is own part no great
pleasure of it, but, as though he had it not, keepeth himself in
like abstinence and penance privily as he would do in case he had
it not. And, in such things as he doth openly, he may bestow
somewhat more liberally upon himself in his house after some
manner of the world, lest he should give other folk occasion to
marvel and muse and talk of his manner and misreport him for a
hypocrite. And therein, between God and him, he may truly protest
and testify, as did the good queen Hester, that he doth it not for
any desire thereof in the satisfying of his own pleasure, but
would with as good will or better forbear the possession of
riches, saving them--as perhaps in keeping a good household in
good Christian order and fashion, and in setting other folk to
work with such things as they gain their living the better by his
means. If there be such a man, his having of riches methinketh I
might in a manner match in merit with another man's forsaking of
all. Or so would it be if there were no other circumstances more
pleasing unto God added further unto the forsaking besides, as
perhaps for the more fervent contemplation by reason of the
solicitude of all worldly business being left off, which was the
thing that made Mary Magdalene's part the better. For otherwise
would Christ have given her much more thanks to go about and be
busy in the helping her sister Martha to dress his dinner, than to
take her stool and sit down at her ease and do naught.

Now, if he who hath these goods and riches by him, have not haply
fully so perfect a mind, but somewhat loveth to keep himself from
lack; and if he be not, so fully as a pure Christian fashion
requireth, determined to abandon his pleasure--well, what will you
more? The man is so much the less perfect than I would that he
were, and haply than he himself would wish, if it were as easy to
be it as to wish it. But yet is he not forthwith in the state of
damnation, for all that. No more than every man is forthwith in a
state of damnation who, forsaking all and entering into religion,
is not yet always so clear purified from worldly affections as he
himself would very fain that he were, and much bewaileth that he
is not. Many a man, who hath in the world willingly forsaken the
likelihood of right worshipful offices, hath afterward had much
ado to keep himself from the desire of the office of cellarer or
sexton, to bear yet at least some rule and authority, though it
wer