and aboundaunce in syckenes and helth in youth and in age we shulde seke hym and axe for hym with all oure mynde and all oure intentyon to be confyrmed in all deuouce and holye conuersacion and yf we couet to se hym in the kyngdome of heuen we muste clense oure selfe frome all fylthynesse for why at the daye of the generall resurrectyon there shall no man come to eternall blysse nor se the glorye of his deuyne maiestye but they onelye that are clene and pure bothe of mynde and hart The kingdome of heuen shall not be gyuen to ydle personnes nor yet to no vagabouÌ„des but to those onely that seke and demaunde it and that enforce theym selfe to gette it for the Lorde sayth Axe and ye shall haue seke ye shal fynde knocke and the dore shall be opened vnto you Therfore we must go to the gates of heueÌ„ be good prayer and seke theÌ„ by good lyfe knocke at the gate by perseueraunce the contynuall seruyce of God Nor it is not suffycyente to begynne well but we muste study to beginne wel and enforce our selfe so to coÌ„tynew al the dayes of oure lyfe For it were moche better not to knowe iustice then after a man knowethe it not to folowe it And hereof sayeth the Lorde Suche as put to and prepayre theyr handes to do wel and after they haue begun loke backewardes ar not mete for the kiÌ„gdome of heuen Therfore good sister it is greatly necessary that we with great desyre and affectyon do knocke contynually at goddes eares and that we neuer leaue of to do well vntyll heuen gates be opened vnto vs me thynkethe that to contynewe styll in goddes seruyce is an excellent vertue For they y â— leaue his seruyce to be worldly are made moch blacker then coles why so For throughe a certayne feblenesse and vnlustynes of mynde they are dede and cleane withoute the heate and fyre of charyte And of suche sayeth saynt Isodore They that returne from a good lyfe to an euyl ar through â—upedytye be smuttered with the blackenes of vyce and synÌ„e and are remoued farre from the lyghte of charite They that go froÌ„ goddes seruice to the world are seperated from the coÌ„panye of aungelles and assocyated to wycked deuilles They that leaue the holy congregacion to come to a worldly lyfe are put oute of goddes companye and do submytte them selues to the deuylles good grace Good syster take good heed what ye haue done euer more remembre from whence ye came whether ye be come and wherfore ye haue lefte and dyspysed for goddes sake all worldly thiges for his loue ye haue chosen to contynewe dwel in holy coÌ„gregatyoÌ„ ye haue bought heueÌ„ paid your owne body for it laboure therfore with all dilygence that ye lese not this goodly kyngdom the which ye haue thus conquered and gotten Loke ye lese not this kingdome y â— which ye haue bough w t your owne body harkeÌ„ what s paule sayeth There shall no man be crowned but they y t fyght lawfully he fighteth laboreth lawfully that coÌ„tinueth all his lyfe iÌ„ good workê he fighteth lawfully that without fraude or anye dissymulacyoÌ„ coÌ„tynueth in goddes seruyce he serueth god worthely y â— foloweth his good workes begun He laboureth wel in good workes y t finyshethe that he began well And the churche of his membres contynuyng in goodnesse sayeth The beames and the tymber of oure houses are of Cedern the coueryngeÌ„ of Cypers that is to saye the howses of the church are the holye congregacyon of faythfull people and goddes seruauntes that contynewe in suche thiÌ„ges as shall please hym for Ceder and cypers be suche trees as neuer putryfye they syngnyfye the blessed saintes of god the whiche with a marueylous and a contynuall affectyon do desyre hym coÌ„tynuyng in good operacyon and workes as loÌ„ge as they lyue Therfore good syster loke ye be y â— cyper tre in goddes house by the contynuaunce of a good and a deuoute lyfe And also that ye be the Ceder tree in the house of god the whiche thyng ye maye be yf ye wyl gyue y â— example of good lyfe the swete fragraunte sauers of good conuersacyon thus I do wryte because ye shulde with al youre