Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken and we are delivered, our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." [1] And in this manner they will penetrate the heavens until they arrive at the highest heaven, where Christ our Lord will place them on those thrones of glory which they are to possess, reigning with Him throughout all eternity with great peace and tranquillity.
Colloquy. — Oh, happy labours of a virtuous life, which are so well rewarded in life everlasting! Comfort thyself, O my soul, with the hope of these rewards, and embrace with great fervency these labours!
THE CONCLUSION OF THE FOREGOING.
There remains for conclusion of what has before been said, that I consider myself in this world as in a middle place bet ween heaven and hell, and that I am here (as St. Bernard says) as novices are in a house of probation, [2] Almighty God proving me with the precepts He imposes upon me, and with the afflictions that He sends me, but yet assisting me with His grace to escape out of them, after being first well tried. If I prove evil, following the devil's party, by the irrevocable sentence of Almighty God I shall be cast out of the world into hell; but if I prove just, fulfilling the will of God, by His sentence I shall be exalted from the world into heaven. Wherefore it behoves me to consider very well how I live, that I may come forth out of this world well approved.
Colloquy. — O eternal God, who madest this earth like a house of probation, to exeroise men whom Thou hast ordained for heaven, " prove me and try me," [3] preventing me with Thy mercy, that I may obey Thee in such a way that at the day of judgment Thou mayest approve me, and admit me into Thy kingdom! Amen.
