Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	good_a	life_n	see_v	9,943	5	3.4753	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13678	The following of Christ translated out of Latin into Englishe, newlie corrected and amended. VVherento also is added the golden epistle of Sainct Bernarde. And nowe lastelie the rules of a Christian lyfe, made by Iohn Picus the elder earle of Mirandula.; Imitatio Christi. English.	Cyprian, Saint, d. 304. [Swete and devoute sermon of mortalitie of man]. aut; Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555?; Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153. Epistola de perfectione vitae. English. aut; Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494. Regulae duodecim portim excitantes portim dirigentes hominem in pugna spirituali. English.; Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name.	1585 (1585)	STC 23968; ESTC S103013	152,704	352

and commen together sith we so seldome depart without some hurt of conscience This is the cause By our comminge together we thinke to comforte eche other and to refreshe our hearts when we be troubled with vaine imaginations and we speake moste gladly of such thinges as we moste loue or els of thinges that be moste contracious vnto vs. But alas for sorowe all is vaine that we doo for this outward comfort is no litle hinderance of the true inward comfort that commeth of God Therfore it is necessarie that we watche and pray that the time passe not away from vs in ydlenes If it be lawfull and expedient to speake speake then of God and of suche thinges as are to the edifyinge of thy soule or of thy neighbours An euill vse and a uegligence of our ghostly profite maketh vs oftē times to take litle heede how we should speake Neuerthlesse sometime it helpeth right much to the health of the soule a deuout commoning of spirituall thinges specially when men of one minde and spirite in God doo meete and speake and common together The meanes to get peace and of desire to profite in vertues The 11. Chapter VVe might haue much peace if we would not meddle with other mens sayinges and doeinges that belong not vnto vs. How may he longe liue in peace that willfully will medle with other mens busines and that seeketh occasions abroade in the worlde and seldome or neuer gathereth him selfe together in God Blessed be the true simple and meeke persons for they shal haue great plentie of peace VVhy haue many saintes bene so perfectly contemplatiue for they alway studied to mortifie thē selues fro worldly desires that they might freely with al the power of their hart tend to our lord But we be occupied with our passions and be muche busied with transitory thinges it is very seldome that we may fully ouercome any one vice And we be nothing quicke to our dueties wherfore we remayne colde slowe to deuotion If we were perfectly mortifyed to the world and to the fleshe and were inwardly purifyed in soule we shoulde anone sauour heauēly thinges and somewhat shoulde we haue experience of heauenly contemplation The greatest hinderance of the heauenly cōtemplation is for we are not yet cleerly deliuered from al passions and concupiscence ne we enforce not our self to folowe the way that holy Saints haue gone before vs but when any litle aduersitie commeth to vs we be anone cast downe therin and turne vs ouer soone to seeke mans cōfort But if we woulde as strong men and as mightie champiōs fight strongly in this ghostlye battayle we shoulde vndoubtedlye see the helpe of God come in our neede for he is alway redy to helpe al them that trust in him and he procureth occasions of suche battayle to thende we should ouercome and haue the victorye and in the ende to haue the greater reward therfore If we set the ende and perfection of our religion in these outward obseruaunces our deuotiō shal soone be ended VVherfore we must set our axe depe to the roote of the tree that we purged frō al passiōs may haue a quiet minde If we wold euery yeare ouercome one vice we should anone come to perfection But I feare rather that contrariwise we were better and more pure in the beginning of our conuersiō then we be many yeres after we were cōuerted Our feruor and desire to vertue should dayly increase in vs as we increase in age But it is now thought a great thing if we may holde a litle sparcle of the feruor that we had fyrst but if we would at the beginning break the euil inclination that we haue to our selfe and to our owne wil we should after doo vertuous workes easily and with great gladnes of heart It is an harde thing to leaue euil customes but it is more hard to breake our owne wil but it is most harde euermore to lye in payne and endiessye to lose the ioyes of heauen If thou ouercome not small thinges and light howe shalt thou then ouercome the greater Refist therefore quickelie in the beginninge thy euill inclinations and leaue of whollie all thine euill customes least happlie by litle and litle they bringe the after to greater difficultie O if thou wouldest consider how