And yet if it were as
you say, good uncle, that perpetual prosperity were so perilous to
the soul, and tribulation also so fruitful, then meseemeth every
man would be bound of charity not only to pray God send his
neighbour sorrow, but also to help thereto himself. And when folk
were sick, they would be bound not to pray God send them health,
but when they came to comfort them, they should say, "I am glad,
good friend, that you are so sick--I pray God keep you long
therein!" And neither should any man give any medicine to another
nor take any medicine himself neither. For by the diminishing of
the tribulation he taketh away part of the profit from his soul,
which can with no bodily profit be sufficiently recompensed.
And also this you know well, good uncle, that we read in holy
scripture of men that were wealthy and rich and yet were good
withal. Solomon was, you know, the richest and most wealthy king
that any man could in his time tell of, and yet was he well beloved
with God. Job also was no beggar, perdy, nor no wretch otherwise.
Nor did he lose his riches and his wealth because God would not
that his friend should have wealth, but rather for the show of his
patience, to the increase of his merit and the confusion of the
devil. And, for proof that prosperity may stand with God's favour,
"God restored Job double of all" that ever he lost, and gave him
afterward long life to take his pleasure long.
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