with tyme is both lytell short do therfore as thou doste and labour feythfully iÌ„ my vyneyarde that is to say in my church after the degre that thou art called to and I shal be thy rewarde wryte thou rede synge sorow for thy synnes kepe thy mouth fro yll veyne wordis pray thou be pacient iÌ„ aduersites such exercyses with such other vertuoê° labours be the very wey merytes of euerlastyge lyfe peace shall come one day that is knoweÌ„ to our lorde hyd fro man that daye shal nat be as the day or nyght of this lyfe but it shal be lyght euer endurynge clerenes stedfast peace and infynnyte rest infallyble sure Thou shalt nat than say with the apostle who shall delyuer me fro the ê‘ellys the ieoê‘dy of my mortall body ne thou shalt nat than crye with the ê“phet with desyre to be desolued say these wordes wo is me that myne abydyng here in this mortall body is ê“loÌ„ged why for than shall deth that before had dnÌ„acion in man be ouerthrowen destroyed helth of body soule shall thaÌ„ euer be without ende none anoye shall thaÌ„ be to man but a blessyd ioy myrth a swete and fayre coÌ„pany O if thou sawe the ê‘petuell crownes of sayntes in heuen in what maner of glorye they lyue ioy in now that were before despysed iÌ„ theyr lyuynge reputed vnworthy to lyue sothely thou wolde humble the in the moost lowlye wyse thou wolde soner desyre to be subiecte to euery man thaÌ„ to haue gouernauÌ„ce of any man nor thou wold nat desyre the glad dayes of this worlde but thou wold rather desyre to be in trybulacion for god and thou wolde desyre also to be vylypendyd set at nought amonge men for cryst with cryst thy saueour o if these thynges were sauery to the shuld profoundely ê‘se thy herte thou weldest nat ones coÌ„playne the at such troubles aduersytees why for we ought eche of vs to suffer all labours hardnesse for the lyfe eternall that is so precyous it is no lytell thyng to wynne or to lese the kyngedome of heuen lyft vp thy soule into heuen beholde me my sayntes all that hath had and suffred great conflyctes and batayles with me in this worlde nowe they ioye with me nowe they be coÌ„forted nowe they surely rest after theyr labours shall euerlastynglye abyde and reygne with me iÌ„ the euerlastyng reygne of my fader ¶ The .liii. chapiter of the day of eternyte of the anguysshe of this present lyfe THe mansyon of the hygh cyte of heuen is all full of blysse ioy infynyte o thou day eternall moost clere yâ— which art nat made derke by any nyghte but it shyneth euer by the hye trouthe of almyghty god this day is euer ioyful and moost mery euer sure and stedfast neuer chauÌ„gynge his state into coÌ„modyousnes wolde god that daye shulde shyne to vs all teÌ„porall thynges were endyd this day of eternyte gyueth lyght to the sayntes in heueÌ„ with perpetuall clerte and shynynge but to trauaylers here in erthe it is farre as by the mene of a myrrour the Cytezins of heuen knowe how ioyfull that daye is and we whiche be the chyldren of Eue and outlawes from heuen sorowe for tedyousnes bytternes of this our temporall day the days of this tyme beshorte euyll full of sorowes and anguysshes where man is defoyled with many synnes and is feblysshed and destroyed often by passyons he is contracte and dystrayned with many dredes and with many busynesses is he occupyed he is wrappyd in many vanytes with many errours he is intriked and broke with many laboures he is moued with many temptacyons he is ouercome with delytes he is crucyate turmentyd with penury and nede o whan shall all these labours be ended and whan shall I be delyuered fro the mysery and thraldome of vyces whan shall I thynke of the alone good lorde all other thynges lefte and whaÌ„ shall I ioy in the fully whan shall I be without all Impedyment or lettynge in very lyberte without all greuaunce of body and mynde whaÌ„ shall I possesse sadde peace without trouble sure peace within and without sure on euery syde o good iesu whan shall I stande to beholde the whan shall I haue syght and coÌ„templacyoÌ„ of the eternall glory of thy kyngedome whaÌ„ shalt thou be to me all in all o whan shall I be with the in thy kyngedome the whiche thou hast of thy goodnes preparate to thy louers at the begynnyng lo I am lefte here a poore outlawe in the Lande of myne ennemyes where dayly batayles and in fortunes be full great comforte me good lorde in my exyle mytygate my sorowe for I syghe vnto the with all desyre for all that the worlde offreth vnto me for my solace is but a burden to me I desyre inwardely to be knytte cleue to the good lorde but I may nat come therto I desyre to be coÌ„uerted and atteyn the heuenly thynges but worldly thynges and possessyons vnmortyfyed in me let me where in my mynde I wolde and desyre to be aboue all teÌ„porall thynge I am coÌ„pellyd ageynst my wyll by my dull body to be vnder all so I vnhappy man am â— ê¯tynuall fight with my selfe I am made greuous to my selfe whyles my spyryte desyreth to be aboue my flessh to be downe o what is my suffrauÌ„ce with inforthe that whan I treate of heuenly thynges by dylygence of my mynde anone a multytude of carnall thoughtê mette letted me good lorde be thounat by thy grace far fro me nor declyne thou nat in wrath fro thy seruauÌ„t sende downe the lyghtnynge of thy grace ê¯sume such vayne troblous thoughtes sende downe thy arowes of drede chase away all the fantasyes of the ennemy gather together all my sensys to the make me forget all worldly thynges gyue me grace soone to auoyde fro me to despyse the fantasmes or Images of synne Socoure thou me eternall truthe that no vanytes meue me O thou heuenly swetnes come and enter into me chase fro me all vnclennes forgyue me I beseke the mercyfully ê‘don as ofte as I ê¯syder â— my mynde any thynge in tyme of prayer excepte thy goodnes I knowlege the good lorde that I haue be wont to behaue me very distractely iÌ„ prayer other thyngê for I am nat often there but absent where I stande or sytte bodyly but I am more there whether I am borne by suche thoughtis for I am there where my desyres be and there my thought desyre is where that thyng is that I loue for that thyng doth mete me anoÌ„ in thought that naturally pleaseth or delyteth wherfore thou truthe hast openlye sayde where thy treasour is there is thy herte if I loue heuen I thynke gladly on heuenly thynges If I loue the worlde I ioy of hit
departe and thynke that lyke wyse thou must nedes departe Whan thou rysest in the mornynge doute whether thou shalte contynue in bodely helthe vnto nyghte And therfore euer dispose thy selfe to be redye that dethe neuer may fynde the vnredy ne a slepar and remembre howe many do departe sodaynlye and whan they leest haue beleued they haue gone The sonne of man both god and man our Iuge shal come that tyme whan we leest wene as he saythe hym selfe Whan thy last houre comethe than shalte thou repent full sore of thy remysse and neclygente lyfe Howe gracyous and happy is that soule that now in his lyfe laboreth to be in that state that it desireth to be founde in hys dethe To contempne the worlde ê‘fytely ys a greate desyre to profyttein vertue loâ—e of dysciplene labour in penaunce a prompte wyll to obedience redy to forsake theyr owne wyll the supportacion of euery trybulacyon for the loue of oure lorde these shall enduce vs to haue a greate confydence to departe happyly out of thys worlde It ys moche better by tyme to prouyde for thy selfe and fynde thy goodes before the than to truste to other that perauenture shall uought or lytell ê“uyde for the. And thou labour nat nowe besily for thy selfe who shal be besy for the in tyme to come Now the tyme is very precious But it is lamentable to spende that tyme vnprofitably where we myght de serue goodes of the whiche we shulde lyue and ioy eternally the tyme shall come that thou woldeste be gladde to haue one day or houre to amende thyselfe in but I knowe nat whether thou shalt obteyne yt ornaye O thou vncircuÌ„specte soule of howe greate ê‘yll fere myghtest thou delyuer thyselfe of now yf thou woldest nowe fere to offende god suspecte that comynge of deth Study nowe to lyue so that iÌ„ the houre of thy dethe thou mayste rather ioye than fere Lerne nowe to dye frome the worlde that thann thou maist begynne to lyue with criste Lerne now to contempne all wordly thynges that than â— u maist frely without any impediment goo to criste Chasti sâ—thy body nowe by penaunce than thou maist haue certen confidence of reward O thou vnwise maÌ„â—â—hy makist thou so great and sure prouysioÌ„ for the â—â—me to come whanne thou arte nat sure that thou â—â—alte nat lyue o one daye to the ende Howe manye haue be deceyued thinkynge to lyue longe sodenly haue decessed Howe of tymes hast thou herde of those that be departed howe some haue be slaine with swerde some drowned some fallynge fro hie place haue broken theyr necke some etynge haue be straÌ„gled some with fire some with yron some with the ues haue be distroyed so the ende of euery man in thys worlde ys dethe the lyfe of man in this worlde as a shadowe vanisshe aweye Who shall remeÌ„bre or praie for the after thy dethe thou knowest nat Therfore nowe instore thy selfe of ryches iÌ„mortall that shall continue after thy dethe Euer laboure for that thynge that may honour god helpe thy sowle attende therto studye to make the sayntes of heueÌ„ the frendes of god thy frendes they shall receyue the into euerlastynge tabernacles Thou religious soule behaue thy selfe vpon erthe as a pylgrim a straunger For it perteyneth no thynge to the to intermyt of the besines of this worlde Preserue thi herte fre directe it to our lorde for thou hast no cite here abidynge therfore directe thy dayly mournynge prayer vpwarde that after thy spirite deê‘te fro thy bodye it may be worthy to be graciously translated into that celestiall perpetuall Cyte ¶ The .xxiiii. Chaptre is of the last iugenent peynes deputed for synne IN all thy labours beholde the ende howe thou shalt stande before yâ— iuge to whome no thiÌ„ge can be hyd he that day shall nother be moued with rewardes nor praier nor any other cause that may be alegid but he shall iuge that is rightwis O thou myeserable vnwyse synner what shalt thou answere that day to that lorde knowiÌ„ge all that euer thou haste done If thou fere somtyme in this worlde the face of a mortall man whiche thou haste dyspleased howe moche more shuldeste thou feere the face of thys thy eternall Iuge why prouydest thou nat forthe daye of iugement whan there maye no man be accepted or defended by another But euery man shall answere for hys owne selfe Nowe thy welle ordered laboure is frutefull thy wepynge acceptable thy mornynge worthye to be herde thy