great inwarde peace thou shouldest haue thy selfe and how great gladnes thou shouldest cause in other in behauinge of thy selfe well I suppose verilye thou wouldest be much more diligent to profite in vertue then thou haste bene before this time Of the profite of aduersitie The .12 Chapter IT is good that we haue sometime griefes and aduersities for they driue a man to beholde him selfe and to see that he is here but as in an exile and be learned therby to know that he ought not to put his trust in any worldly thing It is good also that we suffer sometime contradiction and that we be holden of other as euill and wretched and sinfull though we doo well and intend well far such thinges helpe vs to meekenes and mightilye defende vs from vayne glorie pride VVe take God the better to be our iudge and witnes when we be outwardlie despised in the worlde and that the worlde iudgeth not well of vs. Therefore a man ought to settle him selfe so fullie in God that what aduersitie so euer befall vnto him he shall not nede to seke any outward cōfort VVhen a good mā is troubled or tēpted or is inquieted with euill thoughtes then he vnderstādeth knoweth that God is most necessarie to him that he may nothinge doo that is good without him Then he soroweth waileth prayeth for the miseries that he rightfully suffereth Thē it yrketh him also the wretchednes of this life he coueteth to be dissolued frō this bodie of death to be with Christ And thē also he seeth well that there may be no ful peace nor perfect quietnes here in this world Of temptations to be resisted The 13. Chapter AS longe as we liue ī this world we may not be fully without temptation For as Iob sayth temptation is the life of man vpon earth therefore euery man should beware well against his tēptations and watche in prayers that the ghostly enemy finde not time place to deceiue him which neuer sleepeth but alwaye goeth about seekinge whom he may deuoure There is no man so perfect nor so holye in this worlde that he sometime hath not temptations And we may not fully be without thē for though they be for the time verye greeuous and painfull yet if they be resisted they be verye profitable for a man by experiēce of such temptations is made more meeke and is also purged informed in diuers maner which he should neuer haue knowen but by experience of suche temptations All blessed Sainctes that nowe be crowned in heauē grewe and profited by temptations and tribulations and those that coulde not well beare temptations but were finallye ouercome be taken

Soone may it be lost through negligence that with much labour and speciall grace was hardlie gotten But what shall become of vs in the ende whē we so soone waxe dull and slow Sothlie sorowe and woe shall be to vs if we fail to bodilie rest nowe as though we were in ghostly sikernes whē there appeareth not as yet neither signe nor token of vertue nor of good liuing in our conuersation VVherefore it were expedient to vs that we were yet againe instructed as Nouices to learne good maners it happly there might by that meanes be founde hereafter any trust of amendment and spirituall profite in our conuersation Of the remembraunce of death The .23 Chapter THe hour of death wil shortly come therefore take heede how thou orderest thy selfe for the common prouerbe is true To daye a man to morowe none And when thou arte out of sight thou arte anone out of minde and soone shalt thou be forgottē O the great dulnes and hardnes of mans heart that only thinketh on thinges present litle prouideth for the life to come If thou diddest well thou shouldest so behaue thy selfe in euery deede and in euery thought as thou shouldest in this instant dye If thou haddest a good conscience thou shouldest not muche feare death It were better for thee to leaue sinne then feare death O my deere brother if thou be not readie this daye how shalt thou be readie to morow To morow is a daye vncertaine and thou canste not tel whether thou shalt liue so longe VVhat profite is it to vs to liue longe when we therby so litle amende our life Longe life doth not alwaye bringe vs to amendment but ofte times increaseth more sinne VVoulde to God that we might be one daye well cōuersant in this world Manie recken their yeares of conuersion and yet there is but litle fruite of amendment nor of any good example seene in their conuersation If it be fearefull to die peraduenture it is more perillous to liue long Blessed be those persons that euer haue the houre of death before their eyes and that euerie daye dispose themselues to die If thou euer sawest anye man die remember that thou must needelie goe the same waye In the morninge doubt whether thou shalt liue to night at night thinke not thy selfe sure to liue till to morowe Be alwaye readie and liue in such maner that death finde thee not vnprouided Remember howe many haue died sodenlie and vnprouided for our Lorde hath called them in such an houre as they leaste thought And when that last hour shall come thou shalt begin to feele all otherwise