How many souls now writhing in
eternal torments could, on ascending the course of their lives, point
out the solemn moment in which they made a choice of a state of life
as the time of their departure from the road to heaven.
No Christian who has his salvation at heart will hesitate to say
that it is folly to treat with indifference and levity a matter of
such vital importance; for he must remember with a sacred awe that,
when he makes a choice of a state of life, he pronounces in a certain
manner an irrevocable sentence on himself.
When the soul is deprived of the advantages of a rule of life, of
the advantages of good dispositions, character and temperament, as
well as of those provided by circumstances, men and things on the one
hand; and when she is obliged to struggle incessantly against herself
and external obstacles on the other hand, the work of her salvation
becomes more difficult and less certain. In this deplorable
condition, the only pillar left her on which she can anchor her hopes
of salvation is the mercy of God; but then a faithful correspondence
with divine grace in the most minute details, constant and
persevering prayer to obtain strength to bear the trials of life with
profit, are positively necessary conditions to escape destruction.
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