et God and follow
their pleasure, and when God with tribulation draweth them toward
him, then wax they mad and draw back as much as ever they can, and
run and seek help at any other hand rather than at his. Some for
comfort seek to the flesh, some to the world, and some to the devil
himself.

Consider some man who in worldly prosperity is very dull and hath
stepped deep into many a sore sin; which sins, when he did them, he
counted for part of his pleasure. God, willing of his goodness to
call the man to grace, casteth a remorse into his mind, after his
first sleep, and maketh him lie a little while and bethink him.
Then beginneth he to remember his life, and from that he falleth to
think upon his death, and how he must leave all his worldly wealth
within a while behind here in this world, and walk hence alone, he
knows not whither. Nor knows he how soon he shall take his journey
thither, nor can he tell what company he shall meet there. And then
beginneth he to think that it would be good to make sure and to be
merry, so that he be wise therewith, lest there happen to be indeed
such black bugbears as folk call devils, whose torments he was wont
to take for poet's tales. Those thoughts, if they sink deep, are a
sore tribulation. And surely, if he takes hold of the grace that
God therein offereth him, his tribulation is wholesome. And it
shall be full comforting to remember that God by this tribulation
calleth him and biddeth him come home, out of the country of sin
that he was bred and brought up so long in, and come into the land
of behest that floweth milk and honey. And then if he follow this
calling, as many a one full well doth, joyful shall his sorrow be.
And glad shall he be to change his life, to leave his wanton
pleasures and do penance for his sins, bestowing his time upon some
better business.

But some men, now, when this calling of God causeth them to be sad,
they are loth to leave their sinful lusts that hang in their
hearts, especially if they have any kind of living such that they
must needs leave it off or fall deeper into sin, or if they have
done so many great wrongs that they have many amends to make if
they follow God, which must diminish much their money. Then are
these folk, alas, woefully bewrapped, for God pricketh them of his
great goodness still. And the grief of this great pang pincheth
them at the heart, and of wickedness they wry away. And from this
tribulation they turn to their flesh