of thy life passed then thou haste done before and thou shalt then sorowe greatlie that thou hast beene so slowe and negligent in the seruice of God as thou haste beene O how happie and wise is he therfore that laboreth nowe to stand in such state in this lyfe as he would be founde in at his death Truely a perfect despising of the worlde and a feruent desire to profite in vertue a loue to be taught a fruitfull labour in workes of penaunce a readie will to obey a forsaking of our selfe and a willing suffering of all aduersities for the loue of God shall geue vs a great truste that we shall die wel Now whilest thou art in health thou mayest doo many good deedes but if thou be sicke I can not tell what thou mayest doe For why fewe be amended through sicknes And likewise they that go muche on pilgrimage be seldome thereby made perfect holye Put not thy trust in thy frendes and thy neighbours neither deferre thy good deedes till after thy death for thou shalt soonet be forgotten then thou weenest Better it is to prouide for thy selfe betime and to send some good deedes before thee then to trust to other who peraduēture will lightly forget thee if thou be not nowe busie for thy selfe for thine owne soule health who shall be busie for thee after thy death Nowe is the time very precious but alas for sorowe that thou spēdest the time so vnprofitablie in the which thou shouldest winne the life euerlasting The time shal come whē thou shalt desire one daye or one houre to amende thee but I wot not whether it shalbe graunted vnto thee O my deere brother from how great perill dreade mightest thou now deliuer thy selfe yf thou wouldest alwaye in this lyfe dreade to offend God and alwaye haue the comminge of death suspect Therefore studye nowe to liue so that at the houre of death thou mayest rather ioye then dreade Learue nowe to dye to the worlde that thou mayest then liue with Christ Learnt also to despise all worldlie thinges that thou mayest then freelye go to Christe Chastise nowe thy bodye with penance that thou mayest then haue a sure and a stedfast hope of saluatiō Thou art a fosle if thou thinke to liue longe sith thou art not sure to lyue one daye to the ende Now many haue beene deceaued through trust of longe life sodenlie haue beene taken out of this worlde or they had thought Nowe ofte hast thou heard say that suche a man was slayne and suche a man was drowned and suche a man fell and brake his necke This man as he eate his meat was strangled and this man as he played tooke his death one with fyre another with yron another with sicknes and some by theft haue sodenly perished And so the ende of all men is death for the life of man as a shadowe sodenly slideth and passeth away Thinke ofte who shall remember thee after thy death and who shall praye for thee Doe nowe forthy selfe all that thou canst for thou wottest not when thou shalt dye nor what shall folowe after thy death VVhilest thou hast time gather thee riches immortall thinke nothing abidingly but on thy ghostly health Set thy study onely on thinges that be of God and that belonge to his honor Make thee frendes against that time worship his Saintes and folowe their steppes that when thou shalt go out of this worlde they may receaue thee into the euerlasting tabernacles Keepe thee as a pilgrime as a strāger here in this world to whom nothing belongeth of worldlye busines Keepe thy hearte alwaye free and lifted vp to God for thou hast no cittie here long abiding Sende thy desires and thy daylie prayers alwaye vpwarde to God and praye perseuerantly that thy soule at the houre of death may blessedly depart out of this world and goe to Christe Of the last iudgement and of the payne that is ordeyned for sinne The 24. Chapter IN all thinges beholde the ende and ofte remember howe thou shalt stande before the high Iudge to whom nothing is hidde who will not be pleased with rew ardes nor receaue any maner excuses but in all thinges wil iudge that is righteous and true O moste vnwise moste wretched sinner what shalt thou then answere to God who knoweth all thy

with other like vertues gracious giftes of God VVherefore they profited dayly in spirit obteyned great grace of God They be lefte as an exāple to al religious persons and more ought their examples to stirre them to deuotiō and to profite more and more in vertue and grace then the great multitude of dissolute ydle persons shoulde anye thing drawe them abacke O what feruour was in religious persons at the beginning of their religion what deuotion in prayers what zeale to vertue what loue to ghostlye discipline and what reuerence and meeke obedience fiourished in thē vnder the rule of their superiour Truely their deedes yet beare witnes that they were holy and perfect so mightily subdued the world and thruste it vnder foote Nowe a dayes he is accōpted vertuous that is no offender and that may with patience keepe some litle sparcle of that vertue and feruor that he had firste But alas for sorowe it is through our owne slouth and