539 part v: daily meditations mortals, because we are subject to death, according to this saying: “We must all die, we are like water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again” (2 Sam 14:14). Hence, it is impossible to find someone so powerful, or rich, or expert in law and all sciences, who could break that law, remove himself from under it, or evade it by means of some arguments. It is the law that the Creator of all things personally laid down in times past for our first parent, and at the same time for every man without exception: “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). Besides being unable to avoid death, a human cannot even manage to prolong his life in a natural manner for a single moment. Therefore, be it a king, an emperor, a pope; an ordinary person, or lord; be it a rich or poor person; learned or ignorant; young or old; healthy or sickly, he should bear in mind that the end of his life may come at any moment. And as for you, ponder, expect, and fear the same. 2. Consider that no mortal can know in a natural way the day or hour of his death, as Ecclesiastes teaches: “Man does not know his own end” (Eccl 9:12). So that we would be mindful of the end of our life, the Eternal Wisdom exhorts us in these words: “Watch” (Mt 24:42) and “be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Lk 12:40), namely: the same one who will judge every man immediately after their death. Wherefore, since you surely are not able to promise yourself an additional tomorrow; indeed, not even to the end of this hour in which you ponder these things, pay close attention to your every thought and deed; seriously improve your life; adopt a more holy conduct, and apply yourself more assiduously to perfection. Since it is written...271 3. Consider that unknown to man is not only the time, but also the place where he will breathe his last: whether in his own house or in another’s; on the road or in bed; on land or on water? For there are many who travel to foreign countries; many that die 271 In the Inspectio Cordis manuscript it does not say what “is written.” Perhaps St. Stanislaus forgot to conclude the sentence with the following words: “Watch therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour” (Mt 25:13).
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