A right comfortable treatise containing fourteen points of consolation for them that labour and…A right comfortable treatise containing fourteene pointes of consolation for them that labor and…

But the gifts of the mind are more excellent then all these, as wit, knowledge, ¹judgement, eloquence, wisdom, & as in the other, so in bestowing of these he useth a mean and equality, so that upon whom he hath bestowed more of these good things, he hath not therefore preferred them before others, whom in stead of these he hath given more peace or pleasure of the mind. Now in all these we must with thankfulness acknowledge the large liberality and bountifulness of God, & comfort our infirmity, that in the multitude & plenty of good things we do not marvel, if some sharpness be mingled therewith, seeing that to delicate persons neither roasted meat is liked without sauce, neither almost any other meat, which either hath not some sharp taste of it self, or is tempered with some thing that hath a sharp taste: so untolerable a thing is continual and only sweetness, ⟨p. 42⟩that one said rightly: All pleasure by continuance maketh it self loathsome. And an other said: Pleasure it self at the last is a labour, even because this life is more weak, then that it is able without the temperature of evils, to enjoy only good things, by reason of the overmuch abundance of good things, whereupon hath risen this proverb, The bones must be strong which shall bear good days, which proverb I oftentimes considering do greatly marvel what a marvellous and true meaning it hath, that mens minds are contrary to them selves, who seek no other but good days, which notwithstanding when they have obtained, they can worse away with them then with evil.

But the giftes of the mind are more excellent then all these, as witte, knowledge, ¹iudgement, eloquence, wisedom, & as in the other, so in bestowing of these he vseth a meane and equalitie, so that vpon whom he hath bestowed more of these good thinges, he hath not therfore preferred them before others, whom in steede of these he hath giuen more peace or pleasure of the minde. Nowe in all these we must with thankfulnes acknowledge the large liberalitie and bountifulnes of God, & comfort our infirmity, that in the multitude & plenty of good things we do not meruel, if some sharpenes be mingled therwith, seeing that to delicat persons neither rostedmeate is liked without sauce, neither almost any other meate, which eyther hath not some sharpe taste of it selfe, or is tempered with some thinge that hath a sharpe taste: so vntolerable a thinge is continuall and onely sweetenes,