For good men and well learned have in some
cases allowed it, especially for the diversity of divers men's
minds. Otherwise, if we were also such as would God we were (and
such as natural wisdom would that we should be, and is not clean
excusable that we be not indeed), I would then put no doubt but
that unto any man the most comforting talking that could be would
be to hear of heaven. Whereas now, God help us, our wretchedness
is such that in talking a while of it, men wax almost weary. And,
as though to hear of heaven were a heavy burden, they must refresh
themselves afterward with a foolish tale. Our affection toward
heavenly joys waxeth wonderfully cold. If dread of hell were as
far gone, very few would fear God, but that yet sticketh a little
in our stomachs. Mark me, cousin, at the sermon, and commonly
toward the end, somewhat the preacher speaketh of hell and heaven.
Now, while he preacheth of the pains of hell, still they stay and
give him the hearing. But as soon as he cometh to the joys of
heaven, they are busking them backward and flockmeal fall away.
It is in the soul somewhat as it is in the body: There are some
who are come, either by nature or by evil custom, to that point
where a worse thing sometimes more steadeth them than a better.
Some men, if they be sick, can away with no wholesome meat, nor no
medicine can go down with them, unless it be tempered for their
fancy with something that maketh the meat or the medicine less
wholesome than it should be.
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