re fear than needeth, and then it
would be good for his health if for the time he knew no such thing
at all.

I knew once in this town one of the most learned men in that
profession and the most expert, and the most famous too, and him
who did the greatest cures upon other men. And yet when he was
himself once very sore sick, I heard his fellows who then took
care of him--every one of whom would, in his own disease, have
used his help before that of any other man--wish that yet, while
his own sickness was so sore, he had known no physic at all. He
took so great heed unto every suspicious token, and feared so far
the worst, that his fear did him sometimes much more harm than the
sickness gave him cause.

And therefore, as I say, whosoever hath such a trouble of his
scrupulous conscience, let him for a while forbear the judgment of
himself, and follow the counsel of some other man whom he knoweth
for well learned and virtuous. And especially in the place of
confession, for these is God specially present with his grace
assisting the sacrament. And let him not doubt to quiet his mind
and follow what he is there bidden, and think for a while less of
the fear of God's justice, and be more merry in remembrance of his
mercy, and persevere in prayer for grace, and abide and dwell
faithfully in the sure hope of his help. And then shall he find,
without any doubt, that the shield of God's truth shall, as the
prophet saith, so compass him about, that he shall not dread this
night's fear of scrupulosity, but shall have afterward his
conscience established in good quiet and rest.

XV

VINCENT: Verily, good uncle, you have in my mind well declared
these kinds of the night's fear.

ANTHONY: Surely, cousin, but yet are there many more than I can
either remember or find. Howbeit, one yet cometh now to my mind,
of which I thought not before, and which is yet in mine opinion.
That is, cousin, where the devil tempteth a man to kill and
destroy himself.

VINCENT: Undoubtedly this kind of tribulation is marvellous and
strange. And the temptation is of such a sort that some men have
the opinion that those who once fall into that fantasy can never
fully cast it off.

ANTHONY: Yes, yes, cousin, many a hundred, and else God forbid. But
the thing that maketh men so to say is that, of those who finally do
destroy themselves, there is much speech and much wondering, as it
is well worthy. But many a good man and woman hath sometime-