deal
less--in a manner, by half.

For in prosperity a man is well at ease, and may also, by giving
thanks to God, get good unto his soul; whereas in tribulation,
though he may merit by patience (as the other, in abundance of
worldly wealth, may merit by thanks), yet lacketh he much comfort
that the wealthy man hath, in that he is sore grieved with
heaviness and pain. Besides, a wealthy man, well at ease, may pray
to God quietly and merrily with alacrity and great quietness of
mind, whereas he who lieth groaning in his grief cannot endure to
pray nor can he hardly think upon anything but his pain.

ANTHONY: To begin, cousin, where you leave off: The prayers of him
that is in wealth and him that is in woe, if the men be both
wicked, are both alike. For neither hath the one desire to pray,
nor the other either. And as one is hindered with his pain, so is
the other with his pleasure--saving that pain stirreth a man
sometimes to call upon God in his grief, though he be right bad,
whereas pleasure pulleth his mind another way, though he be good
enough.

And this point I think there are few that can, if they say true,
say that they find it otherwise. For in tribulation (which cometh,
you know, in sundry kinds) any man that is not a dull beast or a
desperate wretch calleth upon God, not hoverly but right heartily,
and setteth his heart full whole upon his request, so sore he
longeth for ease and help of his heaviness. But when we are wealthy
and well at our ease, while our tongue pattereth upon our prayers
apace--good God, how many mad ways our mind wandereth the while!

Yet I know well that in some tribulation there is such sore
sickness or other grievous bodily pain that it would be hard for a
man to say a longer prayer of matins. And yet some who lie dying
say full devoutly the seven psalms and other prayers with the
priest at their anointing. But those who for the grief of their
pain cannot endure to do it, or who are more tender and lack that
strong heart and stomach that some others have, God requireth no
such long prayers of them. But the lifting up of their heart alone,
without any words at all, is more acceptable to him from one in
such a state, than long service so said as folk usually say it in
health. The martyrs in their agony made no long prayers aloud, but
one inch of such a prayer, so prayed in that pain, was worth a
whole ell or more, even of their own prayers, prayed at some other
time.

Great learn