CONSCIENCE. I speak not largely of all them which have this worldly wealth, For why I know that riches are the creatures of the Lord; Which of themselves are good each one, as Solomon us telleth, And are appointed to do good withal by God's own word; But when they let us from the Lord, then ought they be abhorr'd: Which caused Christ himself to say, that with much lesser pain Should camel pass through needle's eye, than rich men heaven obtain. Hereby rich men Christ did not mean each one which wealth enjoy, But those which fast'ned have their love upon this worldly dust; Wherefore another cries and saith, O death, how great annoy Dost thou procure unto that man, which in his goods doth trust. That thou dost this, Philologus, thou needs acknowledge must; Whereby each one may easily see, thou takest more delight In mundane joys, than thou esteemest to be with angels bright. PHILOLOGUS. This toucheth the quick: I feel the wound, which if thou canst not cure, As maimed in limbs I must retire; I can no further go. SUGGESTION. This is the grief which Conscience takes against thee, I am sure, Because thou usest those delights which Conscience may not do; And therefore he persuadeth thee to leave the same also, As did the fox which, caught in snare and scap'd with loss of tail, To cut off theirs, as burthenous, did all the rest counsel. CONSCIENCE. Indeed I cannot use those fond and foolish vanities, In which the outward part of man doth take so great delight: No, neither would I, though to me were given that liberty, But rather would consume them all to nought, if that I might; For if I should delight therein, it were as good a sight, As if a man of perfect age should ride upon a stick, Or play with compters in the street, which pastime children like. But all my joys in heaven remains, whereas I long to be; And so wouldst thou, if that on Christ thy faith full fast'ned were: For that affection was in Paul the apostle, we may see, The first to the Philippians doth witness herein bear. His words be these: O would to God dissolved that I were, And were with Christ: another place his mind in those words tell; We are but strangers all from God, while in this world we dwell. Now, mark how far from his request dissenting in thy mind, He wish'd for death, but more than hell thou dost the same detest.