Whosoever thinketh on these things, and remembereth them well,
shall in his tribulation neither murmur nor grudge. But first shall
he by patience take his pain in worth, and then shall he grow in
goodness and think himself well worthy of tribulation. And then
shall he consider that God sendeth it for his welfare, and thereby
shall be moved to give God thanks for it. Therewith shall his grace
increase, and God shall give him such comfort by considering that
God is in his trouble evermore near to him--for "God is near,"
saith the prophet, "to them that have their heart in trouble"--that
his joy thereof shall diminish much of his pain. And he shall not
seek for vain comfort elsewhere, but shall specially trust in God
and seek help of him, submitting his own will wholly to God's
pleasure. And he shall pray to God in his heart, and pray his
friends pray for him, and especially the priests, as St. James
biddeth. And he shall begin first with confession and make him
clean to God and ready to depart, and be glad to go to God, putting
purgatory to his pleasure. If we thus do, this dare I boldly say,
we shall never live here the less by half an hour, but we shall
with this comfort find our hearts lightened, and thereby the grief
of our tribulation lessened, and the more likelihood to recover and
to live the longer.
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