harte and mynde dyspyse the worlde and contynewe in vertue For ye shulde not wyll to leaue vertue to requyre this worldly lyfe Also and agayne I counsayle you to tary styll in goddes seruyce and neuer to retourne to the world agayn why so For in that is lyfe coÌ„templatyfe and in the worlde nothyng but labour iÌ„ that is a holy lyfe in the worlde a synfull lyfe in that a spirituall and a gostlye lyfe in the worlde a carnal and a flesshly lyfe in that a heuenly lyfe in the world a earthly lyfe in y â— is a peaseble lyfe iÌ„ y e world a troubelous lyfe in that is a a quyet lyfe in the world a maÌ„nes lyfe is full of contentyon stryfe in that is traÌ„quylyte and reste in the worlde a lytygeus and a contentyous lyfe full of all reproche in that is a chaste and a perfyte lyfe in the world a luxurious and a vycyus lyfe in that is a life ful of al vertue in the worlde ful of all vyce and vnthriftynesse in that is a very deuoute and a holye lyfe in the worlde a lyfe ful of al iniquyte Nowe good syster ye haue hard both of life deth now ye haue set before you both good euyl ye se both ê‘dycyoÌ„ soule helth ye se bothe lyfe and deathe fyre water put forth your haÌ„des take what ye thynke best most necessary ye se before you y â— way to heuen and hell the tone leadeth a man to lyfe eternall the tother to perpetual death Therfore take whiche wayes ye wyll I desyre you onely to take the best ¶ The sisters demaunde WElbeloued brother I wyl accept and receyue youre counsell and chose the best way Also it is moche for my profyte to folowe counsell and to walk in that waye that maye brynge me to eternall ioye and blysse ¶ The brother HOnest vyrgyn I am right glad and thanke god that ye wyll take and folow the best way Therfore loke ye leue not the waye ye haue begon all redy but that ye kepe your purpose of good lyfe as longe as ye shall lyue for then shall youre workes be perfyte yf they coÌ„tynewe God doth promys heuen to those that continew in goodnesse Rewarde is gyueÌ„ to those that contynewe he is not good that dothe good onely but that contynually doth good Therfore yf ye contynewe in fayth good workes ye shal be saued Of virginite the xxi chapi THe prudent and wyse virgyns toke and put oyle in ther lampes Harken vnto my wordes they 〈…〉 are cleane virgyns both of body and mynde are no fooles but very wyse and maye go to mete theyr spouse for they haue
purged froÌ„ all synne that youre thought be net and cleane puryfy youre body froÌ„ al iÌ„iquyte your hart froÌ„ al maner of spottê of syn the bodye can not be defyled but that the soule must be fyrst bespotted yf the soule stomble by and by the body is prest and redy to folowe the soule gothe before the flesshe and in all iniquite synne the soule is the fyrste that synneth the body can do nothynge but as the soule wyll Therfore kepe your soule from al iniquite and your flesshe shal neuer synne The systers demaunde I Pray you good brother tell me whether the soule of a siÌ„ner bespotted with synne be stynkynge and blacke and the soule of a good iust man fayre and full of all beauty The brothers answere WElbeloued syster in god there are thre thiÌ„ges blacker and worse then anye other that is the soule of a continuall synner The yll angelles which shall receyue it when it deperteth the worlde and hel into the whiche it shalbe cast for euermore There is nothynge worse nor nothynge more blacker in this worlde then are those thre thynges Also there are thre other thynges which are the best of all other that is the soule of a iust man contynuyng in good workes The holy angelles the which shal receyue it at the day of his departynge and heuen where it shall rest perpetually There are no better thynges in the hole worlde then these thre thinges are the holy angels receyue y â— iust soule present it before god sayenge Behold good lorde y â— thyng that ye haue chosen and takeÌ„ it shall coÌ„tynue dwell ê‘petually in your eternal palace Good syster yf ye pourg your soule of al iniquite and yf ye continew in Goddes