And when that will not be, then
they talk a while with those who lie by them. If that cannot be
either, then they lie and long for day, and get them forth about
their worldly wretchedness, the matter of their prosperity, and the
selfsame sinful things with which they displease God most. And at
length, when they have many times behaved in this manner, God
utterly casteth them off. And then they set naught by either God or
devil. "When the sinner cometh even into the depth, then he
contemneth," and setteth naught by anything, saving worldly fear
that may befall by chance, or that needs must, he knoweth well,
befall once by death.
But alas, when death cometh, then cometh again his sorrow. Then
will no soft bed serve, nor no company make him merry. Then must he
leave his outward worship and comfort of his glory, and lie panting
in his bed as it were on a pine bench. Then cometh his fear of his
evil life and of his dreadful death. Then cometh his torment, his
cumbered conscience and fear of his heavy judgment. Then the devil
draweth him to despair with imagination of hell, and suffereth him
not then to take it for a fable--and yet, if he do, then the wretch
findeth it no fable. Ah, woe worth the time, that folk think not of
this in time!
God sometimes sendeth a man great trouble in his mind, and great
tribulation about his worldly goods, because he would of his
goodness take his delight and confidence from them.
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