sins I have committed in each one of them, making of them a humble confession in the presence of Almighty God, saying to Him,
Colloquy. — I accuse myself, O my God, that I am full of pride, that whatsoever I do is vain-glory; my words savour of boasting, and my actions and desires are poisoned with ambition. Oh that I had never fallen into such sins! Pardon me, O Lord, and deliver me from them!
I will also chide myself with these reprehensions, which are frequent in Holy Scripture, saying to myself,
Colloquy. — O vile, silly man, what hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? Art thou " now full?" Art thou " now become rich?" Wouldst thou "reign" [1] alone, as if thou hadst no need of others? If thou thinkest so, behold, Almighty God will say to thee, as He said to another as proud, " Thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." [2] " Blind," because thou knowest not thyself; " poor" of virtues; " naked" of good works; and " miserable" with grievous sins. Why art thou "proud," "dust and ashes?" [3] Why art thou puffed up, vile worm? Fly, fly from pride! for being "poor" and "proud," [4] thou shalt be abhorred of Almighty God!
POINT II.
Secondly, I am to consider the terrible punishment which Almighty God has inflicted and does inflict upon some proud men in this life, and what He will inflict upon all of them in the other. [5] These chastisements are pointed
