believe in God, should not be sorry nor troubled, neither dread death of his body, in what manner wise or for what manner cause that he be put thereto; but gladly and wilfully, with reason of his mind that ruleth his sensuality,[1] he should take his death and suffer it patiently, conforming and committing fully his will to God's will and to God's disposition alone, if he will go hence and die well and surely: witnessing the wise man that saith thus: Bene mori, est libenter MORI. To die well is to die gladly and wilfully. And therefore he addeth, and saith thereto: Ut satis vixerim, nec anni, dies faciunt, sed animus. Neither many days, nor many years, cause me to say and feel that I have lived long [enough,] but only the reasonable will of mine heart and of my soul. Sith more than that, of duty and natural right all men must needly die; [2] and that how, when, and where that Almighty God will; and God's will is evermore good, and over all good, in all things good, and just, and rightful. For as John Cassian saith in his Collations: [Collat 1:5] Almighty God of His wisdom and goodness, all things that fall, both prosperity and adversity, disposeth ever finally for our profit, and for the best for us; and more provideth, and is busier for the heal and salvation of His chosen children, than we ourselves may or can be.
And sith, as it is aforesaid, we may not, in no wise, neither flee nor escape, neither change the