negligence and through losing of time that we be so soone fallen from our first feruour into such a ghostly weaknes and dulnes of spirite that in maner it is to tedious to vs for to liue But woulde to God that the desire to profite in vertue slepte not so vtterly in thee that so ofte haste seene the holy examples of blessed Saintes Of the exercises of a good religious person The 19. Chapter THe lyfe of a good religious man should shine in all vertue and be inward as it appereth outwarde and that much more inwarde for almightie God beholdeth the heart VVhom we should alwaye honour and reuerence as if we were euer in his bodilye presence and appere afore him as Angels clene and pure shining in all vertue we ought euery daye to renewe our purpose in God and to stirre our heart do feruor and deuotiō as though it were the firste daye of our conuersion dayly we shall pray and say thus Helpe me my Lorde Iesu that I may perseuer in good purpose and in thy holy seruice vnto my death that I may nowe this present daye perfectly beginne for it is nothinge that I haue done in time past After our purpose and after our intent shalbe our reward And though our intent be neuer so good yet it is necessarie that we put therto a good will and a great diligence For if he that often times purposeth to doe well and to profite in vertue yet fayleth in his doing what shall he doe then who seldome or neuer taketh such purpose Let vs intend to doe the best we can and yet our good purpose may happē to be hindred and letted in diuers maners And our speciall hinderaunce is this that we so lihgtly leaue of our good exercises that we haue vsed to doe before time for it is seldome seene that a good purpose wilfully broken may be recouered agayne without great spirituall hinderance The purpose of righteous men dependeth in the grace of God more then in thēselues or in their owne wisedome for man purposeth but God disposeth ne the waye that man shall walke in this worlde is not in himselfe but in the grace of God If a good custome be sometime left of for helpe of our neighbour it may soone be recouered but if it be left of through slouth or through our owne negligence it will greatlie hinder vs and hardly will it be recouered agayne Thus it appereth that though we incorage our selues all that we can to doe well yet it is good that we alwaye take such good purpose especiallie against such thinges as hinder vs moste VVe must also make diligent searche both within vs without vs that we leaue nothing inordinate vnterformed in vs as nigh as our frailtie may suffer And if thou can not for frayltie of thy selfe doe thus continual●ie yet at the least that thou doe it once on the day euening or morning In the morning thou shalt take a good purpose for that daye folowinge and at night thou shalte discusse diligentlie how thou hast behaued thee the daye before in worde in deede and in thought for in them we doe ofte offend God aud our neighbour Arme thee as Christes true knyght with meeknes and charitie against all the malice of the enemie Refraine glotonie and thou shalt the more lightlie refrayne all carnall desires Let not the ghostly enemy finde thee all ylde but that thou be readinge writing prayinge deuoutlie thinkinge or some other good labour doinge for the comminaltie Bodily exercises are to be done discretelie for that that is profitable to one is sometime hurtfull to another and also spirituall labours done of denotion are more sure done in priuitie then in open place And thou must beware that thou be not more readie to priuate deuotiōs then to them that thou arte bounde to by duetie of thy religion But whē thy duetie is fulfilled thē adde thereto after as thy deuotion gyueth All may not vse one maner of exercise but one in one maner another in another maner as they shall feele to be most profitable to thē Also as the time requireth so diuers exercises are to be vsed for one maner of exercise is necessary on the holy daye another on the feriall daye one in time of temptation another in time of Peace and cōsolation one when we haue sweetenes in deuotion another when deuotion withdraweth Also against principall feastes we ought to be more diligēt in good workes and deuoutlie to call for helpe to the blessed Saintes that then be worshipped in the Churche of God then in other times and to dispose our selues in like maner as if we shoulde then be taken out of this world and be brought into the euerlastinge feast in heauen And fith that blisse is yet differred from vs for a time we may well thinke that we be not yet readye nor worthye to come therto And therefore we ought to prepare our selues to be more readie another time For as S. Luke saith Blessed is that seruaunt whom our Lorde when he shall come at the hour of death shall finde readie for he shall take him and lifte him vp high aboue all earthlie thinges into the euerlastinge ioye and blisse in the kingdome of heauen Amen Of the loue of onelines and silence The .20 Chapter SEeke for a cōuenient time to searche thine owne cōscience and thinke ofte on the benefites of god Leaue of all curious thinges and reade such matters as shal stirre thee to compunctiō of heart for thy sinnes rather then to reade onelie for occupyinge of the time If thou wilt withdrawe thy selfe from superfluous wordes and from vnprofitable runninges about and from the hearinge of rumours and vayne tales thou shalt finde time eonuenient to be occupied in holy meditations The moste holie men and women that euer were fled the company of worldlie liuing men with all their power chose to serue god in secrete of their heart And one holye mā sayde As ofte as I haue beene amōge

