prosperity were always displeasing to God or tribulation evermore
wholesome to every man--or else I meant not to say it. For well I
know that our Lord giveth in this world unto either sort of folk
either sort of fortune. "He maketh his sun to shine both upon the
good and the bad, and his rain to fall both on the just and on the
unjust." And on the other hand, "he scourgeth every son that he
receiveth," yet he beateth not only good folk that he loveth, but
"there are many scourges for sinners" also. He giveth evil folk
good fortune in this world to call them by kindness--and, if they
thereby come not, the more is their unkindness. And yet where
wealth will not bring them, he giveth them sometimes sorrow. And
some who in prosperity cannot creep forward to God, in tribulation
they run toward him apace. "Their infirmities were multiplied,"
saith the prophet, "and after that they made haste." To some that
are good men, God sendeth wealth here also; and they give him great
thanks for his gift, and he rewardeth them for the thanks too. To
some good folk he sendeth sorrow, and they thank him for that too.
If God should give the goods of this world only to evil folk, then
would men think that God were not the Lord thereof. If God would
give the goods only to good men, then would folk take occasion to
serve him but for them. Some will in wealth fall into folly: "When
man was in honour, his understanding failed him; then was he
compared with beasts and made like unto them." Some men with
tribulation will fall into sin, and therefore saith the prophet,
"God will not leave the rod of the wicked men upon the lot of
righteous men, lest the righteous peradventure extend and stretch
out their hands to iniquity." So I deny not that either state,
wealth or tribulation, may be matter of virtue and matter of vice
also.

But this is the point, lo, that standeth here in question between
you and me: not whether every prosperity be a perilous token, but
whether continual wealth in this world without any tribulation be a
fearful sign of God's indignation. And therefore this mark that we
must shoot at, set up well in our sight, we shall now aim for the
shot and consider how near toward, or how far off, your arrows are
from the mark.

VINCENT: Some of my bolts, uncle, will I now take up myself, and
readily put them under my belt again! For some of them, I see well,
are not worth the aiming. And no great marvel that I shoot wide,
while I somew