A treatise co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of true & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the…A treatice co[n]teining certain meditatio[n]s of trew & perfect consolatio[n], ... Written in the…

¶ The fifth Chapter of the fifth consideration of the good on the left hand.

¶ The fift Chapiter of the fyfth consideration of the good on the left hand.

Here is to be spoken of the adversaries that be yet living in the world, for in the Chapter going before we have treated of the adversaries that be all damned & made like to the devils, but we must consider these here with an other affection, and consider them two manner of ways. First they abound and prosper in temporal things, in such sort that the Prophets them selves were almost moved to envy them, because of their felicity, as it is said in the. 73. Psalm. My foot had all most slipped, my steps were almost gone seeing the wicked in such prosperity and felicity, I had even all most borne them envy. And in the same Psalm. Behold the wicked (abounding in iniquity) have obtained great riches. And in the. 12. of Jeremiah. ⟨p. 47⟩Thou art verily righteous Lord when I do argue against thee, nevertheless I shall consider of the things that be righteous with thee. Wherefore do I see the wicked prosper, the affairs of all those which work wickedness and go forward. But the questions is, Wherefore doth he pour upon them so great benefits, and so undeserved: but to the end to comfort us, and to show how good he will be to them that are of an upright hart, as it is said in the same Psalm. He that is so good to the wicked: how much more will he be good to the faithful? and in that he doth not torment the wicked with any manner evils, but the good he proveth them by many evils: that they may know that he is good to them, not only in goods that be present: but also in riches which be hidden and invisible, that they may say with the Psalmist. It is good for me to join my self to the Lord, and to set ⟨image 60⟩