Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation / With Modifications To Obsolete Language By Monica Stevens

for this good counsel of yours! For surel

himself that he will rather suffer any painful death than forsake his faith, and by that bold appointment should he fall into the fault of St. Peter, who of oversight made a proud promise and soon had a foul fall. Or else would he be likely to think that rather than abide the pa

by a very good man and a great solemn doctor. But yet, cousin, although I should happen to find one or two more, as good men and as

d. For St. Peter, though he said more than he could perform, yet in his so saying offended not God greatly neither. But his offence was when he did not afterward so well as he said before. But now may this man be likely never to fall in the peril of breaking that appointment, since of some ten thous

mind he falleth in deadly sin, which he never would have fallen in if he had never put himself the question. But in good faith methinketh that he who, upon that question put unto himself by himself, will make himself that answer

go thrice about a churchyard, and never think on a fox-tail! For if the counsel be not given them, it cannot serve them. And if it be given them, it must put the

ppen to come in company, they shall have the question by adventure so proposed and put forth that-like as, while a man heareth someone talking to hi

case should so befall, then with God's help so we would do. And thus much methinketh necessary, for every man and woman to be always of this mind and often to think thereon. And where they find, in the thinking thereon, that their hearts shudder and shrink in the remembrance of the pain that their imagination representeth to the mind, then must they call

, and little by little from their very childhood accustom them sweetly and pleasantly in the meditation thereof. Thereby the goodness of God shall not fail so to inspire the grace of his Holy Spirit into their hearts, in reward of that virtuous

uncle, methinketh th

er like in their lives to come in the danger to be put to the proof. Howbeit, many a man may think himself far from it, who yet may

rience of it soon, that it would have been more timely for us, all other things set aside, to have devised upon this ma

y mind. But yet is it better late than never. And I trust God shall yet give us respite and time

fourth temptation, which alone remaineth to be treated of,