And as he will that we do for ourselves, so will he that we do for our neigbour too.  And he will that we shall in this world have pity on each other and not be sine affectione, for which the apostle rebuketh them that lack their tender affection here.  So of charity we should be sorry too for the pain of those upon whom, for necessary cause, we ourselves be driven to put it.  And whosoever saith that for pity of his neighbour’s soul he will have no pity of his body, let him be sure that, as St. John saith, “He that loveth not his neighbour whom he seeth, loveth but little God, whom he seeth not,” so he who hath no pity on the pain that he seeth his neighbour feel before him, pitieth little (whatsoever he say) the pain of his soul that he seeth not.

Yet God sendeth us also such tribulation sometimes because it is his pleasure to have us pray unto him for help.  And therefore, the scripture telleth that, when St. Peter was in prison, the whole church without intermission prayed incessantly for him, and at their fervent prayer God by miracle delivered him.  When the disciples in the tempest stood in fear of drowning, they prayed unto Christ and said, “Save us, Lord, we perish,” and then at their prayer he shortly ceased the tempest.  And now see we proved often that in sore weather or sickness by general processions God giveth gracious help.  And many a man in his great pain and sickness, by calling upon God is marvellously made whole.  This is the goodness of God who, because in wealth we remember him not, but forget to pray to him, sendeth us sorrow and sickness to force us to draw toward him, and compelleth us to call upon him and pray for release of our pain.  When we learn thereby to know him and to pray to him, we take a good occasion to fall afterward into further grace.

XVIII

Vincent:  Verily, good uncle, with this good answer I am well content.

Anthony:  Yea, cousin, but many men are there with whom God is not content!  For they abuse this great high goodness of his, whom neither fair treating nor hard handling can cause to remember their maker.  But in wealth they are wanton and forget God and follow their pleasure, and when God with tribulation draweth them toward him, then wax they mad and draw back as much as ever they can, and run and seek help at any other hand rather than at his.  Some for comfort seek to the flesh, some to the world, and some to the devil himself.

Consider some man who in worldly prosperity is very dull and hath stepped deep into many a sore sin; which sins, when he did them, he counted for part of his pleasure.  God, willing of his goodness to call the man to grace, casteth a remorse into his mind, after his first sleep, and maketh him lie a little while and bethink him.  Then beginneth he to remember his life, and from that he falleth to think upon his death, and how he must leave all his worldly wealth