15. On the love of retirement and Holy perseverance

" Stabiles estate — m opere Domini semper. ^^^ " Be ye steadfast — in the work of the Lord always.'''' 1 . Answer me, my dear brother, what advantage, dost thou find towards thy sanctification by hurrying hither and thither, — by hearinjj and seeing many and various things, which of a certainty, tend to exclude from the kingdom of heaven ?

Blessed is he that lives in retirement and recollection, who enters into himself, who keeps a strict watch over his heart and body, and who asks pardon of God with sighs and tears for his frequent distractions.

Woe to you, who so often and so heedlessly mix in the vain bustle of the world, who shun solitude, who waste unprolitably a portion of your precious time, and who thereby cause scandal to others.

Inward peace is laid up abundantly for him who loveth solitude ; — who gives his heart in secret to God, — who prays frequently,— who is employed in useful occupations,— who feeds his soul with Sacred Scriptures and other holy studies, and meditates with ardent affection, on the truths of salvation.

2. The idler an-d the babbler deserve severe reproof, and their fellowship must be shunned, lest they corrupt the simple by the frivolity of their discourse ; or, b'' the iro o regularity of their manners, bring trouble and scandal into the souls of the httle ones.

Oh ! brother, oh ! thou whose heart is dissipated and fond of idle jests, dread the pains of purgatory ; where, for every act of trifling, every idle word or evil thought, thou must be punished by bitter stripes from infernal tormentors.

It is much better then to live here in fear and trembling, in penance and tears than to share the lot of the reprobate hereafter, and to be tormented together with them, by devils for all eternity.

There is surely no joy nor mirth in the fire of hell, whence none can ever draw thee out.

3. He that would reflect often on these truths, and seriously meditate thereon, would soon conceive a disgust for all worldly vanities, and abhor all sensual desires : that so he miglit avoid eternal punishment, and after death obtain eternal happiness.

But woe unto those on earth, and heavier woe to come, on those who are but lightly moved by the thought of the divine judgments, and by the fear of sufferings which their body has not yet experienced.