sorowe purgethe is satisfactorye The pacyent man that more lamentethe for the malyce of synners Than for hys owne iniurye hath an holsome pourgatory And lykewyse they that praye fore theyr ennemyes and in theyr herte forgiue their offences they that tarye nat to aske forgyuenes of other for they re offences And be more redye to remytte thanne to be wrothe And they that by vyolence restrayne theyr selfe fro synne and euer be besy to make the bodye obedyent to the soule All those haue an holsomme pourgatory in thys lyfe It is moche more profitable nowe to pourge oure synne and kytte it awaye than to abyde the pourgacion therof with the fyre of Pourgatory Verely we deceyue our selfe by inordynat loue that we haue to owre selfe what shall the fyre come to deuoure but thy siÌ„ne Euer the moâ—â—e thou sparyste thy selfe nowe And so folowyste the sensuall appetite more greuouse shal be thy peyne afterwarde and more greuouse the fyre And therfore loke what thynge man more greuously offendeth in and therin shal be his more peyne ¶ The flouthfull persone shal be punysshed with brenniÌ„ge broundes The glottone that hathe consumed metys and drynkes superfluously to the detryment of theyr body and the iniurie of the pore that famysshed for hunger than shall they famysshe for hunger in so moche that yf they wolde desire a drope of water to mytage that excedynge ardore that they shall suffre than it shall nat be possyble to theym to obteyne it ¶ The lecherous people and the inordynat louers of theyr lustys shal be coÌ„pelled to drinke the stynkynge and abhomynable inflamed pyche and brymstone And the enuyous people shall wayle and howle as wode hundes And so euery sine shall haue his propre torment peyne corespondynge to hym And the obstinate prowde couetife persons shal be replenysshed with al confusion penury There shal be one houre more peynful and greuous than here a hundred yere in bitter penauÌ„ce There shall neuer be consolacion ne rest to those that be dampned or shal be dampned but here the troubled persons haue somtyme aleuiaunce of their peynes and consolacion of their frendes Be nowe besie sorye for thy synne that in yâ— day of iugement thou maiste haue suerty with holy sayntes wheche than shall stande in great constaunce ageynst those that haue vnryghtously vexed theym And loke as they be nowe iuged of other men so than
to morowe may be thyne ennemyes therfore put no sure confideÌ„ce but in god whome thou shalte loue and fere aboue all thynge Here we haue no certen habytacyon but wheresoeuer we be in thys worlde we be as pilgryms and strangers and shall neuer haue rest wtout we be vnyte to crist Fyxe thyne iye of thy soule of the present thynges in this worlde of the pylgris that goone by the way whiche be nat taried by the beaute of those thynges that ben in their waye but theyr mynde renne moost of the ende of theyr iourney So lette the iye of your soule be fixed perfitly in heuen where be true iyes than shall we be lesse taryed in the vse of erthely thynges Beware that thou enclyne nat so moche vnto erthly thinges that thin appetite be nat therwith attached thou made subiecte to the great enemy the worlde so spiritually perisshe Lete thy medifacion be alwey of hym that is most highe directe thy coÌ„tynuall prayer to crist if thou can nat occupie thy miÌ„de iÌ„ the high contemplacion of god rest than in the possession of our sauiour lete thy contemplacion rest in his blessed woundes there thou shalt ê‘ceyue siÌ„guler comforte in all tribulacions bodely gostly And feere nat moche of the detraccion of euyll speche of the worldely people if thou gyue no cause therto For we haue example of oure maister crist that was most vile reputed and in hys moste necessite forsaken of his frendes and a queyntaunce Criste our leder wolde suffre and be dispised we desyre to be magnifyed loth to suffre iniure or wronge Criste had aduersaries detractours and we wolde haue all to be our freÌ„des and benefactours Howe shulne thy paâ—â—ence be crowned without aduersite And thou wylte suffre none aduersite howe shuldeste thou be the louer of criste If thou wylt regne with hym in perpetuall pleasure suffre with hym here temporall tribulacyons If thou my ghtest ones perfitely entre iÌ„ the â—â—ly deuocion of iesu cryste and perceyue a litell of hys feruent loue than thou shuldest but litell force all wordly auauntage or disauantage but shuldest rather ioye iÌ„ iÌ„iuries conteÌ„ptes shewed to the. For the perfite loue of god incyteth man to coÌ„tynue hym selfe in the inly loue of god that is free frome all inordynate affeccions and may without defaute holy conuerte hym selfe to criste and in hym haue perfyte reste fruycion He that praysethe the good of the worlde nat as they be extemed of the wordly peple but as they be of price in theyr selfe that ê‘son ys very wyse and rather instructed of god than of maÌ„ That soule that hath at lyberte the inwarde mocions of vertue pondereth but lytell the outwarde thinges he abidethe nother place nor tyme to haue vertuous exercise in good lyfe The inly man may soâ—e vnite calle to geder his inly powers vertues of his soule for they be neuer holy occupied with outwarde thiÌ„ges The outwarde labour or exercise is â—ecessarye for a tyme it letteth his soule but lytell of â—â—s ê‘feccions for euery thynge that behaÌ„ppith to hym â—heter it be aduersite or prosperyte he referreth yt to the wyll of god Loke howe moche more a maÌ„ loueth any wordly thynge than it shulde be loued so moche his mynde ys distracte lete fro the tru ordinate loue of god If thy soule were ê‘fytly pourged from all inordynate affeccions euery auenture and fortune comynge to the shulde be the augmentacion of vertue grace to thy soule The cause why manye thynges displease or trouble the is that thou art nat yet perfitly mortified in thy selfe ne pourged frome all iÌ„ordinate loue of erthly thiÌ„ges There is nothiÌ„ge that disordreth or fyleth the soule of man as in pure disordred loue of creatures If thou woldest syke no worly consolacion outwarde thou mightest haue thy meditacion and heuenly coÌ„solacion iÌ„ thy soule the whych excedeth all wordly traÌ„setory coÌ„fort as heuen excedeth erthe ¶ The seconde chaptre of the humble subieccyon of the subiecte to the prelate wHo so euer be with yâ— or contrary to the laboure with all thy myght to haue thy lorde god with the in euery viage or thiÌ„g that thou doeste and than thou mayste saye wythe Dauid the profite god is my helper I shall nat fere the ennemye of man The most immediate meane to god with the is to haue a good clene conscience And loke to who so euer god putteth furth his hande to helpe ther can no aduersite hurte hym And if thou canst kepe scylence and pacyence thou shalt without doute perceyue the helpe of god in thy nede He knowethe the tyme and the wayes of delyueraunce therfore refrayne committe thy selfe to hym It ê‘teineth to hym to helpe delyuer yâ— feythfull obedient soules fro ê‘yll ieopardie It ys expedyent for our humylyacion meryie that somtime other people knowe our defautes synnes that they may correcte repreue vs. whan man for hys owne defautes humyleth hym selfe thaÌ„ he hath more compassyon of the fraylte of other reconsylethe hym selfe to those that haue offended hym coÌ„trariwese he reconsileth them to hym Almighty god ê“tecteth defendeth the meke man obedyeÌ„t hym he knoweth counselleth enclineth hym selfe to hym sendeth great habundaunce of grace to hym she weth his secrete counsel to hym Also he inuiteth hiÌ„ draweth hym by grace benigly after his humyliacion depression he enhaunteth him to glory The meke obedyent soule ê“ued by iniury confusyon maye rest in peas For in asmoche it is coÌ„teÌ„pned of the worlde it is in maner coÌ„strained to fle reste in god neuer estimate thy selfe to haue ê‘fite ê“fite without thou repute thy selfe most vile of all other ¶ The .iii. chaptre of the restfull quyet persone TOke thou first be quiet thy selfe than thou mayste the better pacifie other A pacyeÌ„t maÌ„ more coÌ„mendable ê“fitable than a great lettred â—ipacyent A persone that is passionate lightely â—eueth the worst party coÌ„monly in euery thynge â—â—at ê‘sone that is content applyeth euery thynge â—t and that soule that is nat well content is inqÌ„et by diuerse suspicions nother quite in hymselfe ne yet suffereth other to be in pease speketh oftimes those thynges that be nat syttynge omyttethe to speke of those thynges that were expedieÌ„t to be spoken of He considereth what other be bounde to do is necligent in that that perteyneth to hym selfe Haue first a zele a respecte to thy selfe than thou maist better attende to the dedes of other Thou art redy to excuse thy ê“pre errour defautes wylte nat ê¯sider the fraylte of thy neyghbour But it were more accordiÌ„ge to equite to excuse thy neighbour to accuse thyselfe If thou wylt that other support suffre the thou must somtyme charitably support suffre other meÌ„ how ferre art thou from ê‘fite humylyte charite by the
with the prophete Samuel that thou vouchesaue to speke to me thy selfe I shall here the. Let nother Moises ne none other ê“phet but thou good lorde the inwarde inspirour of al ê“phetes speke to me in me For thou only without them maist ê‘fitly teche me They withoute thy goodnes can nat profyte me They may well ê“fer vtter thi wordes but they can nat gyue the spirite of vnderstandynge they ê“fer fayre wordes but if thou worke nat with them they make none ardour inwarde they shewe fayre letters writtiges but thou alone openest theyr sense they profer great misteries but thou alone openest the clere vnderstandige of them They shewe thy coÌ„maundementes to be fulfylled but thou alon helpest vs by thy grace to perfourme them They shewe vs the way that we shulde walke i but thou alone doest coÌ„fort vs to go theri They worke only without forth but thou only illumynest within forth They onlye water outwardely but thou gyuest vs the frute of grace good workes They crie speke to ys in outwarde wordes but thou giuest vnderstandinge of that we here wherfore I besech the that I may here the speke to me nat moyses lyst I die be voyde of the frute of good lyuynge if I be only outwarly monisshed nat iflamed iÌ„wardly that nat thy worde be only herde nat fulfylled in dede knowyn nat loued byleued nat kepte so be to me daÌ„pnacioÌ„ speke thou good lorde to me thy seruaunte shal be redy to here the for thou haste the wordes of eternall life shyt in the Speke to me I beseche the yâ— wordes of rsolacion coÌ„forte to my soule to the amendement of my lyfe to thy euerlastinge laude praysinge in heuen ¶ The .iii. chaptre howe the wordes of god shulde be wekely