wonderful, that are above thee? Behold, one thing is necessary: To know how to die. This is truly the art of arts, and science of sciences. He who knows this will be never the worse if he knows not the rest. But he who knows not this will gain nothing, though he know all beside. Do not all other things relate to earth and its short life: but this to Heaven and its boundless eternity?
Therefore, as long as thou livest, be learning to die, and the more so, that of this art there is but one experiment to be made; which, if it fail of success, thou wilt never be able to correct thy error. In other arts, if a fault is committed the first time through carelessness or ignorance, it is easily corrected the second; but in this, if there be made but one mistake, repentance afterwards will be useless and too late. For then the gate of my mercy will be shut, and there will be no hope of pardon remaining for ever. Wheresoever the tree falls, whether to the south or to the north, there shall it be.[1] He is wisest who often thinks upon his end, and strives now to be in his life such as he wishes to be found in his death. Who is wise, and will keep these things?
It is indeed great wisdom for a man to look into himself, to know himself, to know, I say, what man is, that has a body from the ground and a spirit from heaven, and that the one, by death, returns into its earth from whence it was taken, but the spirit returns to God who gave it,[2] that it may receive according as it has done in the body, whether it be good or evil.[3]
My son, meditate on these things, contemplate them, dwell on them. Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin;[4] and nothing will avail so much to make thee temperate in all things. For how shalt thou lift up thy heart, or what cause shalt thou have to be proud, thou who art dust and ashes, and soon to return to the dust? Will it be any pleasure to thee to foster and pamper thy flesh with luxuries, which will shortly be the portion of snakes, and vermin, and worms? How canst thou set thy heart upon the riches and honours and vanities of the world, from which cruel death will separate thee, to-day perhaps, or to-night, however unprepared and unwilling? And then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? Oh, how easy is it for him to despise all things, who is ever reflecting that he must die! Oh, that men would be wise, and would
