eir bodies again with everlasting plentiful
laughing. And to prove that this life is no laughing time, but
rather the time of weeping, we find that our Saviour himself wept
twice or thrice, but never find we that he laughed so much as once.
I will not swear that he never did, but at least he left us no
example of it. But on the other hand, he left us example of weeping.

Of weeping have we matter enough, both for our own sins and for
other folk's, too. For surely so should we do--bewail their
wretched sins, and not be glad to detract them nor envy them
either. Alas, poor souls, what cause is there to envy them who are
ever wealthy in this world, and ever out of tribulation? Of them
Job saith, "They lead all their days in wealth, and in a moment of
an hour descend into their graves and are painfully buried in
hell." St. Paul saith unto the Hebrews that those whom God loveth
he chastiseth, "And he scourgeth every son of his that he
receiveth." St. Paul saith also, "By many tribulations must we go
into the kingdom of God." And no marvel, for our Saviour Christ
said of himself unto his two disciples that were going into the
village of Emaus, "Know you not that Christ must suffer and so go
into his kingdom?" And would we who are servants look for more
privilege in our master's house than our master himself? Would we
get into his kingdom with ease, when he himself got not into his
own but by pain? His kingdom hath he ordained for his disciples,
and he saith unto us all, "If any man will be my disciple, let him
learn of me to do as I have done, take his cross of tribulation
upon his back and follow me." He saith not here, lo, "Let him laugh
and make merry." Now if heaven serve but for Christ's disciples,
and if they be those who take their cross of tribulation, when
shall these folk come there who never have tribulation? And if it
be true, as St. Paul saith, that God chastiseth all them that he
loveth and scourgeth every child whom he receiveth, and that to
heaven shall not come but such as he loveth and receiveth, when
shall they come thither whom he never chastiseth, nor never doth
vouchsafe to defile his hands upon them or give them so much as one
lash? And if we cannot (as St. Paul saith we cannot) come to heaven
but by many tribulations, how shall they come thither who never
have none at all? Thus see we well, by the very scripture itself,
how true the words are of old holy saints, who with one voice (in a
manner) say a