would
not
die
;
and
if,
on
the
other
hand,
this
were
lost
without
the
soul
being
conscious
of
its
misery,
it
would
be
supported,
and
would
not
die.
It
can
easily
understand
that
it
must
give
up
all
dependence
upon
its
own
feelings
or
upon
any
natural
support,
but
to
lose
an
almost
imperceptible
comfort,
and
to
fall
from
weakness,
to
fall
into
the
mire,
to
this
it
can-not
consent.
This
is
where
reason
fails,
this
is
where
terrible
fears
fill
the
heart,
which
seems
to
have
only
sufficient
life
to
be
sensible
of
its
death.
It
is,
then,
the
loss
of
this
imperceptible
support,
and
the
experience
of
this
misery,
which
causes
death.
We
should
be
very
careful,
in
such
times
as
these,
not
to
let
our
senses
be
led
away
willingly
to
creatures,
seeking
willingly
consolation
and
diversion.
I
say
willingly^
for
we
are
incapable
of
mortifications
and
attentions
reflected
upon
ourselves,
and
the
more
we
have
mortified
ourselves,
the
stronger
will
be
the
bearing
in
the
contrary
direction,
without
being
aware
of
itj
like
a
madman,
who
goes
wandering
about,
if
you
attempt
to
keep
him
too
rigorously
within
bounds,
apart
from
its
being
useless,
it
would
retard
his
death.