herde howe many ponder them nat in theyr conscience OUr lorde spketh to his deuoute seruaunt saiynge thous My sone gyue hede to my wordes they be full swete pcellige alwisdome cuÌ„nige of philosophers wise men of this worlde Mi wordes be spuÌ„al gostly lyfe nat paisible in mannes mynde they be nat to be applyed ne drawed as vaine complacens but to be herde stydfastly in sylence and peas of soule and to be taken with al humslyte desire of the soule The deuoute seruaunt of god answereth his lorde god thus sayinge to hym Blessed is that man that thou doest enfourme and teche good lorde to vnderstande thy lawes coÌ„maundementis that thou maist so spare hym in the day of thy wrathe fro thy indignacion that he be nat loste wythout coÌ„forte in the lande of dampnacion Oure lorde say the agayne I haue taught ê“phetes with other fro the begynnige of the worlde hytherto and yet I cesse nat to enforme men but many there be that be harde defete to here my wordes Many here more gladly the wordly spekynge than godly or gostly spekynge Many folow gladly theyr flesshely appetites of theyr body than the pleasure or coÌ„mauÌ„d ment of god The worlde ê“mitteth somtyme gyueth vs temporall thynges lytell of valure for the whyche we serue it with greate desire But god almyghty ê“mytteth gyueth vs hye thynges eternal yet men be dulle lowe to his seruice and to at tayne suche rewardes as he ê“mytteth Who so serueth obeyeth god almyghty in obseruynge his coÌ„maundmentis as it is obeyed to wordly princes maysters Almoste none for a lytell fee or prebende greate iourneys harde labours be take an hande for suche wordly lordes for yâ— etnallyfe skarsly we may any labour or any hardnes suffre So a vyle price is besily sought an excellent rewarde is put vnder For a peny to be gotten or won we wyl lightly put our body soule iÌ„ ieoâ—dy aueÌ„ture for a vaine thynge and a lytell ê“myse we gyue oft our selfe day and nyght to great fatygacyon but alas for god almyghty that is euerlastynge goodnes rewarde of ryght wyse people for the vnspectable iestymable Ioy in heueÌ„ or for the hye honour glory intermynable for to be had in rewarde in heueÌ„ we dysdeyne be slowe to suffer a lytell faty gacioÌ„ Be thou ashamed sayth our lorde god to slowe folke repreuyth them with theyr seruyce that worldly folke be fouÌ„de more dylygeÌ„t to theyr ê‘dycioÌ„ thaÌ„ be to euerlastyng lyfe they ioy more in vanyte than other in trothe or stedfast thynges yet they be ofte frustrate of that that they truste vpon but the promyse of our Lorde god deceyueth no man for he is true faythfull all his wordes behestys to suche folke specyallye that serue hym vnto theyr ende I am sayth he the rewarder of all good folke and the prouer helper of all deuoute men wryte my wordes sayth he in thy herte thynke vpon them they shall be to the right necessary in tyme of trybulacyon Thou shalt vnderstaÌ„de iÌ„ tyme of my vysytacyon these thynges that thou redyst before vnderstaÌ„de nat I am wonte to vysyt sayth our lorde my seruauntis in two maner wyse that is to saye by probacyon and coÌ„solacyon I proue them dayly by rebukynke theyr vyces defautes and I coÌ„forte them agayne by exortacyon to vertu and to the encrese of grace He that hereth my wordes and dispyseth them hath that shall iuge hym iÌ„ the last day ¶ The .iiii. chapter how by prayer we may opteyn to deuocyon THou good lorde arte all goodnes I am nat worthy to speke to the thy excellence is suche I am thy moost poore seruauÌ„t moost abiecte worme moost poore coÌ„temptyble of all other for I am very noughte nothynge hauynge ne nothynge of valoure thou alone good lorde arte god ryghtwyse and holy thou arte almyghty thou geuest all thyng thou fulfyllest all thynges leuynge all onely the synfull voyde of grace haue mynde good Lorde of thy merytes fulfyll my hert with thy grace for thy workynge is neuer voyde Howe may I lyue withoute great anguysshe perplyxyte in this wretchyd lyfe but if thy grace mercy coÌ„forte me wherefore I beseche the that thou turne nat thy gracious face of helpe from me tary nat thy vysytacioÌ„ from me with draw nat thy swete consolacioÌ„ fro me that nat my soule be aryfyed be made as drye erthe withoute the moystoure of grace good lorde teche me to knowe fulfyll thy wyll teche me to lyue humbly and worthely in thy pleasure for thou arte all wysdom iÌ„ the which thou knewe me before the worlde was and before I was brought into this lyfe by naturall byrthe ¶ The .v. chapter how we ought to beleue truthe huÌ„ilite before god here SOn sayth our lorde walke before me alway iÌ„ truth symplicite of herte all doublenes auoyde from the in suche wyse do alway seke me He that walketh before me and alwey in trouth shal be safe from all perellys Ieo berdyes trouth shall delyuer hym froÌ„ deceyuours
wyltvnderstaÌ„de thou ought neuer to be heuy for the aduersytes that I seÌ„de the but rather to thaÌ„ke me to repute it a synguler ioy that I spare the nat in suche peynfull afflyccioÌ„s that I sende the for I sayde to my dyscyples I loue you as my father dyd me though I seÌ„de you iÌ„to the worlde nat to haue ioyes of the world but great batayles nat to haue worldly honours but despytê nat to be Idle but to labour nat to haue rest but to gader moch frute of saued people into the barne or church of god lyke as I was sent to also haue miÌ„de sone also of these wordê ¶ The .xxxvii. chapt how all creaturis shuld beset a syde that we may fynd god LOrde god sayth a deuout soule to our lorde I haue nede to haue more grace thaÌ„ I haue yet if I shuld come thyder where no man ne creature shall let me for as loÌ„ge as any creature reteyneth me by lokynge of thy loue I may nat fle to the frely He desyred to fle frely that sayde these wordes who shall gyue me wynges as a doue that I may fle rest where perfyte rest is what thynge is more quyete restfull thaÌ„ is a symple iye who fleyth more frelye into the knowelege and loue of God thaÌ„ he that desyreth nothynge here in erthe he therfore that wyll staÌ„de in eleuacyon of mynde so beholde the good lorde maker of all thynge he must ouer passe euery creature forsake hym selfe with other ê¯syderyng his lorde to haue nothynge lyke hym but that he pÌ„cell all creatures in thy loue and but if a man be fre lowsed from mordynate loue of all creaturê he may nat frely lyft hymvp by coÌ„teÌ„placioÌ„ loue of heueÌ„ly thynges therfore fewe folke be fouÌ„de coÌ„templatyue for fewe be fouÌ„de that fully sequestrate theym selfe fro erthly thynges that be but traÌ„sytory to ê¯teÌ„placioÌ„ is great grace requyred for by grace a man must iÌ„ the dede of coÌ„teÌ„placyon be lyft aboue hym selfe but if he be lyft vp in spyryte aboue all creatures erthelye be holly vnyte to god almyghtye what so euer he can or hath of vertue is but of lytle pryce afore god he shall longe be lytle in vertue lye loÌ„ge in erthe that reputyth or prayseth any thynge but onely eternall goodes which he had of god almyghtye and what so euer thynge is nat god almyghty or to hym referred is nought to be acouÌ„ted for nought great differens is betwene the wysdom of a deuout and illumyned ê‘sone of god the cuÌ„nynge of a lettred clerke or a student for that doctryne is more worthye better that cometh by the influence of god than it that cometh by the labour of mannys wyt many desyre to come to ê¯teÌ„placioÌ„ but fewe study for suche thiÌ„ges as be reqÌ„red therto iÌ„ erercyse a great iÌ„pedyment therto is that we stande iÌ„ sygnes in seÌ„syble thyngê labour nat to mortyfye vs fro them ne to despyse theym parfytely before as we shulde do howe is it and with what spyryt be we led I wot nat that be reputed spuÌ„all ê‘sons yet we laboure more about vyle transytory thynges thaÌ„ about spuÌ„all about the which scarsly at any tyme we laboure or thynke inwardly with suspeÌ„synge of our outwarde sensys so that we wey nat our warkes straytlye or euenlye as we ought to do for wherupon our affeccyon resteth we do nat attende ne we lament nat oure vyle and vnclene dedes therupon foloweth that whan our inwarde affeccyon is corrupte that the dede folowynge ê“cedynge therof is necessaryly corrupte for of a clene herte cometh good dedys and vertuous lyuynge euery man seketh the dede of what howe moche he may do or doth but howe vertuous a man is it that is nat so dyly gentlye soughte for a ryche man or a stronge man for a good labourer a good wryter a good synger a fayre man or womaÌ„ or for an able persone euery man dyly gentlye seketh but howe meke in soule is suche a persone how pacyent how deuout or well idsposed inwardly is he no questyon is made nature sheweth the outwarde goodnes of man but grace torneth itselfe to the inwarde vertues of man nature with gyftes naturall is ofte dysceyued but the soule trusteth in God that he be nat disceyued ¶ The .xxxvii. chapiter how man shuld forsake hym selfe and all couetyse SOne sayth our lorde thou may nat haue ê‘fyte lyberte but if thou vtterly forsake thy selfe all ê“prietaries louers of them selfe be fetered and nat fre as couetous folke curious vaynglorious that seke alway ryches honours delectable thiÌ„gê nat suche as ê‘teyne to iesu cryste suche folke ofte feyne coÌ„pouÌ„de suche thynges as be nat stable but faylynge for all thyng shall perysshe that is nat begon caused of god holde well this shorte worde forsake all thynges for god thou shalt fynde all thyngê forsake couetyse thou shall fynde rest degest this thyng in thy mynde busyly thou shalt vnderstaÌ„de all thynges lorde this is nat one dayes werke nor a lyght thynge to attayne for all ê‘feccyon of relygyoÌ„ is coÌ„prysed therin sone thou shuld nat soone be aduerted ne cast downe by dispayre whaÌ„ thou herest yâ— wayes of ê‘fyte folke but rather to be prouoked to hyer thynges at the leest to inforce the by deuoute desyre to theym I wolde thou come there to that thou loued nat carnally thy selfe but that thou wolde folowe my couÌ„ceyll in all thynges than thou shuld be as I sayde all thy lyfe shuld be led with ioy peas thou hast yet many thynges to be forsake lefte the which but if thou holy leue and resygne to me thou shalte nat attayne that thou desyrest I couÌ„ceyll the to bye of my bryght golde the is to say heuenly wysdome the which despyseth all erthely thiÌ„ges that thou may be very ryche lay thou a syde all erthelye wysdom and all inordynate pleasure of thy selfe or any other thou shalt haue heueÌ„ly wysdome therfore the which wysdome though it be reputed lytell worth iÌ„ erthe of erthly folke yet it is a pÌ„cyous margarete hydde fro many greatly desyred of many ¶ The .xxxviii. chapyter of the vnstablenes of the herte of man how man shuld fynally lyfte vp and order his hert and mynde to god SOne sayth our Lorde truste nat to moche to thyn owne wyt affeccion the which is now here now there soone chauÌ„gid from one thing to an other for as longe as thou lyuest thou shalt be chauÌ„geable subiecte of mutabylyte ayeÌ„st thy wyll now shalt thou be glad now heuy now well pleasyd coÌ„tent soone discoÌ„teÌ„t now deuout soone vndeuout now busy in mynde werke now sleuthfull nowe thou arte lyght mery soone after sad troubled but a wyse man well taught in soule standeth stable in all such mutacyons nat attedynge what he felyth in hym selfe
