hoose the worst. And by
prescribing unto God ourselves so precisely what we will that he
shall do for us, unless of his gracious favour he reject our folly,
he shall for indignation grant us our own request, and afterward
shall we well find that it shall turn us to harm.

How many men attain health of body for whom it would be better, for
their soul's health, that their bodies were sick still? How many
get out of prison who happen outside on such harm as the prison
would have kept them from? How many who have been loth to lose
their worldly goods have, in keeping of their goods, soon afterward
lost their life? So blind is our mortality and so unaware what will
befall--so unsure also what manner of mind we ourselves will have
tomorrow--that God could not lightly do a man more vengeance than
to grant him in this world his own foolish wishes.

What wit have we poor fools to know what will serve us? For the
blessed apostle himself in his sore tribulation, praying thrice
unto God to take it away from him, was answered again by God (in a
manner) that he was but a fool in asking that request, but that the
help of God's grace in that tribulation to strengthen him was far
better for him than to take that tribulation from him. And
therefore, perceiving well by experience the truth of the lesson,
he giveth us good warning not to be too bold of our minds, when we
require aught of God, at his own pleasure. For his own Holy Spirit
so sore desireth our welfare that, as men say, he groaneth for us,
in such wise as no tongue can tell. "What we may pray for, that
would be behovable for us, we cannot ourselves tell," saith St.
Paul, "but the Spirit himself desireth for us with unspeakable
groanings."

And therefore I say, for conclusion of this point, let us never ask
of God precisely our own ease by delivery from our tribulation, but
pray for his aid and comfort by such ways as he himself shall best
like, and then may we take comfort even of our such request. For we
may be sure that this mind cometh of God. And also we may be very
sure that as he beginneth to work with us, so--unless we ourselves
fly from him--he will not fail to tarry with us. And then, if he
dwell with us, what trouble can do us harm? "If God be with us,"
saith St. Paul, "who can stand against us?"

VII

VINCENT: You have, good uncle, well opened and declared the
question that I demanded you--that is, what manner of comfort a man
might pray for in tribulatio