ourselves with roses before they be withered. Among them, too, are some who promise themselves length of days, and meantime pass their days in pleasures, as though it would be time enough at the last to recount the years that are gone in the bitterness of their soul, and then to ask thee not to remember the sins and the ignorances of their youth. As though it were just, that where sin abounded, grace should much more abound. Thus they speak foolishly in their heart, and to this their life and their very works bear witness.
5. Penance not to be delayed from the hope of a longer life.
Christ. I know that the number of the foolish is infinite, but be not emulous of the evil-doers, and, if sinners entice thee, consent not to them. Walk not with them: restrain thy foot from their paths. For when sudden calamity shall fall upon them, and destruction as a tempest shall be at hand; when tribulation and distress shall come upon them, then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear; because they despised all my counsel, and neglected my reproofs. Hearken, whosoever thou art, who, in the hope to live longer, delayest to live better. Fool, what if this night, what if this very hour, I require of thee thy unhappy soul! whither, thinkest thou, will it go? Oh, how many thousands of men have been deluded by that hope, or rather foolish presumption! But now they are laid in hell, death feeds upon them, and, above all things, they are tormented by this, that they neglected to do good works while they had time, and, for the sake of an uncertain hope, neglected the sure remedy for the recovery of their salvation, not so much wishing to abandon, as to defer their penance. But that procrastination has been their destruction: for their life has* been cut off as by a weaver, when they seemed but to begin it. They died before they knew they were dying. And now infer for thyself what kind of repentance was theirs at the last. Then they most repented, and still, but in vain, repent, that they neglected penance at the seasonable time, and did not, as they easily might, at the expense of a few hours, ransom themselves from eternal torments.
Oh, that thou wouldst gain wisdom from the loss of others, and become more cautious in so serious a matter! True, I have promised pardon to the penitent, but I have not promised life to the deferrer of his penitence till to-morrow. To-day, then, if thou wilt hear my voice, harden not