may shortly iÌ„ all such offer my selfe to thy pleasure sone sayth god maÌ„ often prosecuteth the thynge that he desyreth whan he cometh therto he begynneth otherwyse to fele therin for maÌ„nys affeccyons desyres about one thyng be nat durable abydynge but now vppon this thynge sette and now vpon that the very ê“fite of man is to forsake hym selfe to coÌ„myt hym holy to God for suche a man is very fre and syker But our enemy coÌ„trary to all goodnes cesseth nat of his teÌ„ptacyons but day nyght he maketh greuous sautes to vs to catche vs at vnwares by his deceytfull snares wake therfore pray dylygently that thou enter nat into teÌ„ptacioÌ„ ¶ The .xlv. chaptÌ„ man hath no goodnes of hym selfe ne any thyng that he may haue any glory or pryde of but all of the goodnes of god LOrde what is man that thou hast suche mynde of or the sone of man whoÌ„ doest vysyte with thy grace what meryte was or is in man yâ— to gyuest thy grace to what may I complayne if thou forsake me or what may I ryghtwysly saye agayne the if thou grauÌ„t me nat that I aske of the seth thou gyuest all goodnes of thy owne goodnes lyberalyte without the deseruynge of man Surely this I may thynke say of my selfe that I am nothynge of valoure that I haue no goodnesse of my selfe but that I am in suffycyeÌ„t and frayle in all thyngê and go to nought euer and but I be holpen of the good lorde and infourmed within iÌ„ soule by the I shal be made all dyssolute thou good lorde abydest alwey one beynge and euery where good rightwys holy werkynge all thynges we le right wysly holyly dysposynge all thy werkys iÌ„ wisdoÌ„ but I wretche that am alwey more prone and redy to fayle than to ê“fyte in vertue and goodnesse am nat abydynge euer in one state for seuen tymes in the day the rightwis man is troubled of synne Ne the lesse it shal be sone wele with me agayn if it please thy goodnes to helpe me for thou alone good lorde mayste without man helpe in all nedys make meso ferine stable that I shal nat be chauÌ„ged hyder thyder or fro this thynge to that but yâ— my herte maye be turned rest in the alonly if I wolde caste away all maÌ„nes ê¯solacion eyther for deuocioÌ„ for to be had or ellys to seke thy socoure goodnes for such nedes as fall to me that I am coÌ„pellyd by to seke the for no man may helpe or comfort me as thou mayst than I myghte well truste to thy grace to ioye of the gyfte of thy newe consolacyoÌ„ I thaÌ„ke yâ— good lorde the auctour and grouÌ„de of all goodnes as ofte as any good chaunce happeth towarde me I am but vanyte and nothynge in thy syght an vnstable man seke wherof may I than be proude or shulde repute me any thynge ê“fytable wheder nat of nought the whiche is moost vanyte truly vayne glory is an ifectyue pestyleÌ„s and moost vanyte for it draweth a man fro very glory remeueth grace spyrytall whyles a man hath a complacens in hym selfe he dyspleaseth god and whan he desyreth maÌ„nys laude vayne praysynge he forgoth very vertues very glory holy ioy to man is to ioy I god nat in hym selfe to ioy in the name of god almyghty nat in his ê“per vertue or strength nor to haue delectacyon in any creature but for God thy holy name good lord be praysed blessid nat myne thy werk be magnyfyed nat myne no laude ne praysynge be gyuen to me by mannes mouthe for any thynge that I do but all be vnto thy pleasure thou arte my glorye the inwarde ioye of my hert I shall by thy grace euer ioye in the and in nothynge perteynyng to me but in my infyrmytes let Iewes with other vayne louers of the worlde seke glorye of themselfe in other I shall only seke the glory and praysyng of god for all maÌ„nes glory praysynge with worshyp teÌ„porall also worldly hyght ê“mocyoÌ„ coÌ„paryd to thy eternall glorye good lorde is but vanyte foly o thou blessyd trynyte my god my mercy and very truthe to the alone be laude vertue honour glory for euer Amen ¶ The .xlvi. chapter how all teÌ„porall honour is to be dyspysed SOne sayth our lorde to his louer be thou nat confouÌ„ded ne heuy whan thou seest other honoured and auauÌ„ced and thy selfe despysed and humyled rayse vp thyn herte to me in to heuen thou shalte nat be heuy though thou be despysed of man here in erth Lorde sayth the dyscyple we be here in darke blyndenes lackynge the very lyght and therfore we be soone deceyued by vanytes as farre as I can vnderstande I neuer yet suffred any iniurye of any creature wherfore I can nat rightwysely complayne agayne the but for as moche as I haue oftesynÌ„ed agayn the therfore euery creature is worthyly armed ayeÌ„st me i punysshemeÌ„t of my synÌ„es wherfore ê¯fusyon shame to me is dewe with coÌ„teÌ„pte to the good lorde be laude honoure glory and but if I prepare my wyll to be dyspysed forsake gladly of euery man and vtterlye to be reputed noughte I can nat be stablysshed ne pacyfyed wtinforth nor spuÌ„ally to be illumyned ne may nat be fully knytte ioyned to thy goodnes ¶ The .xlvii. chapt how no man ought to put his peas fynally in man SOne if thou put thy peas with any ê‘sone for thy felynge for that they accorde with the yâ— shalt be vnstable vnpeased but if thou haue thy recours to god that is ê‘manent euerlastyng truthe thy frende goynge awey or decessynge fro the shall nat make the inordynatly heuy thou oughtest to loue all thy frendes in me and for me to loue euery ê‘sone that thou accomptyst with good dere to the in this lyfe for I am the begynner the ende of all goodnes without me all freÌ„shyp is nat valent or durable nor no worldly frendshyppe may endure where I ioy nat thou oughtest to be mortyfyed to such carnall affeccyoÌ„s of thy louers that as moche as thou mayst thou shuldest desyre to be without al maÌ„nes coÌ„pany for the more a man wtdraweth hym fro all worldly solace the more he draweth nere to god almyghty the more hye that he ascendeth in loue spuÌ„all ê¯teÌ„placioÌ„ the more ê“fouÌ„dly iwardly he desceÌ„deth in huÌ„ble ê¯syderacioÌ„ of hymselfe vyly peÌ„dynge hym selfe he that ascrybeth or gyueth any goodnes to hym selfe he gaynstaÌ„deth the grace of god letteth it to enter into hym for the grace of god alwey requyreth an huÌ„ble herte if thou man saythe our lorde wolde ê‘fytelye dysprase thy selfe wolde empte clene thy hert fro all erthely loue thaÌ„ wolde I sayth he dystyll entre into the with abuÌ„dauÌ„t grace but the more atteÌ„dauÌ„ce affeccyon thou hast to my creatures the more is
that but alonly to be vylypeÌ„ded or despysed iÌ„ my pleasure honour ouer all desyre that whether thou lyue or dye god alwey be gloryfyed iÌ„ the or by the. ¶ The .lv. chapt a man beynge in heuynes desolacioÌ„ shulde coÌ„mytte hym into the handes of god to his grace sayinge LOrde god holy fader blessyd be thou now euer for after thy holy pleasure so thou hast done to me and all that thou dost is good I besech the good lorde that thy seruauÌ„t may ioy in the and nat in my selfe ne in none other thynge but in the or ordred to the for thou alone art verye gladnesse thou art my hope my crowne of reward thou good lorde arte my ioy honoure what haue I or any of thy seruauÌ„tis that we haue nat receyued of thy goodnes ye without our meryte all be thyne that thou haste gyuen and made I am but pore haue be in trauayle fro my youth often my soule is heuy vn to wepyng some tyme it is troubled agayn it selfe for passyoÌ„s fersly inrysynge I desyre good lorde the ioy of peace I aske yâ— peace of thy chosen chyldreÌ„ the which be norysshed fed of the iÌ„ the lyght of iÌ„ warde eternall ê¯solacyoÌ„ if thou good lorde grauÌ„t me peace if thou graunt me in wardly holy ioy than shall the soule of thy seruauÌ„t be full of louynge and deuoute praysynge of thy infynyte goodnes if thou withdrawe the fro me as thou haste often wonte to doo than I may nat ren the way of thy commaundemeÌ„tys that is to say fulfyll them but more thy seruauÌ„t is then arted to knocke his breste to knele for grace and consolacyon afore had for that it is nat with hym nowe as yesterday the daye before whan thy lanterne of lyghte shone vpon hym illumyned his soule and was defended fro the inwarde temptacyons vnder the shadowe shylde of thy wynges right wyse fader euer worthy to be most loued the hour is come that thy seruaunt shulde be proued in it is worthy father that thy seruauÌ„t suffer this hour som what for the Thou knew in thy eternall presens an houre for to come in the whiche for a lytell tyme thy seruauÌ„t shuld outwardly be ouercome yet withinforth be euer lyuynge ayenst the that he shuld be vy lypended centeÌ„pned and despysed for a tyme in the syght of men by sorys peynes passyon that he a ryse agayne with the in the morne of a new lyght of grace after that be gloryfyed in heuen for allsuch humylyacions holy father thou haste so ordeyned wylled after thy coÌ„maundement so be it fulfylled iÌ„ me This is thy grace yâ— thou good lorde shewest to thy frende to suffer troubles here in this worlde for thy loue as ofte whaÌ„ so euer in what so euer wyse thou dysposest or suffrest it to fall without thy counceyle and prouydence And also without cause nothynge is done here in erthe It is good to me good lorde that thou hast humbled me that I maye thex by lerne the ryghtwyse iugementes and therby caste fro me all pryde and presumpcyon of hert It is very ê“fitable to me that I haue suffred or had such coÌ„fusyon that I by the erudycyon of it shuld rather seke thy consolacyon than mannes in such aduersy te I haue lerned also therby to drede thy inscrutable iugemeÌ„tes whereby thou prouest scourgest the ryght wyse man and the wycked and that nat with out equyte and rightwysnes I thaÌ„ke the that thou haste nat spared my synnes but punysshed me with scourges of loue ye bothe within and without with sores and anguysshes no creature vnder heueÌ„ may coÌ„forte me in myne aduersytes but thou good lorde the very and heueÌ„ly leche of mannes soule that smytest and helyst agayne Thou ledest vs into sharpe peynes of body suffrest vs to be ledde into dedely synne sometyme and thou bryngest vs out therof agayne by thy great grace Thy dyscyplyne be vpoÌ„ me and thy scourge shall teche me the wayes of vertue and mekenes