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and thistles, that is to say, sins. Hear how the
divine justice exclaims, Cut it down therefore, why cumbereth it the earth? but mercy
pleads, Let it alone this year also. Have courage, let us give it one trial more; let us
see whether it will not be converted at this other call. But tremble lest the same mercy may not
have granted to justice that if you do not now emend, your life shall be cut off, and your soul
condemned to hell. Tremble, brother, and take measures that the mouth of the pit do
not close over you. Such was the prayer of David: Let not the deep swallow me up; and
let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Ps. 68:16. It is that which sin effects, causing the mouth
of the pit, that is, the state of damnation into which the sinner has fallen, to close over him
by degrees. As long as that pit is not entirely closed, there is some hope of escape; but if it
once shut, what further hope remains for you? By closing of the pit, I mean the sinner's being
shut out from every glimmer of grace, and stopping at nothing; that being the accomplishment of
what the wise man has said: The wicked man, when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth. 
Prov. 18:3. He despises the laws of God, admonitions, sermons, excommunications, threats  he
despises hell itself; so that persons have been known to say, numbers go to hell, and I amongst the
rest. Can the man who speaks so. be saved? He can be saved, but it is morally impossible he should.
Brother, what do you say? Perhaps you have yourself come to the contempt of the chastisements of
God. What do you say? Well, and if you had, what should you do? Should you despair? No; you know
what you have to do. Have recourse to the Mother of God. Although you should be in despair, and
abandoned by God, Blosius says, that Mary is the hope of the despairing, and the aid of the aban-
doned St. Bernard says the same thing when he exclaims, despairing
man who hopes in thee ceases to be desperate. But if God wishes
that I should

be lost, what hope can there be for me? But,
says God, no, my son, I do not wish to see you lost: I desire not the death of the wicked. 
Ezech. 33:11. But what then do you desire, O Lord? I wish him to be converted, and recover the life
of my grace But that the wicked turn from his way and live. Haste then, brother, fling yourself
at the feet of Jesus Christ; behold him! see how he stands with his arms open to embrace you, etc.
(Here an act of contrition is made .)

THIRD DISCOURSE

God is Merciful for a Season, and then Chastises

Thou hast been favorable to the nation, O Lord, thou hast been favorable to the nation; hast thou
been glorified?" Isa. 26:15.

Lord, Thou hast often pardoned this people; Thou hast threatened it with destruction by earthquake,
by pestilence, in neighboring countries; by the infirmities and death of its own citizens; but
Thou hast afterwards taken pity on them: Thou hast been favorable to the nation, O Lord, Thou hast
been favorable to the nation; hast Thou been glorified? Thou hast pardoned us, Thou hast dealt
mercifully with us; what hast Thou received in return? Have Thy people abandoned their sins? have
they changed their lives? No, they have gone on from bad to worse; that momentary fear passed,
they have begun afresh to offend Thee and provoke Thy wrath.  But, my brethren, perhaps you
imagine that God will always wait, always pardon, and never punish? No; GOD IS MERCIFUL FOR A
SEASON; THEN HE PUNISHES; this is
the subject of this day's discourse.

We must persuade ourselves that God cannot
 do otherwise than hate sin; he is holiness
 itself, and therefore cannot but hate that

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