seruyce as ye haue promised w tout dout ye shall reioye with hym in his celestyall chaÌ„bre of heueÌ„ so be it ¶ Of confessioÌ„ of synnes and penaunce the .xxvij. chap. THen a man begynneth to be iust when he accuseth hym self of his synnes here of speaketh the wyse tha sayng A iust maÌ„ fyrst of all accuseth hym selfe there is nothing worse for amaÌ„ theÌ„ to knowledge his fautes not to be sory for theÌ„ A synner shulde bewayle his misdedes two maner of wayes Fyrst because y t through neglygence he hathe not done soo well as he shuld haue done and agayne bycause y t through boldnesse he hath coÌ„mitted done y â— euyll the which he shuld not haue done He that bemourneth bewayleth his synnes takynge good hede he faule to no moo doth coÌ„dyng and very good penauÌ„ce but he y â— lameÌ„teth his misdedes begynneth to fall to theÌ„ agayne is lykened to hym that wessheth a raw bryke y â— is he laboureth in vayne For y e more he wessheth y e more fylthynes commeth therof but he y â— doth penauÌ„ce wheÌ„ he might sin in time of his lyfe correcteth his liuiÌ„g w tdrawiÌ„g him selfe froÌ„ syn shal haue euerlasting rest But he y â— leueth euyl begynneth to do penauÌ„ce wheÌ„ death calleth him theÌ„ as it is vncertayne whether he shalbe daÌ„ned so it is vncertaine whether he shall be saued And therfore he y â— wyll be sure at his last ende to haue remissyoÌ„ pardone of his synnes must do penauÌ„ce whylest he is iÌ„ good helth prosperite in helth must lameÌ„â— bewayle his mysdedes coÌ„sideriÌ„g y â— the mercy of God is secret so far froÌ„ maÌ„s knowleg yt shall be is very necessary y â— we coÌ„tinually bewayle our synnes HarkeÌ„ good syster vnto S Isodores wordes A man that doth penaunce shuld not nor it is not necessary he shulde haue sure knowledge that his synnes be forgyuen hym wherfore For such sure knowlege doth ingendre neglygence the whiche negligeÌ„ce ofteÌ„times maketh many a one to take no hede and so leadeth theÌ„ agayne to there fyrste nautye maner of liuyng Therfore my wel beloued sister accept take this my couÌ„sell whylest ye maye loke ye amende correcte your liuing whylest y â— god doth giue you leue opeÌ„ your sin lameÌ„t your sinnes do penaunce coÌ„fesse your synnes whylest ye lyue lameÌ„t your misliuyng and let them that be called to dye by your amendemeÌ„t Amende your misdedê whilest ye may reuoke and w t drawe your selfe froÌ„ syn call vpon god whylest ye maye and whylest ye lyue seke for remission of youre synnes do penaunce or euer death do come Do penaunce or euer the pytte of hell do swallowe you lament your disordonate liuing or euer that hell do take you Bewayle and morne your synnes or euer ye be drownde in the depe pyt of hell for there is no pardon to be gotten there is neyther ioye nor yet pleasure nor no lycence or space to do penaunce nor no tyme to amende nor no place of coÌ„fessyoÌ„ why so Bycause that in hell is no redemptyon In this world not w tstandyng ye be neuer so great a synÌ„er yet through penauÌ„ce ye may optayne remissyon and pardon Nor there is no syn so greuous but by doing of penaunce a man may optayne and get forgyuenesse pardoÌ„ therof DisperacyoÌ„ increaseth a dym darkenesse do inwrap me O good lord ayde me and helpe me or euer I come to payne or euer the fyer of hell deuoure me or euer I be tormeÌ„ted in hell O my lorde god what shal I do at the day of thy terryble iudgement Alas what shal I answere at the examinacyoÌ„ of thy iudgement Alas what shall I wretched synner saye when I shalbe presented before the Iudicyall seate of chryst Iesus Cursed be the day that I sinde and misdyd and falsely transgrest the commaundement of god Wolde to god the son had not shyned nor rysen vpon me O wretched day O ab hominable day o a day vnworthy to be named that fyrste brought me into this worlde that opened my mothers wome for me to come out at It had beÌ„ better I had neuer beÌ„ borne theÌ„ to be ê‘petually daÌ„pned It had ben better I had neuer beÌ„ borne theÌ„ to be borne to suffre the eternall paynes of hell