pit of hell; for they threw themselves down headlong from the height of grace to the depth of sin. The fury of the elements and beasts prognosticates the terribleness of the infernal furies against them for living like beasts without any order or government of their passions.
4. Hence it will arise that men shall wither with fear and astonishment as well for the evils which they experience as for those which they expect, being seized upon by the sad spirit that withereth the bones. [1] Oh, what a difference shall there be in this case between those that have a good and secure, and those that have an evil and unquiet conscience! for although all will fear, yet the fear of the good will be mixed with great confidence in God's mercy. And so our Saviour Christ comforts them, saying, " When these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand," [2] the end of your labours and the beginning of your rest. But the fear of the wicked shall be full of desperation and great impatience, for, as the Wise man says, " a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things." [3] And if already (says David) " they have trembled with fear where there was no fear," [4] how much more will they tremble where they have so much to tremble at, beginning presently to have that trembling and gnashing of teeth which they shall ever have in bell? Pondering all these things, and every one of them, I will exhort myself to the fear of God and detestation of my sins, saying to myself,
Colloquy. — How is it, O my soul, that thou fearest not the wrath of Almighty God, who the more merciful He is now shall then be the more rigorous? Why embracest thou not with love the sacraments and signs of His grace before the terrible signs of His wrath fall
