le St. James exhorteth men in their bodily
sickness to call in the priests, and saith that it shall do them
good both in body and soul. So likewise would I sometimes advise
some men, in some sickness of the soul, besides their spiritual
leech, to take also some counsel of the physician for the body.
Some who are wretchedly disposed, and yet long to be more vicious
than they are, go to physicians and apothecaries and enquire what
things may serve them to make them more lusty to their foul
fleshly delight. And would it then be any folly, on the other
hand, if he who feeleth himself against his will much moved unto
such uncleanness, should enquire of the physician what things,
without diminishing his health, would be suitable for the
diminishing of such foul fleshly motion?

Of spiritual counsel, the first is to be shriven, that the devil
have not the more power upon him by reason of his other sins.

VINCENT: I have heard some say, uncle, that when such folk have
been at shrift, their temptation hath been the more hot upon them
than it was before.

ANTHONY: That think I very well, but that is a special token that
shrift is wholesome for them, since the devil is most wroth with
it. You find, in some places in the gospel, that the devil did
most trouble the person whom he possessed when he saw that Christ
would cast him out. Otherwise, we must let the devil do what he
will, if we fear his anger, for with every good deed will he wax
angry.

Then is it in his shrift to be told him that he not only feareth
more than he needeth, but also feareth where he needeth not. And
besides that, he is sorry for a thing for which, unless he will
willingly turn his good into his harm, he hath more cause to be
glad.

First, if he have cause to fear, yet feareth he more than he
needeth. For there is no devil so diligent to destroy him as God
is to preserve him; nor no devil so near him to do him harm as God
is to do him good. Nor are all the devils in hell so strong to
invade and assault him as God is to defend him if he distrust him
not but faithfully put his trust in him.

He feareth also where he needeth not. For he dreadeth that he were
out of God's favour, because such horrible thoughts fall into his
mind, but he must understand that while they fall into his mind
against his will they are not imputed unto him.

He is, finally, sad of that of which he may be glad. For since he
taketh such thoughts displeasantly, and striveth a