And well you
know that the night is of its own nature discomfortable and full of
fear. And therefore by the night's fear here I understand the
tribulation by which the devil, through the sufference of God,
either by himself or by others who are his instruments, tempteth
good folk to impatience as he did Job. But he who, as the prophet
saith, dwelleth and continueth faithfully in the hope of God's
help, shall so be clipped in on every side with the shield of God
that he shall have no need to be afraid of such tribulation as is
here called the night's fear. And it may be also fittingly called
the night's fear for two causes: One, because many times, unto him
who suffereth, the cause of his tribulation is dark and unknown.
And therein it varieth and differeth from that tribulation by which
the devil tempteth a man with open fight and assault for a known
good thing from which he would withdraw him, or for some known evil
thing into which he would drive him by force of such persecution.
Another cause for which it is called the night's fear may be
because the night is so far out of courage, and naturally so
casteth folk into fear, that their fancy doubleth their fear of
everything of which they perceive any manner of dread, and maketh
them often think that it were much worse than indeed it is.
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