tations of prosperity he useth only delectable allectives to
move a man to sin; and in other kinds of tribulation and adversity
he useth only grief and pain to pull a man into murmuring,
impatience, and blasphemy. But in this kind of persecution for the
faith of Christ he useth both twain--that is, both his allectives
of quiet and rest by deliverance from death and pain, with other
pleasures also of this present life, and besides that the terror
and infliction of intolerable pain and torment.

In other tribulation--as loss, or sickness, or death of our
friends---though the pain be peradventure as great and sometimes
greater too, yet is not the peril nowhere nigh half so much. For in
other tribulations, as I said before, that necessity that the man
must perforce abide and endure the pain, wax he never so wroth and
impatient with it, is a great reason to move him to keep his
patience in it and be content with it and thank God for it and of
necessity make a virtue, that he may be rewarded for it. But in
this temptation, this persecution for the faith--I mean not by
fight in the field, by which the faithful man standeth at his
defence and putteth the faithless in half the fear and half the
harm too; but I mean where he is taken and held, and may for the
forswearing or denying of his faith be delivered and suffered to
live in rest and some in great worldly wealth also. In this case, I
say, since he needeth not to suffer this trouble and pain unless he
will, there is a marvellous great occasion for him to fall into the
sin that the devil would drive him to--that is, the forsaking of
the faith.

And therefore, I say, of all the devil's temptations, this
temptation, this persecution for the faith, is the most perilous.

VINCENT: The more perilous, uncle, this temptation is--as indeed,
of all the temptations, the most perilous it is--the more need have
those who stand in peril of it to be well armed against it
beforehand, with substantial advice and good counsel. For so may we
the better bear that tribulation when it cometh, with the comfort
and consolation thereof, and the better withstand the temptation.

ANTHONY: You say, Cousin Vincent, therein very truth. And I am
content therefore to fall in hand with it.

But forasmuch, cousin, as methinketh that of this tribulation you
are somewhat more afraid than I--and of truth somewhat more
excusable it is in you than it would be in me, mine age considered
and the sorrow tha