much unjust if of the just passions we murmur or grutch; for like as the soul is possessed in patience, and by murmurs the soul is lost and damned. Ought not then our Lord thus [to] enter into His glory: and know ye that the infirmity before the death is like as a purgatory, so that it be suffered like as it appertaineth, that is to say patiently, gladly, and agreeably. And it cometh by divine dispensation that to the longest vice and sin is given the longest malady; and that God mercifully sendeth temporal tarrying, to the end that he go not to eternal pain.
It appeareth then that all maladies and sicknesses of the body, whatsoever they be, ought by reason to be suffered without grutching; for he that well loveth, to him is nothing impossible.
IV. The Fourth Temptation of them that die is the Complacence or pleasing of himself; and that is a spiritual pride by the which the devil assaileth most them that be devout. And it happeth when the devil hath not mowe,[1] nor can not induce the man to go out of the faith, nor to make him fall into desperation or into impatience, that then he assaulted him by complacence, or pleasing of himself; to him presenting in his heart such things: O how thou art firm and steadfast in the faith! O how thou art sure in hope! O how thou art strong and patient! O how thou hast done many good deeds! or such things semblable, for to put him in vainglory. But against this let none give to himself no manner praising, nor avaunt him; nor none glorify himself of his
- ↑ i.e. hath not power, or might.