Lo fader I am here in and vnder thy handes I enclyne me vnder thy rodde of correccyon smyte my backe and my necke that I may bowe and refourme my crokydnes vnto thy wyll Make me meke and lowly that I may lyue alway at thy wyll I commyt me to the good lorde with all myne for to be correcte For better it is to be punysshed and correcte here than after this lyfe thou knowest all thynges and nothynge is hydde in mannes soule or concyens fro the afore any thynges be made thy wysdome knoweth theym for to be it is nat nedefull that any man teche or warne the of any thyng that is done here in erthe Thou knowest what profyte or peyne is expedyent to me and moche trybula cyon auayleth to pourge the fylthe and ruste of my horryble Synne and vyces therefore do thou with me after thy pleasure and despyse nat I beseke thy grace my synfull lyfe for thou knowest it best grauÌ„t me good lorde grace to knowe that I am bounde to knowe and to loue that I ought to loue to prayse yâ— thou wolde I shulde prayse and to repute that is pÌ„ cyous iÌ„ thy syght and to refuse all that is vyle afore the gyue me grace good lorde nat to Iuge thynges after myne outwarde syghte ne after the herynge or the relacyon of vncunnynge folke but truly to dyscerne of vysyble thynges spyrituall and aboue all thynges to enquyre and folowe thy wyll pleasure mannes wyttes be often dysceyued in iugement also the louers of the worlde be often dysceyued in louynge all onely thynges vysyble what is a man the better that men repute hym more or better thaÌ„ he is iÌ„ dede a deceyuer deceyueth another one vayne maÌ„ another one blynde man another one sycke persone another whyle he so exalteth hym And yet in trouthe he more confoundeth hym than auaunceth whyles he so vaynly dothe laude or prayse hym for howe great coÌ„mendable holy euery man is in thy syght so worthy great he is and no more ¶ The .lvi. chapter A man shulde gyue hym to huÌ„ble warkes whan he is nat inclyned or dysposed to hye warkes SOne thou mayst nat alway stande in feruent desyre of vertue nor in the hyghe degre of coÌ„temptacion but it is nedefull to the sometyme for the fyrst corrupcion of mankynde to descende to lower thynges and to bere the burden of this corruptyble lyfe with tedyousnes agaynst thy wyll for as loÌ„ge as thou berest thy mortall body thou shalt fele werynes heuynes of thy herte thou must therfore whyles thou lyuest in this mortall lyfe ofte mourne and sorowe of the burden and contradyccyon of thy bodye to thy soule for that thou mayst nat contynually and without cessynge gyue hede and cleue to spuÌ„all studyes and to godly coÌ„teÌ„placyon then it is expedyent to the to fle to lowe and outwarde
was good and rightwys whan it was made of the good lorde is nowe for the vylyte infyrmyte therofso corrupt maÌ„ that the mouynge of it lefte to man draweth euer to yll lowe thynges hye heuenly thynges lefte For the lytell vertue strength of that nature the whiche remayneth there is as who sayth a lytell sparke of fyre wrapped and hyd in asshes This is the naturall reason of maÌ„ belapped with great darkenes yet hauynge discrecion of good yll of truthe falsenesse thoughe it be vnable to fulfyll all that he approueth nor may nat vse yet the full lyghte of truthe nor his affeccyoÌ„s helthfully wherfore it foloweth good lorde that I delyte iÌ„ thy lawe after myne inwarde maÌ„ knowynge thy commaundement to be good ryght wyse and holy arguynge also and fyndynge all yll and Synne to be exchued fledde and yet in myne outwarde man that is to saye my body I do serue to the lawe of synne whyles I obey more to sensualyte than to reason in his mocyons wherof cometh that I woll that which is good but I am of vnpower to ê‘fourme it I purpose iÌ„ my mynde oft tymes many good dedys or werkis but for that grace waÌ„teth that shuld helpe my infyrmyte febylnes therfore I go asyde cesse of good doynge for a lytell resystens Therof cometh that thoughe I knowe the wey of perfeccyon and howe I ought to do yet I aryse nat by deuocyoÌ„ of soule to suche ê‘fytenes I am so oppressyd and lettyd by my dull corrupte body thy grace good lorde is to me theragayne full necessary to begynne goodnes and to profyte therin to fynysshe the same iÌ„ ê‘fytenes for without that grace I can nothynge do and with the helpe of it I maye do all thynges necessary to me o thou heuenly grace without the which no man may be of any meryte or valour before God nor any naturall gyfte is profytable neyther craftes ne rychesse neyther beautye ne strength wytte or eloqueÌ„ce be any thynge worth before the good lorde and grace wante For gyftes of nature be gyuen Indyfferentlye to good folke euyll But the gyfte of electe and good persones is grace and loue of charite wherby they be noble and made worthye euerlastynge lyfe that Grace is of such worthynes that without it neyther the gyfte of prophesy ne the workynge of myracles and sygnes nor hye speculacion or cuÌ„nynge auayleth any thyng Also neyther feyth ne hope nor other vertues be accepte of God without grace and charyte o thou blessyd grace that makest hym that is poore in Soule ryche in vertues and hym that is meke abundaunt of goodes spyrytuall come and dyscende in me replenysshe me soone with thy consalacyon that my soule fayle nat for werynes and drynes of mynde I beseche the good lorde that I may fynde grace and mercy iÌ„ thy syght for thy grace is Inough to me if other thynges wante that nature asketh if I be vexed or troubled with many trybulacyons I shall drede none euyll whyle thy grace is with me that grace is my strength for it gyueth couceyll and helpe to hym that hath it It hath power vpon all iugementes wysedome vpon all wyse men It is the maistres of trouth and the techar of dyscyplyne the lyght of the soule the confort of pressures the chaser away of heuynes the auoyder of drede the norys of deuocyon the brynger forthe of terys what am I wtout grace but as a drye tree without moysture and an vnprofytable stocke to spyrytuall beleuynge wherefore I pray the good lorde that thy grace may euer pÌ„uent me and make me busyly gyuen to good workes by the helpe of Cryste Iesu ¶ The .lxi. chapiter we ought to forsake our selfe folowe Cryste with our crosse SOne as farre as thou mayste forsake loue thy selfe so moche more thou shalt passe into me for lyke as the inwarde peace of mannes soule is to desyre nothynge without forth so a man forsakynge hym selfe inwadly conioyneth hym to God I wyll that thou lerne to forsake or deny thy selfe perfytely in my wyll with all contradyccyon or complaynt folowe thou me for I am the way I am trouth and lyfe without way no man may go and wtout trouthe there is no knowlege And without lyfe no maÌ„ may lyue I am the waye that thou oughtest to folowe trouth to whom thou oughtest to gyue credeÌ„s and am lyfe that thou oughtest to hope in to haue I am the way vnmeuable moost right I am trouthe infallyble moost hye am lyfe withoute ende increat in the which stondeth the very lyfe blysse of spyrytes blessyd soules If thou abyde in my way thou shalt knowe the very trouth and trouthe shall delyuer the and thou shalt fynally come to euerlastyng lyfe If thou wylte come to that lyfe as it is wryten thou must obserue my commaundementes If thou haue knowlege of trouth trust to me and to my wordes If thou wylt be my dyscyple denye and forsake thy selfe and folow me if thou wylt be perfyte sell all that thou hast and gyue it to the poore folke if thou wylt possesse euerlastynge lyfe despyse this present lyfe If thou wylt be auauÌ„ced in heueÌ„ huÌ„ble the here in this worlde If thou wylt reygne with me in heueÌ„ bere thy crosse here with me in erthe For onely the seruauÌ„tes of the crosse fyndeth verely yâ— way of lyght eternall blysse lorde Ihesu for asmoch as thy way is the way of straytnes of hardenes the whiche is odious to worldly folke therfore I beseke the to gyue me with the contempte of the worlde that I may hate it verely as thou dyd It is nat acordyng that a seruaunt be preferred afore his lorde ne a discyple aboue his mayster Thy seruaunt therefore oughte to be exercysed in thy wayes for therin is helth very holynes what euer I rede or here besyde it I am nat refresshed ne I take nat full delectacy on therby sone for that thou haste red knowest these thynges happy art thou and thou shalt be blessyd if thou fulfyll them it is wryten he that hath my coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes in mynde and executeth theym in his conuersacion he is he that loueth me and I shall loue hym I shall shewe open my selfe to hym and I shall do hym to syt with me in the kyngedome of my father good lorde as thou hast sayd and promysed so be it done to me I haue take the crosse of thy haÌ„de I shal bere it by thy helpe grace as thou layde it vpon me whyles I lyue for trulye the lyfe of a good man is the crosse of penaunce the whiche is the verye wey to paradyse the whiche wey I with other haue begonÌ„e it is nat lefull to go backe to leue it haue do bretherne go we together the wey begon Iesus be with vs For his loue we take vpon vs this crosse of hardenesse and therfore let vs abyde therin for his
