Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation: With Modifications To Obsolete Language By Monica StevensMore, Thomas, Saint
Religion
Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation: With Modifications To Obsolete Language By Monica Stevens
More, Thomas, Saint
Consolation
But, on the other hand, he may not see the contrary but what he
may do his duty conveniently well, and may fear nothing but that
the temptations of ambition and pride may peradventure turn his
good purpose and make him decline unto sin. I deny not that it is
well done to stand always in moderate fear, for the scripture
saith, "Blessed is the man that is always fearful," and St. Paul
saith, "He that standeth, let him look that he fall not." Yet is
over-much fear perilous and draweth toward the mistrust of God's
gracious help. This immoderate fear and faint heart holy scripture
forbiddeth, saying, "Be not feeble-hearted or timorous." Let such
a man therefore temper his fear with good hope, and think that
since God hath set him in that place (if he think that God have
set him in it), God will assist him with his grace to use it well.
Howbeit, if he came to it by simony or some such other evils
means, then that would be one good reason wherefore he should
rather leave it off. But otherwise let him continue in his good
business. And, against the devil's provocation unto evil, let him
bless himself and call unto God and pray, and look that the devil
tempt him not to lean the more toward the contrary.
Let him pity and comfort those who are in distress and affliction.
I mean not that he should let every malefactor pass forth
unpunished, and freely run out and rob at random. But in his heart
let him be sorry to see that of necessity, for fear of decaying
the common weal, men are driven to put malefactors to pain. And
yet where he findeth good tokens and likelihood of amendment,
there let him help all that he can that mercy may be had. There
shall never lack desperately disposed wretched enough besides,
upon whom, as an example, justice can proceed. Let him think, in
his own heart, that every poor beggar is his fellow.
VINCENT: That will be very hard, uncle, for an honourable man to
do, when he beholdeth himself richly apparelled and the beggar
rigged in his rags.
ANTHONY: If there were here, cousin, two men who were both
beggars, and afterward a great rich man would take one unto him,
and tell him that for a little time he would have him in his
house, and thereupon arrayed him in silk and gave him a great bag
by his side, filled even with gold, but giving him this catch
therewith: that, within a little while, out he should go in his
old rags again, and bear never a penny with him--if this beggar
met his fellow now, while his gay gown was on, might he not, for
all his gay gear, take him for his fellow still? And would he not
be a very fool if, for a wealth of a few weeks, he would think
himself far his better?
VINCENT: Yes, uncle, if the difference in their state were no
other.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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