And likewise, while this man is falling down to despair and to the
final destruction of himself, a good wise spiritual leech will
first look unto that, and by good comfort lift up his courage. And
when he seeth that peril well past, he will care for the cure of
his other faults afterward. Howbeit, even in the giving of his
comfort, he may find ways enough in such wise to temper his words
that the men may take occasion of good courage and yet far from
occasion of new relapse into his former sin. For the great part of
his counsel shall be to encourage him to amendment, and that is,
perdy, far from falling into sin again.
VINCENT: I think, uncle, that folk fall into this ungracious
mind, through the devil's temptation, by many more means than one.
ANTHONY: That is, cousin, very true. For the devil taketh his
occasions as he seeth them fall convenient for him. Some he
stirreth to it for weariness of themselves after some great loss,
some for fear of horrible bodily harm, and some (as I said) for
fear of worldly shame.
One I knew myself who had been long reputed for a right honest
man, who was fallen into such a fancy that he was well near worn
away with it. But what he was tempted to do, that would he tell no
man. But he told me that he was sore cumbered and that it always
ran in his mind that folk's fancies were fallen from him, and that
they esteemed not his wit as they were wont to do, but ever his
mind gave him that the people began to take him for a fool.
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