If there be such a man, his having of riches methinketh I
might in a manner match in merit with another man's forsaking of
all. Or so would it be if there were no other circumstances more
pleasing unto God added further unto the forsaking besides, as
perhaps for the more fervent contemplation by reason of the
solicitude of all worldly business being left off, which was the
thing that made Mary Magdalene's part the better. For otherwise
would Christ have given her much more thanks to go about and be
busy in the helping her sister Martha to dress his dinner, than to
take her stool and sit down at her ease and do naught.
Now, if he who hath these goods and riches by him, have not haply
fully so perfect a mind, but somewhat loveth to keep himself from
lack; and if he be not, so fully as a pure Christian fashion
requireth, determined to abandon his pleasure--well, what will you
more? The man is so much the less perfect than I would that he
were, and haply than he himself would wish, if it were as easy to
be it as to wish it. But yet is he not forthwith in the state of
damnation, for all that. No more than every man is forthwith in a
state of damnation who, forsaking all and entering into religion,
is not yet always so clear purified from worldly affections as he
himself would very fain that he were, and much bewaileth that he
is not.
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