my selfe but to thee VVoulde to God it might be worthilye and profitablye and to thy honoure Amen A prayer that the vvill of God be alvvaye fulfilled The 17. Chapter MOst benigne Lorde Iesu graunt me thy grace that it maye be alway with me and worke with me and perseuer with me vnto the end And that I may euer desire and wil that is most pleasaunt and acceptable to thee Thy will be my will and my will alwaye to folowe thy will best accord therewith Be there alwaye in me one will and one desire with thee and that I may haue no power to will or to not will but as thou wilt or wilt not And graunt me that I maye dye to all thinges that be in the world and for thee to loue to be despised and to be as a man vnknowen in this world Graunt me also aboue all thinges that can be desired that I may rest me in thee and fullye in thee pacifye my heart for thou Lord art the very true peace of heart and the perfect rest of bodye and soule and without thee all thinges be greeuous and vnquiet VVherefore in that peace that is in thee one high one blessed and one endlesse goodnes shall I alwaye rest me so may it be Amen That the verye true solace comfort is in god The .18 Chapter VVhat at soeuer I may desire or thinke to my cōfort I abide it not here but I trust to haue it hereafter for if I alone might haue all the solace and comfort of this worlde might vse the delites thereof after mine owne desire without sinne it is certaine that they might not long endure wherefore my soule may not fully be comforted nor perfectly refreshed but in God onely who is the comfort of the poore in spirite and the embracer of the meeke and lowly in heart Abide my soule abide the promise of god thou shalt haue aboundance of all goodnes in heauen If thou inordinatelye couete these goodnes present thou shalt lose the goodnes eternal Haue therfore goods present in vse and eternall in desire Thou mayest in no maner be satiate with temporal goodes for thou art not created so to vse thē as to rest thee in them for if thou alone haddest all the goodes that euer were created made thou mightest not theefore be happy and blessed but thy blessedfulnes and full felicitie standeth only in God that hath made all thinges of nought And that is not such felicitie as is commended of the foolishe louers of the worlde but such as good christen men women hope to haue in the blisse of heauen and as some ghostlye persons cleane and pure in heart sometime doe taste here in this present life whose conuersation is in heauen All worldly solace and all mans comfort is vaine and short but that comfort is blessed and soothfast that is perceaued by truth inwardly in the hart A deuout folower of God beareth alway about with him his comforter that is Iesu and sayeth thus vnto him My Lord Iesu I beseech thee that thou be with me in euery place and euerye time and that it be to me a special solace gladly for thy loue to want all mans solace And if thy solace want also that thy will and thy righteous prouing and assaying of me may be to me a singuler comfort and a high solace Thou shalt not alwaye be angrie with me neither shalt thou alwaye threate me So may it be Amen That all our study and busines of minde ought to be put in God The .19 Chapter My sonne saith our Lorde to his seruant suffer me to doe with thee what I will for I knowe what is best and most expedient for thee Thou workest in many thinges after thy kindlie reason and after as thy affection and thy worldlie pollicie stirreth thee and so thou mayest lightlie erre and be deceued O Lorde it is true all that thou sayest thy prouidēce is much more better for me then all that I can doe or say of my selfe VVherfore it may well be sayde and verified that he standeth very casuallye that setteth not his wholle trust in thee Therefore Lorde while my witte abideth stedfast stable doe with me in all thinges as it pleaseth thee for it may not be but well all that thou doest If thou wilt that I be in light be thou blessed and if thou wilt that I be in darkenes be thou also blessed If thou vouchsafe to comfort me be thou highly blessed And if thou wilt that I shall liue in trouble and without all cōfort be thou in likewise muche blessed My sonne so it behoueth to be with thee if thou wilt walke with me as readye must thou be to suffer as to ioye and as gladlie be needye and poore as wealthy and riche Lorde I will gladlie suffer for thee