For their
short and small pleasure in this life forborne, we shall be with
heavenly substance everlastingly recompensed by God, in joyful
bliss and glory.
XVII
VINCENT: Forsooth, uncle, as for these outward goods, you have
said enough. No man can be sure what strength he shall have or how
faint and feeble he may find himself when he shall come to the
point, and therefore I can make no warranty of myself, seeing that
St. Peter so suddenly fainted at a woman's word and so cowardly
forsook his master, for whom he had so boldly fought within so few
hours before, and by that fall in forsaking well perceived that he
had been too rash in his promise and was well worthy to take a fall
for putting so full trust in himself. Yet in good faith methinketh
now (and God will, I trust, help me to keep this thought still)
that if the Turk should take all that I have, unto my very shirt,
unless I would forsake my faith, and should offer it all to me
again with five times as much if I would fall into his sect, I
would not once stick at it--rather to forsake it every whit, than
to forsake any point of Christ's holy faith.
But surely, good uncle, when I bethink me further on the grief and
the pain that may turn unto my flesh, here find I the fear that
forceth my heart to tremble.
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