good deeds, nor presume nothing of himself, nor not attribute himself to do nothing well; for this complacence is vainglory, and it may be so great that by it a man might be damned.
A man nigh his death ought to be well advised when by such pride he feels himself tempted, that then he humble and meek himself so much the more; that he withdraw him in thinking [on] his wretchedness and his sins. For none is certain if he be digne or worthy to have deserved the love of God, or the hate of God. Natheless none ought to despair; but right always to address his heart to God by good hope, in thinking and considering the mercy of God to be above all his works.
V. The Fifth Temptation that most troubleth the secular and worldly men is the over great occupation of outward things and temporal: as toward his wife, his children and his friends carnal; toward his riches or toward other things which he hath most loved in his life. And therefore whomsoever will well and surely die, he ought to set simply and all from him all outward things and temporal, and ought all to commit to God fully. And if he so do, in suffering patiently the pain of death he satisfieth for all his venial sins; and, what more is, he bringeth something for to satisfy for the deadly sins. But it happeth not oft that any be found — be he secular or regular — that hopeth not but to escape from death; and always this foolish hope is a thing right perilous and much disordered[1] in every Christian man, and
- ↑ i.e. disorderly or unruly.
