within a while behind here in this world, and walk hence alone, he knows not whither.  Nor knows he how soon he shall take his journey thither, nor can he tell what company he shall meet there.  And then beginneth he to think that it would be good to make sure and to be merry, so that he be wise therewith, lest there happen to be indeed such black bugbears as folk call devils, whose torments he was wont to take for poet’s tales.  Those thoughts, if they sink deep, are a sore tribulation.  And surely, if he takes hold of the grace that God therein offereth him, his tribulation is wholesome.  And it shall be full comforting to remember that God by this tribulation calleth him and biddeth him come home, out of the country of sin that he was bred and brought up so long in, and come into the land of behest that floweth milk and honey.  And then if he follow this calling, as many a one full well doth, joyful shall his sorrow be.  And glad shall he be to change his life, to leave his wanton pleasures and do penance for his sins, bestowing his time upon some better business.

But some men, now, when this calling of God causeth them to be sad, they are loth to leave their sinful lusts that hang in their hearts, especially if they have any kind of living such that they must needs leave it off or fall deeper into sin, or if they have done so many great wrongs that they have many amends to make if they follow God, which must diminish much their money.  Then are these folk, alas, woefully bewrapped, for God pricketh them of his great goodness still.  And the grief of this great pang pincheth them at the heart, and of wickedness they wry away.  And from this tribulation they turn to their flesh for help, and labour to shake off this thought.  And then they mend their pillow and lay their head softer and essay to sleep.  And when that will not be, then they talk a while with those who lie by them.  If that cannot be either, then they lie and long for day, and get them forth about their worldly wretchedness, the matter of their prosperity, and the selfsame sinful things with which they displease God most.  And at length, when they have many times behaved in this manner, God utterly casteth them off.  And then they set naught by either God or devil.  “When the sinner cometh even into the depth, then he contemneth,” and setteth naught by anything, saving worldly fear that may befall by chance, or that needs must, he knoweth well, befall once by death.

But alas, when death cometh, then cometh again his sorrow.  Then will no soft bed serve, nor no company make him merry.  Then must he leave his outward worship and comfort of his glory, and lie panting in his bed as it were on a pine bench.  Then cometh his fear of his evil life and of his dreadful death.  Then cometh his torment, his cumbered conscience and fear of his heavy judgment.  Then the devil draweth him to despair with imagination of hell, and suffereth him not then to take it for a fable—­and yet, if he do, then the wretch findeth it no fable.  Ah, woe worth the time, that folk think not of this in time!