But in the case, uncle, that we now speak of, they have yet their
substance untouched in their own hands, and the keeping or the
losing shall both hang in their own hands, by the Turk's offer,
upon the retaining or the renouncing of the Christian faith. Here,
uncle, I find it, as you said, that this temptation is most sore
and most perilous. For I fear me that we shall find few of such as
have much to lose who shall find it in their hearts so suddenly to
forsake their goods, with all those other things before rehearsed
on which their worldly wealth dependeth.
ANTHONY: That fear I much, cousin, too. But thereby shall it well
appear, as I said, that, seemed they never so good and virtuous
before, and flattered they themselves with never so gay a gloss of
good and gracious purpose that they kept their goods for, yet were
their hearts inwardly in the deep sight of God not sound and sure
such as they should be (and as peradventure some had themselves
thought they were) but like a puff-ring of Paris--hollow, light,
and counterfeit indeed.
And yet, they being even such, this would I fain ask one of them.
And I pray you, cousin, take you his person upon you, and in this
case answer for him. "What hindereth you," would I ask, "your
Lordship," (for we will take no small man for an example in this
part, nor him who would have little to lose, for methinketh such a
one who would cast away God for a little, would be so far from all
profit, that he would not be worth talking with).
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