been using them, allowing him to go forth bare and naked, and follow and remain with the world. Ah, when we think of this, is it possible that we should be so infatuated with temporal things as to seek or possess anything wrongfully or unjustly, sacrificing thereby a long eternity, the treasures of heaven, my soul and my God?
Shown by an example. A rich young man named Guerricus, who, while still a student, lived in a very sumptuous fashion, came one day into the church during the recitation of the office, and heard one of the clergy sing with a loud, clear voice the lesson taken from the fifth chapter of Genesis: “And all the time that Adam lived came to nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died. And all the clays of Enos were nine hundred and five years, and he died. And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years, and he died. And all the days of Malaleel were eight hundred and ninety-five years, and he died. And all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years, and he died.”[1] The young man, astonished at this, thought to himself: all these people have lived so many years in the world, and yet they all came to the same end: “and he died.” What then, is the good of living for seven, eight, or nine hundred years, if death must come in the long run? And if a life of nine hundred years is but a transitory thing after all, what am I to think of a life of sixty, seventy, or eighty years, which is the longest I can expect? Come, Guerricus! now is your time. Away with your wealth to the poor, and bid good-bye to the world; if death is so certain and unavoidable, I will go where I can prepare for it! Such was the resolution this young man made on hearing but a single warning of death.
The thought of death is a sure preventive against impurity. If I in the same way often repeated to myself: I must die; in a few years, perhaps to-day or to-morrow, it will be said of me too, “and he died.” And what then? “Under thee shall the purity, moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering.”[2] That body that is now so delicate and so carefully looked after, so well clothed, so anxiously protected against cold and heat, so well sup-
- ↑ Et factum est omne tempus quod vixit Adam, anni nongenti triginta, et mortuus est. Et facti sunt omnes dies Seth nongentorum duodecim annorum, et mortuus est. Factique sunt omnes dies Enos nongenti quinque anni, et mortuus est. Et facti sunt omnes dies Cainan nongenti decen anni, et mortuus est. Et facti sunt omnes dies Malaleel octingenti nonaginta quinque anni, et mortuus est. Et facti sunt omnes dies Jared nongenti sexaginta duo anni, et mortuus est.—Gen. v. 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20.
- ↑ Subter te sternetur tinea, et operimentum tuum erunt vermes.—Isa. xiv. 11.