It had ben better I had neuer beÌ„ theÌ„ to suffer ê‘petual torment payne O heuen earth lament me O all ye creatures of god lament me O all ye creatures that haue any felyng of lyfe bewayle me shede your teares vpon me For I haue synned greuously vnhappely miserably my synnes are innumerable I haue oftentymes promised to lyue wel and to amende but I kepte not my promis I retourne euermore to syn agayne and haue increaced and renued them nor I neuer chauÌ„ged my vnthryftye maners nor I neuer ceast froÌ„ doing euyl O ye holy fathers pray for me O ye holy sayntes pray for me O all ye y t are good men praye vnto the lorde to haue mercy vpon me And that it wyll please his grace to deface my fautes to wype out all myne iniquite O my wretched soule who shall haue mercy vpon the. Who
y â— hart is maÌ„s thought in his armes his labour So y â— welbeloued bryde grome is layde vpon your hart harmes as a sygne For by the good wyll operacyoÌ„ of man it is soone knowen what loue the soule bereth to her bryde grome Chryst Iesus for the loue of god is neuer Idle yf it be true loue it doth many great workes Therfore good syster I pray you to loue god ê‘fytely that for his sake ye be neuer ydle yf ye loue god perfytely ye shal neuer be ydle yf ye loue god truely ye shall auoyde al ydlenes if ye loue god w t all your hart with all your mynde then for his sake ye shal laye asyde dyspyse al ydlenes the kingdome of heuen shal not be gyuen to those that are ydle but to those y â— be studius dyligeÌ„t iÌ„ goddê seruice nor to no vacabuÌ„des or erroniê° ê‘soÌ„s but to those y â— for goddes sake do truli labour iÌ„ his seruyce They y â— are slouthful to do good workê shal not be ê‘takers of y â— kiÌ„gdome of heuen Lururiousnes bodely lust doth sone deceyue those y â— aâ— ydle great waÌ„derers Luxuryousnes doth trouble hiÌ„ very sore whoÌ„ she fiÌ„deth ydle carnal appetyte lust giueth place to worke to diligeÌ„ce to labur occupatioÌ„ AmaÌ„ may be diligeÌ„t labourouertred such waÌ„toÌ„ lustê desyrê for wheÌ„ y â— body is wel traueled we â—yd with laboure it settethe not greatelye by suche tryfelynge matters Wherfore good syster beware and preueÌ„t idlenes loue no idlenes werye youre bodye w t labour excercyse your bodye w t good workes inquyre euermore for some ê“fytable worke y â— your intentyoÌ„ mynde maye be occupied Let your good workes and your good intentyoÌ„ be euermore in god ¶ Of lyfe actyue and coÌ„templatyue the 〈◊〉 Chapiter I Acob sawe a lather standiÌ„ge vpoÌ„ the grouÌ„de angels asceÌ„dyng desceÌ„ding and the top of this lather touched heueÌ„ All those y â— are pÌ„destynate to be saued those that are in y â— way of saluacyon are set vpoÌ„ this lather This lather doth sygnyfy y â— church aswel militaÌ„t as tryuÌ„phaÌ„t The milytant is y â— church of this worlde the tryuÌ„phant y â— celestiall church of heueÌ„ There is vpoÌ„ this lather thre orders of men seculers actyues conteÌ„platyues The seculers are in y e lowest degre the actyues in the hygher the conteÌ„platiues in y â— highest of these thre orders sumare in y â— myll some in the felde some in theyr beddê The myll is the seculer lyfe the felde is y â— wyll of y â— seculer maÌ„ In y â— felde are the preachers of y â— worde of of god In thebed is the loue of god they y â— are in y â— myll be they that coÌ„passe the world and that leke loue these worldly thingê they y â— are in the felde are they y â— eare the laÌ„de sow the worde of god amoÌ„ge the people they are in theyr beddê y â— vtterly dyspyse all worldly substauÌ„ce ryches at the fote of this lather stande they that are worldly In y â— middle part therof at they that are called acryues in the hygheste part therof are y e conteÌ„platyues the which are very nye vnto heuen For they thiÌ„ke vpoÌ„ nothiÌ„g but y â— that is heuenly they that go vp downe this lather are the angels y e which asceÌ„de vp to god by coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ desceÌ„de to theyr neyghbour by coÌ„passyon lyfe actyue is y e inoceÌ„cy of good workes