and the more likelihood to recover and
to live the longer.

Now if God will that we shall go hence, then doth he much more for
us. For he who taketh this way cannot go but well. For of him who
is loth to leave this wretched world, mine heart is much in fear
lest he did not well. Hard it is for him to be welcome who cometh
against his will, who saith unto God when he cometh to fetch him,
"Welcome, my Maker--spite of my teeth!" But he that so loveth him
that he longeth to go to him, my heart cannot give me but he shall
be welcome, albeit that he come ere he be well purged. For "Charity
covereth a multitude of sins," and "He that trusteth in God cannot
be confounded." And Christ saith, "He that cometh to me, I will not
cast him out." And therefore let us never make our reckoning of
long life. Let us keep it while we can, because God hath so
commanded, but if God give the occasion that with his good will we
may go, let us be glad of it and long to go to him. And then shall
hope of heaven comfort our heaviness, and out of our transitory
tribulation shall we go to everlasting glory--to which, good
cousin, I pray God bring us both!

VINCENT: Mine own good uncle, I pray God reward you, and at this
time I will no longer trouble you. I fear I have this day done you
much tribulation with my importunate objections, of very little
substance. And you have even showed me an example of patience, in
bearing my folly so long. And yet I shall be so bold as to seek
some time to talk further of the rest of this most profitable
matter of tribulation, which you said you reserved to treat of last
of all.

ANTHONY: Let that be surely very shortly, cousin, while this is
fresh in mind.

VINCENT: I trust, good uncle, so to put this in remembrance that
it shall never be forgotten with me. Our Lord send you such comfort
as he knoweth to be best!

ANTHONY: This is well said, good cousin, and I pray the same for
you and for all our other friends who have need of comfort--for
whom, I think, more than for yourself, you needed some counsel.

VINCENT: I shall, with this good counsel that I have heard from
you, do them some comfort, I trust in God--to whose keeping I
commit you!

ANTHONY: And I you, also. Farewell, mine own good cousin.

______________________________

BOOK TWO

VINCENT: It is no little comfort to me, good uncle, that as I came
in here I heard from your folk that since my last being here you
have had meetly good r