Besides this, to counsel a man never to think on that question is,
to my mind, as reasonable as the medicine that I have heard taught
someone for the toothache: to go thrice about a churchyard, and
never think on a fox-tail! For if the counsel be not given them, it
cannot serve them. And if it be given them, it must put the point
of the matter in their mind. And forthwith to reject it, and think
therein neither one thing nor the other, is a thing that may be
sooner bidden than obeyed.
I think also that very few men can escape it. For though they would
never think on it by themselves, yet in one place or another where
they shall happen to come in company, they shall have the question
by adventure so proposed and put forth that--like as, while a man
heareth someone talking to him, he can close his eyes if he will,
but he cannot make himself sleep--so shall they, whether they will
or not, think one thing or the other therein.
Finally, when Christ spoke so often and so plain of the matter,
that every man should, upon pain of damnation, openly confess his
faith if men took him and by dread of death would drive him to the
contrary, it seemeth me (in a manner) implied that we are bound
conditionally to have evermore that mind--actually sometimes, and
evermore habitually--that if the case should so befall, then with
God's help so we would do.
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