him; yet perhaps he is so weak a minded
man, that if he falleth into adversity, he will forsake his innocency,
which was not able to keep him in prosperity. Wherefore God's wise
dispensation spareth him that adversity might make worse, lest he should
suffer to whom difficulties are dangerous.

There is another complete in all virtues, a saint and high to God;
Providence judgeth it a sacrilege to lay affliction on him, insomuch
that she permitteth him not to be troubled so much as with corporal
sickness. For as one that excelleth me saith 'the body of an holy man is
builded of pure ether.'[159] It happeneth often also that the chief
command is given to good men, that wickedness, which otherwise would
overflow all, may be kept down. She mixeth for others sour and sweet
according to the disposition of their souls; she troubles some lest they
should fall to dissolution by long prosperity, others are vexed with
hardships, that they may confirm the forces of their mind with the use
and exercise of patience. Some are too much afraid of that which they
are able to bear. Others make less account than there is cause of that
which they cannot endure. All these she affrayeth with afflictions that
they make trial of themselves. Many have bought the renown of this world
with a glorious death. Some, overcoming all torments, have showed by
their example that virtues cannot be conquered by miseries, which things
how well and orderly they are done, and how much to their good upon whom
they are seen to fall, there can be no doubt. For that sometime
grievous, sometime pleasant things befall in like manner the wicked,
proceedeth from the same causes. And as for adversity no man marvelleth
because all think they deserve ill. Whose punishments do both terrify
others from the like courses, and move them to amend themselves. And
their prosperity is a great argument to the good, what they ought to
judge of this happiness which they see oftentimes bestowed upon the
wicked. In which thing also is to be considered that peradventure some
have so headlong and untoward a disposition, that poverty would rather
make him worse; whose disease is cured by Providence, with giving him
store of money. Another, knowing his own guilty conscience, and
comparing his character with his own estate, is afraid lest the loss of
that should be grievous unto him, the use of which is pleasant.
Wherefore