7. Why wouldest thou see what thou mayest not have? The world
passeth away and the lust thereof. The desires of sensuality
draw thee abroad, but when an hour is past, what dost thou bring
home, but a weight upon thy conscience and distraction of heart?
A merry going forth bringeth often a sorrowful return, and a
merry evening maketh a sad morning? So doth all carnal joy
begin pleasantly, but in the end it gnaweth away and destroyeth.
What canst thou see abroad which thou seest not at home? Behold
the heaven and the earth and the elements, for out of these are
all things made.

8. What canst thou see anywhere which can continue long under the
sun? Thou believest perchance that thou shalt be satisfied, but
thou wilt never be able to attain unto this. If thou shouldest
see all things before thee at once, what would it be but a vain
vision? Lift up thine eyes to God on high, and pray that thy
sins and negligences may be forgiven. Leave vain things to vain
men, and mind thou the things which God hath commanded thee.
Shut thy door upon thee, and call unto thyself Jesus thy beloved.
Remain with Him in thy chamber, for thou shalt not elsewhere find
so great peace. If thou hadst not gone forth nor listened to
vain talk, thou hadst better kept thyself in good peace. But
because it sometimes delighteth thee to hear new things, thou
must therefore suffer trouble of heart.

(1) Psalm iv. 4.


CHAPTER XXI