Vol. 2

202 ST. MARK.ances of flight and travelling :these are a lively representationof those hinderances of salvation whichmen find at the end of their lives. The grace toprevent them by a speedy conversion is obtained onlyby prayer." 19. For in those days shall be affliction, such aswas not from the beginning of the creation, whichGod created, unto this time, neither shall be."There is nothing so dreadful as that which passes,at the end of life, in a soul which has never thoughtof disengaging and weaning itself from the world.What affliction or misery can equal that of a Christian,who can then find nothing in his whole life,from the beginning to the end thereof, but what mustrender him unworthy of mercy! But the greatestof allmiseries would be to despair of this mercy, andnot to have recourse to it." 20. And except that the Lord had shortenedthose days, no flesh should be saved : but for theelect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortenedthe days."Time is designed only to be subservient to theeternity of the elect : every thing is for them. Godmeasures the days of their life by the election whichhe has made of them for heaven :and he often shortensthem, lest they should be corrupted by the wickednessof the world. If God did not put a stop tothe malicious designs of the devil against them, howcould they possibly escape his fury ? We shall neverknow, until we come to heaven, either the numberor the nature of those temptations from which Godhas delivered us", both during our life, and at the approachof death.