whatsoeuer thou wilt shall fal vpon me Indifferētly will I take of thy hande good and bad bitter and sweete gladnes and sorowe and for all thinges that shall befal vnto me hartily wil I thanke thee Keepe me Lorde from sinne and I shall neither dreade death nor hel Put not my name out of the booke of life and it shall not greeue me what trouble soeuer befal vpon me That all temporall miseries are gladly to be borne through the example of Christe The 20. Chapter My sonne sayth our Lorde I descended from heauen and for thy health haue I takē thy miseries not compelled therto of necessitie but of my charitie that thou shouldest learne to haue patiēce with me not to disdayne to beare the miseries wretchednes of this life as I haue done for thee for from the first houre of my birth vnto my death vpō the crosse I was neuer without some sorowe or paine I had great lacke of temporall thinges I heard great cōplaintes made on me I suffered beningely many shames rebukes for my benefites I receaued vnkindnes for my miracles blasphemies for my true doctrine many reproufes O Lorde forasmuche as thou wert founde patient in thy life fulfilling in that moste specially the will of thy father it is seeming that I moste wretched sinner beare me patiently after thy will in all thinges and as long as thou wilt that I for mine owne health beare the burden of this corruptible life for though this life be tedious and as an heauy burden to the soule yet neuerthelesse it is nowe through thy grace made very meritorious and by exāple of thee of thy holie saints it is now made to weak persons more sufferable cleere and also muche more comfortable then it was in the olde lawe when the gates of heauen were shet and the waye thitherwarde was darke and so fewe did couet to seeke it And yet they that were then righteous and were ordeined to be saued before thy blessed passion and death might neuer haue come thither O what thankes am I bounde therfore to yeelde to thee that so louingly haste vouchedsafe to

other all that we heare or see nor to open our hart fullye but to very fewe and to seeke thee alway that art the beholder of mans hart not so be moued with euery flake of wordes but to desire in harte that all thinges in vs inwardly and outwardlye may be fulfilled after thy will howe sure a thinge is it also for the keepinge of heauenlye grace to flee the conuersation of worldly people all that we may and not to desire thinges that seeme outwardly to be pleasaunt and liking but with all the studye of our hart to seeke such thinges as bring in feruour of spirit and amendement of life It hath bene truelie a great hurte to many persons a vertue knowen ouer timelie praysed and contrariwise it hath beene right profitable to some a grace kept in silence and not lightlie reported to other in this frayle life that is full of temptation and priule enuie That vve shall put all our confidence in God vvhen euill vvordes be spoken to vs. The .51 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lord stande stronglie and truste faythfully in me VVhat be wordes but winde they flye in the ayre out they hurte neuer a stone on the grounde And if thou knowe thy selfe not giltie thinke that thou wilt suffer gladlie suche wordes for God It is but a litle thinge for thee to suffer sometime a hastie worde sith thou art not yet able to suffer harde strokes But why is it that so litle a thinge goeth so nigh thy heart but that thou art yet fleshelie and carnall and heedest to please men more then thou shouldest And because thou dreadest to be despised thou wilt not gladlie be reproued of thine offences and thou searchest therefore busilie and with great studie how thou mayest be excu●ed But behoulde thy selfe well and thou shalt see that the worlde yet liueth in thee and a vaine loue also to please man VVhen thou refusest to be rebuked and punished for thy defaultes it appereth euidentlie that thou art not yet soothfastlie meeke nor that thou art not yet deade to the worlde nor the worlde to thee yet truelye crucified But heare my wordes and thou shalt not neede to eare for the wordes of ten thousand men Loe yf all thinges were sayde against thee that might be most maliciouslie and vntruelie fayned against thee what shoulde they huit if thou suffered them to ouerpasse goe awaye truelie no more then a strawe vnder thy foote one heare of thy head they might not take from thee But he that hath not a man● heart inwardly nor setteth not God before the eye of his soule is soone moued with a sharpe word whē he that trusteth in me will not stand to his owne iudgement shall be free frō all mans dreade for I am the Iudge that knoweth all secrettes I knowe howe euery thinge is done and I know also both him that doth the wrōg and him that it is done to Of me this thinge is wrought and by my sufferāce it is come about that the thoughtes of mennes heartes maye be knowen and when the time commeth I shall iudge both the innocent and hym that is giltie But firste through my righteous examination I will proue