ow of heart be so requisite of
necessity to remission, many a man should stand, it seemeth, in a
very perilous state.

ANTHONY: Many so should indeed, cousin, and indeed many do so.
And the old saints write very sore on this point. Howbeit, "the
mercy of God is above all his works," and he standeth bound to no
common rule. "And he knoweth the frailty of this earthen vessel
that is of his own making, and is merciful and hath pity and
compassion upon our feeble infirmities," and shall not exact of us
above the thing that we can do.

And yet, cousin, he who findeth himself in that state, let him
give God thanks that he is no worse, in that he is minded to do
well hereafter. But in that he cannot be sorry for his sin passed,
let him be sorry at least that he is no better. And as St. Jerome
biddeth him who sorroweth in his heart for sin to be glad and
rejoice in his sorrow, so would I counsel him who cannot be sad
for his sin to be sorry at least that he cannot be sorry!

Besides this, though I would in no wise that any man should
despair, yet would I counsel such a man while that affection
lasteth not to be bold of courage, but to live in double fear:
First, because it is a token either of faint faith or of a dull
diligence. For surely if we believe in God, and therewith deeply
consider his high majesty, with the peril of our sin and the great
goodness of God also, then either dread should make us tremble and
break our stony heart, or love should for sorrow relent it into
tears. Besides this, because, since so little misliking of our old
sin is an affection not very pure and clean, and since no unclean
thing shall enter into heaven, I can scantly believe but it shall
be cleansed and purified before we come there. And therefore would
I further give one in that state the counsel which Master Gerson
giveth every man: that since the body and the soul together make
the whole man, the less affliction he feeleth in his soul, the
more pain in recompense let him put upon his body, and purge the
spirit by the affliction of the flesh. And he who so doth, I dare
lay my life, shall have his hard heart afterward relent into
tears, and his soul in a wholesome heaviness and heavenly gladness
too--especially if he join therewith faithful prayer, which must
be joined with every good thing.

But, cousin, as I told you the other day, in these matters with
these new men I will not dispute, but surely for mine own part I
cannot well hold