XIV. How another in like manner, being at the point of death,
saw the place of punishment appointed for him in Hell.
CHAP. XIV.
How another in like manner, being at the point of death, saw the place of
punishment appointed for him in Hell.
I MYSELF knew a brother, would to God I had not known him, whose name I could
mention if it were of any avail, dwelling in a famous monastery, but himself
living infamously. He was oftentimes rebuked by the brethren and elders of the
place, and admonished to be converted to a more chastened life; and though he
would not give ear to them, they bore with him long and patiently, on account of
their need of his outward service, for he was a cunning artificer. But he was
much given to drunkenness, and other pleasures of a careless life, and more used
to stop in his workshop day and night, than to go to church to sing and pray and
hear the Word of life with the brethren. For which reason it befell him
according to the saying, that he who will not willingly humble himself and enter
the gate of the church must needs be led against his will into the gate of Hell,
being damned. For he falling sick, and being brought to extremity, called the
brethren, and with much lamentation, like one damned, began to tell them, that
he saw Hell opened, and Satan sunk in the depths thereof; and Caiaphas, with the
others that slew our Lord, hard by him, delivered up to avenging flames. "In
whose neighbourhood," said he, "I see a place of eternal perdition prepared for
me, miserable wretch that I am." The brothers, hearing these words, began
diligently to exhort him, that he should repent even then, whilst he was still
in the flesh. He answered in despair, "There is no time for me now to change my
course of life, when I have myself seen my judgement passed."
Whilst uttering these words, he died without having received the saving
Viaticum, and his body was buried in the farthest parts of the monastery, nor
did any one dare either to say Masses or sing psalms, or even to pray for him.
Oh how far asunder hath God put light from darkness! The blessed Stephen, the
first martyr, being about to suffer death for the truth, saw the heavens opened,
and the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God; and where he
was to be after death, there he fixed the eyes of his mind, that he might die
the more joyfully. But this workman, of darkened mind and life, when death was
at hand, saw Hell opened, and witnessed the damnation of the Devil and his
followers; he saw also, unhappy wretch! his own prison among them, to the end
that, despairing of salvation, he might himself die the more miserably, but
might by his perdition afford cause of salvation to the living, who should hear
of it. This befell of late in the province of the Bernicians, and being noised
abroad far and near, inclined many to do penance for their sins without delay.
Would to God that this also might come to pass through the reading of our words!
