For then would it be a token that
the devil had either, by bringing him into some great sin, brought
him into despair, or peradventure, by his revelations being found
false and reproved or by some secret sin of his being deprehended
and divulged, had cast him both into despair of heaven through
fear and into a weariness of this life for shame. For then he
seeth his estimation lost among other folk of whose praise he was
wont to be proud.
And therefore, cousin, in such a case as this, the man is to be
fairly handled and sweetly, and with tender loving words to be put
in good courage, and comforted in all that men goodly can. Here
must they put him in mind that, if he despair not, but pull up his
courage and trust in God's great mercy, he shall have in
conclusion great cause to be glad of this fall. For before he
stood in greater peril than he was aware of, while he took himself
for better than he was. And God, for favour that he beareth him,
hath suffered him to fall deep into the devil's danger, to make
him thereby know what he was while he took himself for so sure.
And therefore, as he suffered him then to fall for a remedy
against over-bold pride, so will God now--if the man meek himself,
not with fruitless despair but with fruitful penance--so set him up
again upon his feet and so strengthen him with his grace, that for
this one fall that the devil hath given him he shall give the
devil a hundred.
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