main in. But it is too good for them. “They spend their days in wealth,”—and what becomes of them afterwards?—“and in a moment they go down to hell.”[1] The moment the breath leaves their bodies their souls are buried in hell. Oh, truly that is a sudden and a terrible change! From a place of honor to a pit of infamy! From a splendid dwelling to the prison of hell, where they shall lie packed together like herrings! From a well garnished table to a lake of brimstone, where hunger shall be their food, molten lead and the gall of dragons their drink! From the soft down-bed to the burning coals, where their covering shall be flames of fire! From laughter and amusement to eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth! From joys to eternal woes! From the midst of their dear friends to the company of the demons and goblins of hell! How strange their first entry shall be to them! How long eternity shall appear to them, when their short-lived joys and pleasures have come to an end!
Hence the just must not envy the wicked their prosperity, but rejoice in their own trials. My dear brethren, do we require anything beyond the consideration of these points to convince us of the false nature of the prosperity of the world? If it comes to such a wretched end with the wicked, who then should envy them on account of it, or complain that he has no share in it? “Do not envy men the happiness they enjoy in this life,” says St. Peter Damian with reason; be not grieved if you have but a small share in it; “but rather condole with them, for like dumb brutes fattening on the pastures, they are hastening to the butcher.”[2] No, no! if that is the way with the joys and prosperity of the world I want none of them, and willingly leave them to whoever desires them! Just servants of God, rejoice even in the midst of your sufferings, in your poverty and persecutions! Much more desirable are your tears than the laughter and rejoicings of the world! Much better your poverty and destitution than the wealth and abundance of sinners! What you suffer will also last but a little time; only be satisfied, and do not complain. The true God whom yon serve calls out to you: “For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.”[3] For a short time, that is but a moment compared to eternity, I have appeared to abandon you; afterwards I shall invite you in My great mercy to
