ll one thing--that is, that we shall not have
continual wealth both in this world and in the other too. And
therefore those who in this world without any tribulation enjoy
their long continual course of never-interrupted prosperity have a
great cause of fear and discomfort lest they be far fallen out of
God's favour, and stand deep in his indignation and displeasure.
For he never sendeth them tribulation, which he is ever wont to
send them whom he loveth. But they that are in tribulation, I say,
have on the other hand a great cause to take in their grief great
inward comfort and spiritual consolation.

XIV

VINCENT: Verily, good uncle, this seemeth so indeed. Howbeit, yet
methinketh that you say very sore in some things concerning such
persons as are in continual prosperity. And they are, you know, not
a few; and they are also those who have the rule and authority of
this world in their hand. And I know well that when they talk with
such great learned men as can, I suppose, tell the truth; and when
they ask them whether, while they make merry here in earth all
their lives, they may not yet for all that have heaven afterwards
too; they do tell them "Yes, yes," well enough. For I have heard
them tell them so myself.

ANTHONY: I suppose, good cousin, that no very wise man, and
especially none that is also very good, will tell any man fully of
that fashion. But surely such as so say to them, I fear me that
they flatter them thus either for lucre or for fear.

Some of them think, peradventure, thus: "This man maketh much of me
now, and giveth me money also to fast and watch and pray for him.
But so, I fear me, would he do no more, if I should go tell him now
that all that I do for him will not serve him unless he go fast and
watch and pray for himself too. And if I should add thereto and say
further that I trust my diligent intercession for him may be the
means that God should the sooner give him grace to amend, and fast
and watch and pray and take affliction in his own body, for the
bettering of his sinful soul, he would be wonderous wroth with
that. For he would be loth to have any such grace at all as should
make him go leave off any of his mirth, and so sit and mourn for
his sin." Such mind as this, lo, have some of those who are not
unlearned, and have worldly wit at will, who tell great men such
tales as perilously beguile them. For the flatterer who so telleth
them would, if he told a true tale, jeopard to l