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who ever will be had never done any good
things, and by their own demerits had been
damned perpetually to Hell, yet even so
our Lord God would not have any less delight or
consolation, nor would he be worth less in any way
nor would anything that was in Paradise be so. But the saints were
wise, pious, and constant in acting for their [own] good and benefit,
since they knew clearly
that this world was nothing but a vain and
transitory thing. And they were very willing to suffer pain
and hardship and offer their bodies to torment and to
martyrdom, and to endure shame, blasphemies, slander, and other
injuries for the love of Our Lord in this miserable
world, which lasts such a short time, and then to have forever the great good things
of Paradise rather than to enjoy the changeable ease of the
body that leads to lasting pain. And so they had no care for
such things that would have no value in the end. Thus they
took the bridle in their teeth so as to gain
the very great understanding and sense of Paradise. And many
were those who considered them to be fools in the world,
whose necks are now burdened by that from which