Now, many a good man, cousin, come into great authority, casteth in his mind the peril of such occasions of pride as the devil taketh of prosperity to make his instruments of, with which to move men to such high point of presumption as engendereth so many great evils.  And, feeling the devil therewith offering him suggestions to it, he is sore troubled therewith.  And some fall so afraid of it that even in the day of prosperity they fall into the night’s fear of pusillanimity, and they leave the things undone in which they might use themselves well.  And mistrusting the aid and help of God in holding them upright in their temptations, whereby for faint heart they leave off good business in which they would be well occupied.  And, under pretext (as it seemeth to themselves) of humble heart and meekness, and of serving God in contemplation and silence, they seek their own ease and earthly rest unawares.  And with this, if it be so, God is not well content.

Howbeit, if it be so that a man, by the experience that he hath of himself, perceiveth that in wealth and authority he doth his own soul harm, and cannot do the good that to his part appertaineth; but seeth the things that he should set his hands to sustain, decay through his default and fall to ruin under him, and seeth that to the amendment thereof he leaveth his own duty undone; then would I in any wise advise him to leave off that thing—­be it spiritual benefice that he have, parsonage or bishopric, or temporal office and authority—­and rather give it over quite and draw himself aside and serve God, than to take the worldly worship and commodity for himself, with incommodity of those whom his duty would be to profit.

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.