Walters Ms. W.13, Synonyms of Isidore of Seville

pain overcome the lesser pain. You will bear lighter pains patiently, if you have remembered the heavier ones. Let the image of future judgement also revolve before your eyes, foresee what you will later suffer, ponder on God's future judgement, fear God's future judgement over you, let the fear of hell terrify you, let the sentence of future judgement terrify you, let the terror of punishments call you back from fault. Look at the end of your life every day, keep death before your eyes every hour, before your eyes always keep the advent of darkness, think about your death every day, always consider the end of your life. Always remember the uncertain day of death, be concerned, lest you are suddenly taken, every day

is approaching the very last, every day takes away our life, every day we approach the end, every day we cross the path of life, we hasten towards death every day, towards the end of life we aim every day, with moments running out we are led to the end. We do not know what will happen to us today, we do not know when the last moment will come for us, we do not know if at this night the condition of death will demand our soul, our end is hidden from us, the uncertainty of the upcoming departure is unknown to us, the encounter with death is unexpected, the outcome is uncertain, and so is the end of all. While we do not know, suddenly death comes, while we do not expect, we are suddenly taken away, while we are unaware, we are suddenly removed.

Let us fear lest that day catches us like a thief, lest the whirlwind of divine judgement, while we are unaware, snatches us, lest sudden death takes us away, lest sudden calamity seizes us while we are ignorant. The spirit that kindles towards sin, suddenly snatches the sinner, which inflames the living, suddenly devours the dying, which bends to vices, suddenly drags to torments. How many does sudden calamity drag to the punishment of death? How many does sudden departure snatch away? How many suddenly taken away perish? How many are taken away while they think they will not die? How many are suddenly snatched to death? How many are suddenly led to eternal punishments?

Therefore, look at the torment of others that you may fear, look at the downfall of others that you may tremble, cherish life in which you see someone else has fallen before you, fear others' dangers in yourself, make others' accidents your own dangers. Let the calling of the dying be your correction, the ruin of others be your caution. Let the downfall of the ungodly draw you back from sin, let the punishment of the perishing draw you away from guilt, let the end of the offenders correct you, let the downfall of the condemned lead you to penance, let the punishment of the unrighteous contribute to your salvation. What you have done badly, amend while you can, recall yourself from vice and sin while you can, while it is time cry out, while space is given to you, mourn, while there is license to repent, hurry

while you can, mourn while your soul is still in your body, while you are still alive, acquire the remedy that will benefit you, before the day of death overtakes you, before the depth of the abyss absorbs you, before hell takes you, where there is no longer any place for pardon, where no freedom for repentance appears, no license is given for correction, where there is no recourse to confession, no return to forgiveness. MAN: You speak truth, you tell the truth, you narrate to me what is appropriate, you inform me what is more beneficial for me, I know, I understand, I learned that. There is nothing better, nothing more pleasing, nothing more acceptable, nothing more joyful, nothing