elves, then that fire of charity thrown in his face
will strike the devil suddenly so blind that he cannot see where to
fasten a stroke on us.

When we feel ourselves too bold, let us remember our own
feebleness, and when we feel ourselves too faint, let us remember
Christ's strength. In our fear, let us remember Christ's painful
agony, that he himself would for our comfort suffer before his
passion, to the intent that no fear should make us despair. And let
us ever call for his help, such as he himself may please to send
us. And then need we never doubt but that he shall either keep us
from the painful death, or else strengthen us in it so that he
shall joyously bring us to heaven by it. And then doth he much more
for us than if he kept us from it. For God did more for poor
Lazarus, in helping him patiently to die for hunger at the rich
man's door, than if he had brought to him at the door all the rich
glutton's dinner. So, though he be gracious to a man whom he
delivereth out of painful trouble, yet doth he much more for a man
if, through right painful death, he deliver him from this wretched
world into eternal bliss. Whosoever shrinketh away from it by
forsaking his faith, and falleth in the peril of everlasting fire,
he shall be very sure to repent ere it be long after.

For I am sure that whensoever he falleth sick next, he will wish
that he had been killed for Christ's sake before. What folly is it,
then, to flee for fear from that death which thou seest thou shalt
shortly afterward wish thou hadst died! Yea, I daresay almost every
good Christian man would very fain this day that yesterday he had
been cruelly killed for Christ's sake--even for the desire of
heaven, though there were no hell. But to fear while the pain is
coming, there is all our hindrance! But if, on the other hand, we
would remember hell's pain into which we fall while we flee from
this, then this short pain should be no hindrance at all. And yet,
if we were faithful, we should be more pricked forward by deep
consideration of the joys of heaven, of which the apostle saith,
"The passions of this time be not worthy to the glory that is to
come, which shall be showed in us." We should not, I believe, need
much more in all this matter than one text of St. Paul, if we would
consider it well. For surely, mine own good cousin, remember that
if it were possible for me and you alone to suffer as much trouble
as the whole world doth together, all that w