them bothe The witnes of man ofte times deceaueth but my iudgement alwaye is true and shall not be subuerted And howbeit it is sometime hid and not knowen but to fewe yet it is euer true and erreth not neither may erre though in the sig●● of some persons it seemeth not so Therefore in euery doubt it behoueth to runne to me and not to leane muche to thine owne reason but with euery thinge that I shall sende thee to be content for a righteous man is neuer troubled with any thinge that I shall suffer to fall vnto him insomuch that though a thing were vntruelie spoken against him he shoulde not muche care for it neither shoulde he muche ioye though he were sometyme reasonablye excused for he thinketh alwaye● that I am he that searcheth mans hart and that I iudge not after the outwarde apperance for ofte times it shall be founde in my sight woorthy to be blamed that in mans sight seemeth muche woorthy to be praysed O Lord God most righteous Iudge stronge and patient which knowest the frayltie and malice of man be thou my strength and wholle cōfort in all my necessities for mine owne conscience Lorde suffiseth me not for thou knowest in me that I knowe not And therefore in euery reproufe I ought alway to meeken my selfe and patiently to suffer all thinges in charitie after thy pleasure Forgeue me Lorde as ofte as I haue not so done and geue me grace of greater sufferaunce in time to come Thy mercy is more profitable and more sure maye for me to the gettinge of pardon and forgeuenes of my sinnes then a trust in mine owne workes through defence of my darke conscience And though I dreede not my conscience yet I may not therefore iustifie my selfe for thy mercie remoued and taken awaye no man maye be iustified nor appere righteous in thy syght Hovve all greeuous thinges in this lyfe are gladlie to be suffered for vvinning of the lyfe that is to come The .52 Chapter My sonne sayth our Lord be not broken by impatiēce with the labour that thou hast taken for my sake nor suffer thou not tribulatiō to cast thee in dispaire nor into vnreasonable heauines or anguishe in any wise but be thou comforted strengthed in euery chaunce by my promises behests for I am able and of power to rewarde thee and other my seruauntes aboundantlie more then ye can thinke or desire Thou shalt not laboure long here nor alwaye be greeued with heauines tary a while my promises and thou shalt shortlye see an ende of all thy troubles One hour shall come when all thy labours and troubles shall ceasse and truely that hour will shortlye come for all is short that passeth with time Doe therefore as thou doest labour busily and faithfullye in my vineyarde and I shal shortly be thy reward VVrite reade singe mourne be still and pray and suffer gladlye aduersitye for the kingdome of heauen is more woorth then all these thinges and much more greater thinges then they are Peace shall come one daye which is to me knowen and that shall not be the day of this lyfe but a day euerlastinge with infinite cleerenes stedfast peace and sure rest without ending And then thou shalt not saye VVho shall deliuer me from the bodye of this death neither shalt thou neede to crie woe is me that my comming to the kingdome of heauen is thus prolonged For death shal then de destroyed and health shall be without ende of bodye soule insomuch that no maner of vnrestfulnes shall be but blessed ioye and moste sweetest and fayrest companye O if thou sawest the euerlastinge crownes of my Saintes in heauen in howe great ioye and glorye they are that sometime seemed to be vile persons and as

through weakenes of it selfe it is not able to fulfill all that it approueth nor hath not sith the firste sinne of Adam the full light of truth nor the sweetnes of affections to God as it had firste Of this it commeth most mercifull Lorde that in my inwarde man that is in the reason of my soule I delite me in thy lawes and in thy teachinges knowinge that they are good and righteous and holie and that all sinne is euill and to be fled and eschewed and yet in my outwarde man that is to saye in my fleshelie felinge I serue the lawe of sinne when I obeye rather to sensualitie then to reason And of this it foloweth also that I will good but to perfourme it without thy grace I maye not for weakenes of my selfe And sometime I purpose to doe many good deedes but for that grace wanteth that shoulde helpe me I goe backeward and fayle in my doinge I knowe the waye to perfection and howe I shoulde do I see it euidentlye but for that I am so oppressed with the heauye burden of this corrupt bodye of synne I lye still and ryse not to perfection O Lorde howe necessarye therefore is thy grace to me to beginne well to continue well and to ende well for without thee I maye nothinge doe that good is O heauenlye grace without whom our merites are nought woorth nor the giftes of nature nothinge to be pondred neither craftes or riches any thinge to be regarded nor beautie strength wit nor eloquence nothinge maye auayle come thou shortlye and helpe