for ever. Therefore be not aggrieved with your sickness and take it not with grutching, but take it rather by all gladness.
See at all times that ye be stable in your faith, and believe, and say your Credo, if that ye may — or else desire another heartily to do it for you here afore us openly. And arm you ever with the sign of the cross + as a Christian man, for your defence against your ghostly enemies; in the which doing God will be greatly pleased, and the rather take you for one of His folk, by protection and grace, and as His child of salvation.
Have ever a good and true belief, and nothing may be impossible unto you. And ever beware that ye fall not in despair, for that greatly would displease God, and can not be remedied. And remember the sins done aforetime shall never hurt you as to damnation, if they please you not now and that ye be sorry for them. Saint Jerome saith: If one should take his sickness or his death with grutching it is a token that he loveth not God sufficiently; all is righteous that we suffer. Desire, with Saint Austin, of our Lord here to be cut with tribulation and to be burned with sickness and sorrow, so that ye may be saved hereafter for ever.
Now meek yourself and be sorry that ye have been so unkind to please and to keep His commandments, and presume not as of yourself any goodness, and say with all meekness thus: Good Lord, Jesu Christ, I knowledge that I have sinned grievously and by Thy grace I will gladly amend me if I
