But yet for mine own part, I will as well
trust to the counsel of St. Bernard, and reckon him for as good
and as well learned in scripture, as any man whom I hear say the
contrary. And better dare I jeopard my soul with the soul of St.
Bernard than with that of him who findeth that fault in his
doctrine.

Unto God himself every good man counseleth to have recourse above
all. And, in this temptation, to have special remembrance of
Christ's passion, and pray him for the honour of his death, the
ground of man's salvation, to keep this person thus tempted form
that damnable death.

Special verses may be drawn out of the psalter, against the
devil's wicked temptations--as, for example, _"Exsurgat Deus et
dissipentur inimici eius, et fugiant qui oderunt eum a facie
eius,"_ and many others--which in such horrible temptation are
pleasing to God and to the devil very terrible. But none is more
terrible nor more odious to the devil than the words with which
our Saviour drove him away himself: _"Vade Sathana."_ And no
prayer is more acceptable unto God, nor more effectual in its
matter, than those words which our Saviour hath taught us himself,
_"Ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo."_ And I
doubt not, by God's grace, but that he who in such a temptation
will use good counsel and prayer and keep himself in good virtuous
business and good virtuous company and abide in the faithful hope
of God's help, he shall have the truth of God (as the prophet
saith in the verse afore rehearsed) so compass him about with a
shield that he shall not need to dread this night's fear of this
wicked temptation.

And thus will I finish this piece of the night's fear. And glad am
I that we are past it, and come once unto the day, to those other
words of the prophet, _"A sagitta volante in die."_ For methinketh
I have made it a long night!

VINCENT: Forsooth, uncle, so have you, but we have not slept in
it, but been very well occupied. But now I fear that unless you
make here a pause till you have dined, you shall keep yourself
from your dinner over-long.

ANTHONY: Nay, nay, cousin, for I broke my fast even as you came
in. And also you shall find this night and this day like a winter
day and a winter night. For as the winter hath short days and long
nights, so shall you find that I made you not this fearful night
so long but what I shall make you this light courageous day as
short.

And so shall the matter require well of it