that thou my Lorde god very god and man art holy conteyned vnder a lytell lykenesse of bred and wyne and thou art hole receyued withoute consumynge of hym that so receyueth the. ¶ Thou Lorde of all that haste no nede of any thynge yet thou haste wyllede to inhabyte within vs by thys thy hooly sacrament Lorde kepe my herte and my body vndefyled to the ende that with a pure and a Ioyous conscience I may often receyue the to my euerlastynge helthe ¶ Thise holy mysteryes whiche be institute and ordeyned chyefly vnto thy honour and perpetuall remembraunce ¶ O my soule reioyse the and gyue thankynges vnto thy god for his noble gyfte and synguler comforth that it lyste hym here in thys vale of teres thus to cōforte the. For as often tymes as thou remembrest thys mystery and receyueste thys blessed body of our lorde so often thou receiuest the werke of thy redempcyon and arte made partener of all the merytes of our lorde Iesu cryst For his charyte is neuer mynisshed the greatnesse of his mercy is neuer consumed wherfore thou oughtest to dispose the alwaye with a newe reuoluynge of thy thought oughtest to consider this great mysterye of thy helthe by attentyue reysynge of thy soule ¶ And this werke ought to be vnto the as greatly newe and ioyous whan thou receyuest it as if that same day our lorde had first descended in to the wombe of the virgyn mari to be made man orelles he that daye had suffred dethe for the helthe of man vpon the crosse ¶ What greate profyte it is often to receyue the body of our lorde Iesu cryst C iii.a LOrde I come vnto the to th ende that welthe may come vnto me of thy gyfte and that I may Ioye at the holy feest that thou hast made redy vnto me pore wretche by thy swete benygnyte in the whiche my sauyoure is all that I may or ought to desyre for thou art my helthe my redempcion my strength honour and ioy Alas my lorde god make me thy dayly seruaunt Ioyous For my lorde Iesus I haue reysed my soule vnto the and nowe desyrethe deuowtly reuerently to receyue the in to my how 's to th ende I may deserue with zachee to be blessid of the and to be accompted amonge the children af Abraham ¶ My soule desireth thy body my herte desyrethe to be vnyght wyth the. Gyue thy selfe vnto me good lorde than I suffised for withoute the no consolacyon nor comforte ys good withoute the I may nat be and withoute thy vysytacyon I may nat lyue wherfore it be houeth me often tymes to come and approch to thy hyghe p̄sence to receyue the for the remedy of my helth to the entente I fayle nat in the waye of this mortall lyfe if I were defrauded from thy sprytuall noryshynge ¶ Also my ryght mercy full lorde Iesu whan thou hast preched vnto the people and heled them of diuers sykenes thou hast sayde I wyll nat leue theym fastynge and without refeccion lest peranenture they myght fayle in theyr way Do wyth me than good lorde in that maner syth thou hast lefte thys holy sacrament for the comforte offeythfull people for thou arte the swete refeccion of the sowles of theym that haworthely receyued and eten the and they shall be perteners and inherytours of the eternall ioye Certeyne ytys vnto me necessary that so often synnes and so sone keles and at euery houre fayles to come vnto the to th ende that by contynuall orysons and confessions and by the receyuynge of thy holy body I may puryfye and renewe the heete of my refeccyon For perauenture in absteynonge me to longe to receyue the I may leue forgete and renne from my good purpos For the wytte of man and woman from theyr chyldhod be inclyned vnto euyll And if thys dyuyne and godly medycyne helpe vs nat incontynent we fall vnto worse Than thys holy cōmunyon draweth men from euyll and comforteth theym ageyne in goodnesse for I am many tymes neclygent and often keled whanne I commune or worshyp my god what shulde I thanne do if I toke nat that medecyne and aske of hym grace and helpe And albe it I am nat alwaye well disposed to receyue my creature yet shall I put me vnto peyne to receyue these sacrede mysteryes in tyme conuenable so y◠I maye be made a partener of so greate grace ¶ For ytys one of the mooste pryncypall consolacyons vnto a feythefull sowle for the tyme they shall make theyr pylgrimage towardes in this mortall body and to the entent we may haue the more mynde of thy benefytes ¶ My lorde god I shall more often receyue y◠my louige Lorde wyth a deuout thought O merueylous gentylnesse of thyne vnspekeable pytye towardys vs that thou lorde god creatour and gyuer of lyfe vnto all spirytes hathe wylled to come to one so pore asoule with the deite and humanyte and my pore lene dryesoule hath lysted to be made fatte with thy grace and thy holy vnccyon of thy swete spiryte O happy thought and well happy soule that deserueth deuoutely to receyue hys god hys lorde and creature and in that receyuynge to be fulfylled with ioy and spirytuall gladnesse O what great lorde receyuest thou O what and howe great and host enterteynest thou into thy lodgynge Howe ioyous a felowe takest thou into thy how 's Howe feythefull a frende thou admyttest vnto the. O howe good noble and swete espouse enbraceste thou which ought to be byloued and desyred aboue all thynges O ryght swete beloued lorde the heuen and erthe and all the ornamentis of theym holdeth scylence in the presence of thy face For what praysynge honour and beautye they haue it ys of thy mercy and largenes and can not be lyke vnto thonour and beaute of thy holy name of thy sapience wherof there ys no noumbre nother ende ¶ Howe many cōmodities be gyuen vnto them that deuoutly receyueth this holy sacrament C iiii ◠I lorde god I humbly beseche the to preuent me thy seruaunt in the blessynges of thy swete mekenes So that I may deserue to cum worthely deuoutly to the holy sacrament mooste to be magnyfied Stere my herte lose it frome the dull heuynes of my mortall body Uysite me wyth the messāger of helth and gyue me to tast thy swetnes spirituall whiche is hydde fully in the sacrament as in a foūtayne of all swetnesse Illmyne myne iyen to beholde thys greate mysterye strongly conferme me to beleue the feithe vndoutable for it ys thy werke nat the power of man it ys thy holy ordynaunce and not by mannys deuyse For there is no mā foundeable of hym selfe to conceyue vnderstande these holy mysteryes whiche passeth the subtylte of aungels ¶ Than Howe may I pore vnworthy synner which am but erthe and asshes serche conceyue so hygh holy secrysye lorde I come vnto the in symplenes of herte in ferme feythe and by
of thy worthynesse and of my great fylthynes I tremble strongly am confounded in my selfe For if I receyue the nat I fle the eternall lyfe yf I vnworthyly receiue the I renne in to thy wrath what shall I thanne do my good lorde my helper ptectour comforter and ryghtsure counceller in all myne infyrmytes and necessities Teche me good lorde thy right weye and purpose vnto me some excercyse coÌ„uenable to the receyuynge of thys holy mystery For it ys necessarye vnto me and greatly profytable to knowe howe deuoutly and reuerently I ought to prepayre my herte to receyue thys holy sacrameÌ„t or to make so goodly sacryfyce ¶ The remeÌ„brynge of his ê“pre conscience with pourpose of amendment CapÌ„ .vii. THe preste aboue al thynges ought to desyre with souerayne reuerence and profounde mykenesse of hert full and ferme fey the humble hoope and pyteous entente to the honour af god to celebrate take and receyue this worthy sacament examyne dylygently and make clere open the conscience by true contrycion and meke coÌ„fession as far as he hath power so that thou knowe no thiÌ„ge that greuethe or byte thy sayde conscience orlete the frely to come vnto the same daily To haue displeasure of all thy synnes in generall and for thy excesses and synnes thou oughtest to haue syghinge and sorowe more speciull And if the tyme suffre it confesse vnto god in secrete of thy herte the myseryes of all thy passyons wepe and haue sorowe that thou art yet so carnall and worldely and so euyll mortyfyede frome thy passyons so full of mocyons and concupiscences so euyll composed ordred in thy outwarde wittes so often appliede vnto vayne fantasies so moch enclyned vnto outwarde thinges so necligent in the in warde spirituall thinges so redy to laugh and to all dissolucion so harde to wepe to coÌ„punccyon so redy to folowe the lose mauer and the pleasures of the flesshe and so slowe and dull to the feruour of vertue so curious to behol de and to here newe fayre thynges so neclygent and lothe to lerne and desyre thynges that be meke and abiecte So couetous to receyue and possed many goodis so scarse to gyue theym and glad to holde and reteyne theym so euyl auy sed in spekynge so incontynent to be styll So vnordred in maners so inportune in thy dedes so gredy and so quycke in thy mete so deffe vnto the worde of god so redy to rest so vnlusty to labour so wakynge to fables so slepy to holy vygillys so neclygent vnto the seruyce of god so spedy to then de therof so wauerynge to take hede so colde in deuocion in the tyme of the massâ— so drye in receyuynge of the sacrameÌ„t so soone withdrawen so seldome well gadred vnto thyselfe so sodeynly moued vnto wrath so easely stired to the disple asure of other so hasty to iuge so roughe in repÌ„uynge so ioy ous in ê“sperite so weyke in aduersite so often pourposynge many good thynges and lytell bryngeth to good effecte These and other thy defautes with sorowe great dyspleasure of thy ê“pre fragylyte confessed and sorowfully be wept Set the than with full purpose alweyes to amende thy selfe and to ê“fyte from better vnto better and after offre thy selfe with playne resignacion entyer wyll to the hononre of my name perpetuall sacryfyce withyn the aulter of thyne herte Teat is to knowe thy soule and body coÌ„myttynge feythfully vnto me that thon so may deserue worthely to come and offre thy sacryfyce to god and to receyue the sacrament of my body helthefully For no oblacion is more worthy nor no satysfaccion can be so great for to deface the synnes of man as to offre hym selfe to god purely and entyerly with the oblacyon of the holy body of Cryst Iesu in the masse and the holy communyon And they who someuer shall do as moche as lieth in theim and haue very repentaunce of thyr offences passed as oft as they shall come vnto me they shall recouer pardon and grace I am lyfe and wyll nat the deith of a synner but rather wyll that he retourne and lyue agayne And than wyll I nomore remembre his synnes tresspaces but all shal be forgyuen pardoned vnto hym ¶ Of the oblacion of Iesu Crist in the crosse of the ê“pre resignacoÌ„n that man shulde make of hymselfe Ca .viii. OMan as I dyd offre my selfe and my free wyll vnto god my fader my handes sprede on the crosse and my naked body forthy synnes In somoche that no thynge remayned in me but all passed in sacryfyce to apease his wrathe in lyke wyse thou oughtest to offre vnto me wyllyngly thy selfe in pure oblacion dayly in the masse wythe all thy affecâ—yons and strengthes as profoundely and feruently as thou mayst what aske I of the more but that thou study to resygne thy selfe vnto me enterely what thynge so euer elles thou gyuest vnto me I haue no cure For I demaunde nat thy gyftes but only thy selfe As no thynge shulde suffyce vnto the wythoute me Lyke wyse no thynge maye please vnto me what so euer thou shalte gyue thou offre nat thy selfe vnto me Offre the than gyue the holly vnto me that oblacyon shal be acceptable Beholde I dyd offre my selfe holy vnto my fader for the and for the I dyd gyue all my body blode to the ende that I shulde be all hole thyne thou myne also But and thou rest in thy selfe and with good wyll preseÌ„t the nought vnto me thane there is no full oblacy on nouther entyer parfyte vnyon betwene vs. For the fre oblacyoÌ„ of thy selfe in to the handes of almyghty god ought to go before al thy werkes if thou wylte opteyne lybertye grace And the lacke of thys is the cause that so fewe folke be illumyned and haue inwarly lybertye For they can nat renounce them selfe My sentence is ferme stable that none may be my disciple without he renounceth all that he hath Than yf thou desyre to be my dysyple offre thy selfe vnto me with all thyne affeccyon ¶ That we ought to offre vnto god all that we haue to praye for all people CapÌ„ .ix. LOrde all thynges that be in heueÌ„ and in erthe be thyne and my wyllynge desyre ys to offre me vnto the perpetually in oblacyon So that I maye be thyne euerlastyngly And thys daye good lorde I offre vnto the my selfe perpetually to be thy seruaunt wyth my herte and soule fully to contynue I beseche the receyue thys holy oblacyon of me that am vnworthye to offre me vnto thy precyous bodye in the presence of aungels assystynge inuysyble to the ende that it may be to the helthe of me and all thy people Lorde I also offre vnto the all my synnes whyche I haue coÌ„mitted before the and thy holy aungels syth the fyrst day that I beganne or in any wyse myght synne vnto thys presente daye And I beseche the to inflame me with the brennynge fyre of