the coÌ„teÌ„platyue lyfe is the imaginacyoÌ„ speculacyoÌ„ of celesty all thiÌ„ges the actyue life is comon to many the conteÌ„platyue to very fewe y e actyue lyfe vseth well all worldly thynges but the conteÌ„platyue gyuen all to goddes seruyce doth lytle or nothyng regarde the worlde ¶ The sisters demauÌ„de WElbeloued brother I praye you to open vnto me the differeÌ„ces betwene the lyfe actyue and the contemplatyue The brothers answere DEre syster there is a greate dyffereÌ„ce betwene theÌ„ for the actiue is to giue hiÌ„ brede y t is a hungerde to gyue wyse couÌ„sayle to teache his neyghbours to reduce correct those that are in erroure to brige the proude to humylytye to accorde those y t are at debate to vysyte y â— sicke to very y â— dede to redeme poore prisoners to dispeÌ„ce prouyde for euery maÌ„ as nede shal requyre ye haue hard y â— workes of lyfe actyue Nowe I pray you harkeÌ„ to y â— workê of lyfe coÌ„teÌ„platyue This coÌ„teÌ„platyue lyfe kepeth togither y â— chatyte of god maÌ„ is quyet froÌ„ all exteryor actyoÌ„ haÌ„gyng cleniÌ„g onely to goddê desyre takiÌ„g no maner of plesure iÌ„ these worâ—ly thynges but dispysyng them to come to the very syght fruy cyon of god and beyng very sory to remayne longe in this my serable worlde and ponderous bodye desyreth effectuouslye to come to the coÌ„panye of angels there to laude god w t hympnes and other spirytuall songes desyrynge also to be among the celesty all cytyzens of heuen and there in the syght of almyghtye god to re oyce in the eternal incorruptyon Nowe good syster ye haue hard both of the actyue and the coÌ„templatyue lyfe and therfore I wolde that with Mary Magdalene ye chose the best parte that is the coÌ„templaty us life y â— lyfe actyue is right good but the conteÌ„platyue moch better he that can profyte iÌ„ the actyue shall the better come to the coÌ„teÌ„platiue of this ye may take an example by Iacob the which loued Rachel intearely Rachel doth sygnyfye the conteÌ„platyue lyfe Then they gaue him Lya the which doth sygnifye the actyue lyfe this actyue lyfe dothe serue god in great labour trauayle y â— is fedyng nourishyng receyuyng clothing vysytyng coÌ„fortyng beryenge of y e pore w t many such workes of mercy and yet Lya is the secoÌ„de chyld for there are manye mo actyue people then contemplatyue but Rachell is as moche to say as a shepe or syeynge the begiÌ„nyng for conteÌ„platyue persons are siÌ„ple as Innocent as shepe far froÌ„ all worldly tumult stryfe cleuyng onely to deuyne conteÌ„platyoÌ„ and that to come to his syght y â— sayth I that speake vnto you am the begiÌ„nyng This Rachel had two doughters for there are two maner of coÌ„teÌ„platyues some there are y â— lyue iÌ„ comeÌ„ other there are y â— are solytary seperated froÌ„ al other but lyfe conteÌ„platyue is moch more perfyte then is the actyue lyfe And as y â— egle doth fycher eyes iÌ„ the son beames nor remoueth theÌ„ not but wheÌ„ he taketh some sustenauÌ„ce so deuoute ê‘sons gyueÌ„ to coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ at some times retourne froÌ„ coÌ„teÌ„placyon to the actyue lyfe For not w tstaÌ„dynge heueÌ„ly thiÌ„ges are moch ê“fytable yet these inferyor worldly thiÌ„ges are so necessary y e we can not well be w tout theÌ„ In so moche y â— Christ speakiÌ„g vnto the
deme nour to coÌ„serue kepe vs froÌ„ al sin vnthriftines of y â— which thiÌ„g sait Paule wryteth sayng Be obedyent to youre superyours and subiecte vnto them for they watche to gyue acountes for your soules The superiours prelates of the churche shuld take hede rule Christes people with al solicitude and diligence of the whiche thynge it is wrytten in the Canticles Thre score of the most stroÌ„gest valyanstes of all Israell stode aboute Salomons bed holdiÌ„g swordes iÌ„ theyr handes wel a poited to fyghte and euery one had his sworde hangynge vpoÌ„ his thygh for the fere of y â— night The trewe SalomoÌ„ is christ hâ— selfe for he is very peasyble and hath made peace concorde betwyxte god maÌ„ By SalomoÌ„s bed is