But in wealth they are wanton and forget God and follow
their pleasure, and when God with tribulation draweth them toward
him, then wax they mad and draw back as much as ever they can, and
run and seek help at any other hand rather than at his. Some for
comfort seek to the flesh, some to the world, and some to the devil
himself.
Consider some man who in worldly prosperity is very dull and hath
stepped deep into many a sore sin; which sins, when he did them, he
counted for part of his pleasure. God, willing of his goodness to
call the man to grace, casteth a remorse into his mind, after his
first sleep, and maketh him lie a little while and bethink him.
Then beginneth he to remember his life, and from that he falleth to
think upon his death, and how he must leave all his worldly wealth
within a while behind here in this world, and walk hence alone, he
knows not whither. Nor knows he how soon he shall take his journey
thither, nor can he tell what company he shall meet there. And then
beginneth he to think that it would be good to make sure and to be
merry, so that he be wise therewith, lest there happen to be indeed
such black bugbears as folk call devils, whose torments he was wont
to take for poet's tales. Those thoughts, if they sink deep, are a
sore tribulation.
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