to be my swetnesse consolacoÌ„n my mete drynke my loue and all my ioye so that my wyll be chaunged enflamed and brenne allvnto the So that I may be made a spirite inwardly vnight vnto yâ— by grace brennynge loue and suffre me nat blessed sauyour to deê‘te from the fastynge drye with hunger thurst but do with me mercyfully as often as thou hast done meruelously in thy holy seruauntes what meruele is it vnto me that am nat all enflamed in the seynge that thou arte the breÌ„nynge fyre alwey illumynynge and lyghtnynge the vnderstandynge of thy creatures ¶ Of the breÌ„nynge loue great affeccion that we shulde haue to receyue our sauyour crist iesu CapÌ„ .xvii. O Lorde god iÌ„ soueraine deuocoÌ„n brennynge loue and all feruent offeccion of herte I desyre as many other holy deuoute ê‘sones haue desyred to receyue which hath ben greatly pleasauÌ„t vnto the holynes of their lyfe by great deuocyon O my god and eternall loue my eternall felicyte I by ryght greate desire wysshe to receiue the as worthely and as reuerently as euer dyd any of thy holy seruauÌ„tes All be it that I am nat worthy to haue so greate felynges of deuocion yet offre I vnto the thaffeccions of my hert asverely as though I had all the brennynge flamynge desyres that they had Also I gyue and offre vnto the insoueraine reuerence veneracoÌ„n all that a good debonayer herte maye conteyne And wyll nat nor couete to reserue any thynge to myselfe but offre and make sacryfice vnto the with fre and ê‘fyght wyll myselfe with all my good is Lorde god my cre +ature redemer thys day I desire to receyue the with suche affeccion reuereÌ„ce praisynge honour worthynes and loue suche feith hope puryte as thy right holy moder glorious virgyn Marye conceyued the whanne she answerede mekely deuoutly vnto thauÌ„gell yâ— shewede vnto hir the holy mystery of the incarnacion of the the sonne of god ¶ Se here the hande mayde of god so be it done as thou hast said And the right excellent precursor saynt IohnÌ„ Baptyste that wyth great Ioy sprange in thy presence by inspiracion of yâ— holy goost thanne beynge wythin the wombe of his moder And afterwarde beholdynge the Iesu walkynge mekely amonge men he greatly mekinge hymselfe to the same wyth a deuout mynde sayde The freÌ„de of the spouse standeth and harkeneth wyth coÌ„forte Ioyes for to here the voyce of the spouce And so I wische to be enflamed with great holy desyre with all my herte present me vnto the for that I gyue offre vnto the for me for all theim that be recoÌ„mended vnto my prayers all the IubylacoÌ„ns of deuout hertis wyth brennynge affeccions that excessyue thoughtis the hye and spuÌ„all illumynacoÌ„ns the heuenly vicoÌ„ns wyth all the vertues praisynges as well celebrate as to be celebrate of all yâ— creatures of heuen erthe to th ende that thou lorde be worthely praysed ê‘petually gloryfyed of all creatures besecheynge the lorde to receyue my praiers desyres of thy infinite benediccions praysynges without ende which right wisly be due vnto the after the greate habuÌ„daunce multytude of thy inestymable magnyficence And so my desyre is to yelde vnto the at all houres all momentis of tyme so I desyre beseche all the heuenly spirites with all feithfull cristen creatures for to yelde vnto the praisynges with effectuous prayers all the vniuersall people prayse the. All generacyons kyndes magnyfie the holy and swete name in great Ioye brennynge deuocion that they that celebratys that ryght hye and holy sacrament receyueth it in playne feythe and great reuerence deuocyon may merite towardis the and fynde grace mercy And for me wretchede synner I mekely beseche the whan I shall haue a tast of that swete vnyon deuocoÌ„n so moch wysshed desired that I may be fulfylled fed so meruelously at that heuenly holy table that at my deê‘tinge from thens thou good lorde wyll haue me pore siner in thy pyteous remembraunce ¶ That a man shulde nat be to curious a iÌ„quisitor of yâ— holy sacrameÌ„t but a meke folower of crist iesu in submittynge his reason felynge to the holy feyth Ca .xviii. IT behoues the to kepe the from to curyous iÌ„quysicyon of the ryght profounde sacrameÌ„t if thou wilte nat be coÌ„fouÌ„ded in thy proprevyce and drowned in the deppeth of opinyons For he that wyll inquire of the hye maiestye of god he shall anone be oppressed thrust downe from the glory of the same God may open more than man maye vnderstande The deuoute meke inquisicyon of truthe ys alwey redy to be doctryned and taught And yf thou studye to god by the holy true and entyer seÌ„tences of holy faders it ys nat reprouable but well to be praysed And that symplenesse ys well to be praysed that leuethe the wayes of dyfficultyes question 's and goeth by the playne and ferme pathe of the coÌ„maundementes of god Many haue lost theyr deuocyon in sechynge so besily the hye inspekeable thynges ¶ It ys ynoughe to demaunde of the fast feythe pure and clene lyfe and nat the hye and subtyll profounde mysteryes of god for yf thou may nat comprehende and vnderstande that that is within the howe mayste thou thanne vnderstande thynges that be aboue the. Submytte the thanne mekely vnto god all thy vnderstandynge to the feythe of holy churche and the lyght of true science shall be gyuen vnto the as shal be to the moost necessarie and profytable Some be greatly tempted wyth the feythe of that holy sacrament but that is not to be reputede vnto theym but rather vnto that cursed ennemye the fende And for that lette not thy good wyll nor dyspute nat in thy thowghtes nor answere nat to the doubtes that the ennemye of helle bryngeth before the but fermely trust in the wordes of god and beleue in sayntes and holy prophettes and than shall that cursed ennemye soone â—â—e frome the. It is often ê“fytable that the seruauntes of god suffre susteyne suche assaultes For the ennemy tenpteth nat the mys creauntes vnfeythfull people nor also the greate synners that he surely holdeth possedeth but he tempteth trayuaileth and tormenteth in dyuers maners the good feythefull and crysten creatures And therfore kepe the alweyes wyth meke true feythe doubte the nought but come vnto thys holy sacrament with lowly reuerence And that thou mayst nat vnderstande coÌ„mytte it vnto almighty god for he shal nat disceyue the But he shall be dysceyued that to moche trusteth in hym selfe God walked wythe the symple people and shewed hym selfe openly vnto the meke He gaue vnderstandynge vnto theym that were pore in spyrite And he hyd his grace and secretes from theym that were proude high curious For the humayne reason may lyghtly erre be disceyued but the true feyth may neuer dysceyue nor fayle All reason and naturail inquysicion ought to folowe feythe wtout farther reasonynge ¶ Fast feyth and true loue surmoÌ„teth all curious inquysicion pryncypally in thys mater and meruelously openeth to vnderstandynge in secrete maner of thys holy and ryght excellent sacrament ¶ O eterdall god and withoute mesure of myght and bounte which hast made the infinite greate and wounderfull thinges in the heuen and erthe whiche none ys sufficyent to enquyre vnderstand or fynde the secretes of thy so meruelous werkes and therfore they be called in estymable for mannis reason no wther may nor can comprehende thy werkes To whome god lorde almyghty be gyuen laude and praysynge wytheouten ende Amen ¶ Thus endethe the forthe boke folowinge Iesu Cryst the coÌ„tempnynge of yâ— worlde ¶ This boke Inprinted at londoÌ„ in Fletestrete at the signe of the George by Richard Pynson Prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace Richard Pynson Deo gracias
that blessed sacrament For euery ê‘sone wyth perfite deuocyon may euery day receyue that holy sacrament spuÌ„ally to his helthe without denyinge in certeine tymes dayes establyssed he ought to receyue the body of his saueour with effectuall reuerence sacramentally And that to seche to do it more to the praisynge the honoure of god almyghty than to his owne consolacoÌ„n For as often as he spuÌ„ally is comuned refressed iÌ„uysibly so often he remeÌ„breth deuoutly the mysterye of the iÌ„carnacoÌ„n of criste hys peinfull passion is kindled in the loue of hym he that otherwyse nat pÌ„payreth hym selfe but at the tyme of a greate feest or ellys by custome he is coÌ„pelled he shall often tymes be ful vnredy Blessed is he that offres hym selfe vnto almyghty god as oft as he doth masse or ellis receyueth this honorable sacrament And in doynge this mysterye nat taryiÌ„ge nor to hasty but kepe the comoÌ„ maner with suche as thou leuest amoÌ„ge Thou oughtest nat to do that the herers therof take greue or Irksomnes but kepe the comon way after thordynauÌ„ces of the holy faders And do rather coÌ„ferme the to the profyte of other than to thyne owne deuocyon or pryuate pleasure ¶ Howe the blessed body of our lorde Iesu criste is greatly necessarye for the helth of mannys soule Ca .xi. O Ryghtswete Iesu howe great consolacyon swetnes ys it to a deuoute Soule to ete withe the at thy dyner where none other mete is gyuen but thy selfe whiche art the only louer oughtest to be desyred aboue all desyres of mannys herte howeswete a thynge shulde it be in thy presence from the bottom of the herte to sende oute teris to dewe and wesshe thy pÌ„cyous fete with the pyteous Mowdeleyne But where is that deuocyon or the plenteous effusion of holy terys certenly in beholdynge the wythe thy holy aungels All my herte ought to brenne wepe with ioye for I haue veryly the pÌ„seÌ„t be though thou hyd vnder a strauÌ„ge lykenes for myne iyen myght notsuffice to beholde the in thipropre and godly clernes nor all the worlde might nat abide to beholde the clerens of thy ioy and maieste wherfore good lorde thou helpest my weykenes in that it pleaseth the to couer thyselfe vnder the fourme of yâ— holy