hence, not one will remain of all those whom I now see.” “Oh,” says S. Jerome upon this—“ Oh! that we might ascend some mighty tower, and see thence the whole earth below at our feet! Then wouldst thou see the falls and miseries of the whole world, nations destroyed by nations, kingdoms by kingdoms. Then wouldst thou see how some torment, and others slay ; how some are drowned in the sea, and others taken captive. Here thou wouldst see wedding festivites, there mourning; here some born, there some dying ; some abounding in wealth, others begging. And lastly, wouldst Thou see, not the army of Xerxes only, but all men now existing in the world, in, but a few days, coming to their end.” Think of the many bodily infirmities and labours of men, the many mental afflictions and cares, and the _» dangers there are in all estates and ages of men ; and thou wilt still more clearly see how many are the miseries of this life ; and, seeing them, how little this world can do for thee, thou wilt more easily learn to hold it in contempt. ; The end of all these miseries is nge -which for the body, and for the soul is the last of all its miseries. For then, in one — moment of time, the body is despoiled of all things, and the soul has determined for it what shall be its lot for ever. All this will enable thee to understand how short, and how poor a thing, is the glory of the world, sińce these things spoken of make up the worldly life; and then, in con- -~ sequence, thou wilt see how it merits only to be hated and despised.