--be it
spiritual benefice that he have, parsonage or bishopric, or
temporal office and authority--and rather give it over quite and
draw himself aside and serve God, than to take the worldly worship
and commodity for himself, with incommodity of those whom his duty
would be to profit.

But, on the other hand, he may not see the contrary but what he
may do his duty conveniently well, and may fear nothing but that
the temptations of ambition and pride may peradventure turn his
good purpose and make him decline unto sin. I deny not that it is
well done to stand always in moderate fear, for the scripture
saith, "Blessed is the man that is always fearful," and St. Paul
saith, "He that standeth, let him look that he fall not." Yet is
over-much fear perilous and draweth toward the mistrust of God's
gracious help. This immoderate fear and faint heart holy scripture
forbiddeth, saying, "Be not feeble-hearted or timorous." Let such
a man therefore temper his fear with good hope, and think that
since God hath set him in that place (if he think that God have
set him in it), God will assist him with his grace to use it well.
Howbeit, if he came to it by simony or some such other evils
means, then that would be one good reason wherefore he should
rather leave it off. But otherwise let him continue in his good
business. And, against the devil's provocation unto evil, let him
bless himself and call unto God and pray, and look that the devil
tempt him not to lean the more toward the contrary.

Let him pity and comfort those who are in distress and affliction.
I mean not that he should let every malefactor pass forth
unpunished, and freely run out and rob at random. But in his heart
let him be sorry to see that of necessity, for fear of decaying
the common weal, men are driven to put malefactors to pain. And
yet where he findeth good tokens and likelihood of amendment,
there let him help all that he can that mercy may be had. There
shall never lack desperately disposed wretched enough besides,
upon whom, as an example, justice can proceed. Let him think, in
his own heart, that every poor beggar is his fellow.

VINCENT: That will be very hard, uncle, for an honourable man to
do, when he beholdeth himself richly apparelled and the beggar
rigged in his rags.

ANTHONY: If there were here, cousin, two men who were both
beggars, and afterward a great rich man would take one unto him,
and tell him that for a little time he would have