me The gyftes of nature be common to good men and bad but grace and loue are the giftes of electe and chosen people whereby they be marked and made able and worthy to haue the kingedome of heauen This grace is of suche worthynes that ●eyther the gyfte of prophecie nor the workinge of miracles nor yet the gyfte of cunninge and knowledge maye nothinge auayle wihout it ne yet fayth hope or other vertues be not acceptable to thee without grace and charitie O blessed grace that maketh the poore in spirite to be ryche in vertue and hym that is ryche in worldlye goodes maketh meeke and lowe in heart come and descende into my soule and fulfill me with thy ghostlie comfortes that it fayle not nor faynt for werines drynes of it selfe I beseeche thee Lord that I may finde grace in thy sight for thy grace shal suffice to me though I doe wante that nature desireth For although I be tempted and vexed with troubles on euery side yet shall I not neede to drede whiles thy grace is with me for she is my strength she is my comfort and she is my counsayle and helpe she is stronger then all mine enemies and wiser then all the wisest of this worlde She is the maystres of truth the teacher in discpline the light of the hart the comfort of trouble the driuer awaye of heauines the auoyder of dreade the nourisher of deuotion and the bringer of sweete teares and deuoute weepinges VVhat am I thē without grace but a drie stocke to caste awaye Graunt me therefore that thy grace maye preuent me and folowe me and that It may make me euer busie and diligent in good workes vnto my death So may it be Amen That vve ought to forsake our selfe and to folovv Christe by bearinge of hys Crosse The 61. Chapter My sonne as much as thou canst go out fro thy selfe and frothine owne will so much as thou mayest enter into me and as to desire nothing outwardlie bringeth peace inwardlie into mans soule so a man by an inwarde forsakinge of him selfe ioyneth him to God I will therefore that thou learne to haue a perfect forsaking and a full resigning of thy selfe into my hands without withsaying and complayninge and that thou folowe me for I am the waye I am the truth and I am the life VVithout a waye no man maye go and without truth no man maye knowe and without life no man maye lyue I am the waye which thou oughtest to goe the truth which thou oughtest to beleue the life which thou shalt hope to haue I am the waye that can not be defyled the truth which can not be deceyued and the life that neuer shall haue ende I am the waye moste straite the truth most perfect and the life most soothfast A blessed life and a life vnmade that made all things If thou dwell and abide in my waye thou shalt knowe the truth and truth shal deliuer thee and thou shalt come to euerlastinge life If thou wilte come to that lyfe kepe my cōmaundementes If thou wilt knowe the truth beleeue my teachinges If thou wilt be perfect sell all that thou haste If thou wilt be my Disciple forsake thy selfe If thou wilt haue the blessed lyfe despise this present life If thou wilt be exalted in heauen meeke thee here in earth And if thou wilt reigne with me beare the Crosse with me for truely only the seruauntes of the Crosse shall finde the life of blessednes and of euerlastinge light O Lorde Iesu forasmuche as thy waye is narowe and straite and is also muche despised in the worlde geue me grace to beare gladlye the despisinges of the worlde There is no seruaunt greater then his Lorde nor any Disciple aboue his master Let thy seruaunt therefore be exercised in thy wayes for therein is the health and the very perfection of lyfe whatsoeuer I reade or heare beside that way it refresheth me not nor delighteth me not fullye My sonne forasmnche as thou knowest these thinges hast reade them all thou shalt be blessed if thou fulfil them He that hath my commaundementes and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and I shall loue him I shall shewe my selfe vnto him and shall make him sitte with me in the kingdome of my father Lorde as thou hast sayde and promised so be it done to me I haue taken the Crosse of penaunce at thy hand and I shall beare it vnto my death as thou haste put it to me to doe For the lyfe of euery good man is the Crosse and it is also the way and leader to Paradise and nowe it is begonne it is not lawfull for me to go backe fro it ne it is not behouefull for me to leaue it Haue done therefore my welbeloued brethren go we forth together Iesu shall be with vs for Iesu we haue taken this Crosse for Iesu let vs perseuer and he shal be our helpe that is our guyde and leader ●● our kinge goeth before vs that shall fyght for vs folowe we hym stronglye dreade we no perils but be we readye to dye stronglye with hym in battayle that we put no blot into our glorye nor minishe not our rewarde by flyinge cowardlye awaye from the Crosse That a man shall not be ouermuche cast into heauynes though he happen to fall into some defaul●es The .62 Chapter My sonne patience and mekenes in aduersitie please me more then