sacrament I verily worship the whome the aungels worshyp in heuen but in me it is as yet but iÌ„ feith the auÌ„gels worship the there iÌ„ thin owne likenes without couerture I must be content with true feythe so walke tyll the day come of eternall clernes whan the shadow of fygures shall fynysshe For whan that ê‘fecte day shall come the vsage of this holy sacrament shall ceas For they that be blessed in the heueÌ„ly ioye shall haue no nede of any sacrameÌ„tall medycyne for they shall ioye withoute ende iÌ„ the presence of god seynge hym iÌ„ his glory face to face shal be traÌ„sfourmed from clernes vnto clernes with the godhed iÌ„compÌ„hensible they shall tast the sone of god made man as he was fro the begynnynge shal be euerlastyngly I than remembrynge me of the great meruels solace thou ghit be spuÌ„all it is to me greuous whanne I remembre those meruels For all thynges that I here or see in this worlde I compte as no thynge so longe as I se nat my lorde god in hys glory Lorde god thou arte my wytnes that no thynge can gyue vnto me comforte nor no creature may gyue vnto me rest but thou my lorde god whome I desyre eternally to beholde ¶ But that is a thynge to me nat possible whyle I am in this mortall lyfe wherfore it behoueth me with great pacyence to ordre my selfe and mykely to submytte me to the in all my desires ¶ Good Lorde thy sayntes that nowe ioye wyth the in the kyngdome of heuen abode the comynge of thy ioy with great feythe and pacyence as longe as they lyued I beleue the same that they beleued hope as they haue hoped and trust by the meane of thy grace to come theder as they nowe be In the meane whyle I shall in good fast feythe be comforted by examples of holy sayntes Also I haue full vertuous holy bokes for the consolacion and myrrour of my life and aboue all these thynges thy right sacred body for my singuler refuge remedye I fele that two thynges be vnto me ryght necessarye without whome this miserable lyfe shuld be vnto me inportable For as longe as I shall be holden in thys present body I coÌ„fesse me to haue nede of two thynges that ys to knowe of mete and lyght But therfore thou hast gyuen vnto me whyche am pore syke thy holy body to the refresshinge of my soule bodl Also thou hast put before my feythe the light of thy holy worde And wythoute these two thynges I myght nat well lyue spuÌ„tually For thy word my lorde and god is the light of my soule and the holy sacrameÌ„t is the brede of my lyfe These two thynges so necessary may also be called the tables sette on eyther syde in the tresorye of holy churche the one table is of the holy aulter hauynge this louely brede that is to say the precyous body of Iesu cryste the other ys the lawe of god â—onteynynge the holy doctryne and sheweth the ryght feyth and surely gydynge vnto the in warde secrysies where as the holy iuelys called SctaÌ„ scoÌ„rum I yelde vnto the thankes lorde Iesu cryste whyche arte the clernes of eternall lyght ¶ For thys table of holy doctryne whiche thou hast mynystred vnto vs by thy seruauÌ„tes prophetes aposteles and other doctours And I yeldâ— vnto the thankynges ageyne creatour redemer of mankynde which hast declared thy greate charyte vnto all the worlde hasâ—e prepared thys royalsouê‘ in the whiche thou hast nat purposed to be eten the fyguratyue lambe but thy most holy body and precious blode reioisynge all thy creatures by that hoolest and swetly fulfyllynge theym with that helthfull chaleys wherin behyd all the delytes and ioyes of paradyse and the holy anuÌ„gels be fedde with vs with swetnesse moche plentuous O howe greate and honorable ys the offyce of prestes to whome is gyuen power to consecrate by dyuyne wordes to blesse with theyr lyppes to holde with their handes receyue with theyr mouthes to mynyster vnto other the lorde god of all maieste O howe elene ought to be the haÌ„des how pure the mouthe howe holy the body and howe vndefylede the herte or a prest vnto whome so often entreth the auctour of all puryte Certeinly from the mouthe of a prest ought no worde to procede but that that were honest aud profytable that so often receyueth the sacrament of the holy dody of iesu crist hys iyen ought to be symple shamefast that so customably beholdeth the holy body The handes pure to lifte vp vnto heuen whiche handeleth the creature of heuen erthe For specyally a prest it ys
sayde in the lawe be ye holy for I your lorde god am holy O god omnipotent thy grace be vn to vs helpynge so that we whiche haue taken the office of pÌ„st hode may reuerently deuoutly serue the with all puryte good ê¯scieÌ„ce if we may not lyue iÌ„ so great innocency of life as we ought to do giue vs grace at the leest that we may we pe sorowe the euylles that we haue commytted and don so that in spirituall mekenes purpose of good wyll we maye from hensforth strongly serue the with feruent corage ¶ With howe great diligence he ought to prepayre hym selfe that shulde receiue the sacrameÌ„t of iesu crist Ca .xii. OVre lorde sayth I the louer of puryte the liberal gyuer of all holynes I serche the pure clene herte there wyll I rest Make redy than for me thy herte I shal be with the than as I was with my discyples At Ester I shall come dwell with the if thou wylte but thanne it behouethe the to muÌ„difye clense the habitacoÌ„n of thy herte fro all synnes leue all brute noyse of the worlde with all thy vyces inclose and shet the in thy chambre as dooth a solytary byrde vnder the euesynges of an hous remembre all the excesses all thi defauttes commytted with all thy soule bitternes of herte For a good frende wyll make redy to his welbeloued frende a good and a plesauÌ„t place to dwell in in that doynge is well knowen with what good affeccion he receyuethe his sayde frende It is for trouthe that thou oughteste to vnderstande that thou mayste nat satyfye by any meryte or labour of thy selfe nat and thou dydest labour with the beste of thy power by a hole yere thought thou hadest none other thynge to do But thou shalt vnderstande that by my only power and grace is ê‘mytted grauÌ„ted vnto the to come vnto my table if a pore man were called vnto the table of a ryche lorde and the pore man had none other thynge to gyue ageyne for the benefytes of that ryche man but swetely mekely to thanke hym he wolde do it so oughtest thou to do diligently as moche as is in the nat by custome or necestite But wyth all drede reuerence affeccyon Thou oughtest to take the blessyd body of our lorde god sythe that it lyste the hym to come vnto the. Certeynly I am he that callethe the I haue commauÌ„ded it so to be done I shall supplye that faylethe in the wherfore come and receyue me whan in that doiÌ„ge I giue vnto the the grace of deuocoÌ„n yeld thou thankes vnto me thiÌ„god Nat thynkynge that thou art worthy therof of thyselfe but that I haue had mercy of the. and yf thou haue nat that grace whan thou woldest but fele thy selfe drye vnlusty yet contynue thy orysou with sorowfull wepynge and smyte at my dore wythoute ceasynge vnto the tyme thou maye receyue alytell crome or drope of helthefull grace know it of trouth thou hast moche nede of me and I haue none of the. Thou comest nat to sanctifye me but I am he that shall santyfye the make the better to the ende that thou mayste be vnight with me to receyue newe grace purpose ameÌ„demeÌ„t Be nat in wyll to deferre me grace but with all dilygence pÌ„prayre thy herte to receyue withiÌ„ the thy louynge lorde nat only thys prepayre the before thy coÌ„munyon but also maynteyne kepe the after the receyuynge of thy said holy sacrament iÌ„ that same deuocioÌ„ iÌ„ as moche as thou maist For thou oughtest to haue no lesse dylygeÌ„ce than thou haddest afore For the good dilygent kepynge of thy soule after the receiuynge of the blessed sacrameÌ„t is a good pÌ„paracoÌ„n to obteine the more great grace And they that so donat shewe theÌ„ selfe greatly euyll disposed whan they habandowne them selfe so soone so largely to outwarde solace in warde pleasures wherfore kepe the from great brute spekinge abyde in the secrete graces frutes of thy god for thou hast hym that all the worlde may nat take awey I am he to whome thou oughtest to gyue the by suche maner that from hensforth thou liue nomore in thy selfe but in me only ¶ Howe the deuout soule ought effectuously with al his herte to be vnight vnto Iesu crist Ca .xiii. O Lorde who shall yelde vnto me that I may fynde the sole that I may open to the all my hert ioy with yâ— as my pore soule desyreth that here be no creature to beholde me but thou alone to speke to me I to the goode lord as of custome one frende speketh to a nother secretly here of I desire praie yâ— lorde iesu to th ende that I may fully be vnyght vnto yâ— withdraw my hert fro all other creat thiÌ„ges that I may the soner lerne the etÌ„nall heueÌ„ly thiÌ„ges by yâ— meane of the receiuiÌ„ge of this holy sacrameÌ„t Alas my good lord whaÌ„ shal I be vnight gadred all hole iÌ„ yâ— vtterly forgete my selfe thou art iÌ„ me I with the. thus assembled make vs dwell togeder I prai the truly thou arte my chosen beloued lorde and it hath pleased thy benygne grace to be inhabited in my soule all the dayes of my lyfe Thou arte my peseable well in whome ys souereyne peas and true rest without the there ys no thinge but labour sorow infinyte mysery Thou my god art closed hyd in councel of thy famyliars whiche be nat comune to the euyll folkes ¶ But thy familiar speakynge is with the meke symple folkes O lorde howe goode benygne swete ys thy spirite whiche to the ende thou maiste she we vnto yâ— sonnes chyldren thy swetnes hast vouchedsaue to refressh theym agayne gyues to theym refeccion of thy ryght swete brede descended from heuen Certeynly there ys none other so great a nacion lackynge cristis feithe that hath their goddis so nere vnto them as thou arte our god lorde to all thy feithfull crysten people to whome thou gyuest thy blesed body to ete for theyr dayly coÌ„forte and to reyse theyr hertes to hyghe celestiall thynges O what other folkes be there so noble as be the cristen people or what creature is there so stroÌ„gly beloued vnder heuen as is the deuoute soule iÌ„ whom god entreth and gyueth fedynge with his owne glorious flesshe and blode O grace inestymable merueylous worthynesse O loue without mesure syngulerly shewede vnto man But what shall I yelde vnto god wherwith shall I recoÌ„pence thys so great grace charite Truely there is no thiÌ„ge I mai gyue more agreable to his mercy than to ioyne my hert perfytely vnto hym And whan my soule shal be perfitely vnight with hym Thanshall my inwarde parties ioy And thanne my lorde wyll say vnto me If thou wylt be with me I