vnderstaÌ„ded y â— coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of faythful people w t whom god doth dwell rest The valyauÌ„t and stronge men which do compasse aboute Salomons bedde be the prelates of the church the whiche be reprouynge correctynge and exhortyng of men to vertue do compasse and defende goddes churche agaynst vyce other enimys both vysible and inuisible the whiche prelates are therfore called stronge bycause they are or shulde be perfet in the obseruauntes of goddes coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes holdyngâ— theyr swordes in theyr handes that is the worde of god for in theyr prechynge they shulde represse the vyce and synnes of theyr subiectes And they are very wel apoiÌ„ted to warre for it is nedefull y â— they be alwayes redy to withstande all spirituall battelles And they haue theyr swourdes vpoÌ„ theyr thyghes that is they shulde fyrst represse and correct theym selues of all carnall and flesshly luste and then theyr obediences and subiectes They do all this for y â— feare of the nyght that is agaynste the secrete tem tatyons of the deuyll the which in the nyght of this world doth proue and attempte the forsayd prelates verye sore to this entente that after they haue deceyued theym they maye the more easlyer bespot and defyle the for sayd Salomon that is the forsayd congregacyon of faythfull people goodes seruauÌ„tes in the whiche throughe grace the trewe Salomon Christe Iesus do the reste Welbeloued syster I haue declayred these thynges vnto you bycause ye shulde knowe that humbly we oughte to obey our prelates and superyours Obedyence is the onely vertue that bryngeth all other vertues to the soule and wheÌ„ they be there it kepeth theÌ„ there of the which obedyence the wyse man sayeth Obedyence is better then sacryfyce For by sacryfyce other straunge fleshe is deuoured and slayne but by obedyence a mannes proper fleshe and wyll is ruled He that is obedyeÌ„t speketh of vyctory for who so mekelye is obedyent to another mannes worde ouercommeth hym selfe Adam fel bycause he was inobedient Chryst mounted vp to heuen bycause he obeyed his father euen to deathe and as by Adams inobedyence there are many synners so be the obedyence of Chryste there are many iuste men And as by Adams mysfaute and synne euery man and woman is in the way of daÌ„nacyon so by y e iustyce of chryst euerye man is in the way of iustyfycacyon And as the inobedyence of oure fyrste father ingendred deathe so the obedyence of chryste ingendred lyfe Therfore my sister if for the loue of god ye be obedyente and buxum to youre superyours ye shall obtayne the kyndome of heuen saye nothynge nor be neuer rebellyous agaynste theym Loke y t iÌ„ no case ye speke agaist those y â— be ordred to rule you honoure those y e ar better theÌ„ ye in scyence and in good lyuynge honoure euery maÌ„ as his good lyfe dothe requyre and deserue do reuerence to those that are in hyghe degre do them reuerence after youre possibylyte be obedyente to your elders and humble at theyre commaundement gyue place to those that be iÌ„ authoryte and do condige seruyce to youre superyoures be obedyente to euerye man in all good workes and godlye commaundementes O Chrystes spouse obey maÌ„ so that ye offende not the wyll and pleasure of God be neuer obediente in euyll be not obedyente to hym that shall commaunde you to do that is noughtes nor neuer consent to euyl dede be obedyente to no man in euyll of what power or authorytye so euer he be notwithstandynge he commaunde you vnder payn of deathe it were better to suffre death theÌ„ at any maÌ„s coÌ„mauÌ„demente to do euyll or agayne goddes coÌ„maundementes better it were to be hanged with al abhominacyon and shame then to be dampned etenally We owe oure obedience to god onely nor to no nother maÌ„ but onely for his sake our pÌ„lates our superyours are in goddes rowme and for his sake we be obedient vnto theÌ„ Therfore good syster loke ye be to them obedient and god shall gyue you y â— crowne of euerlastynge lyfe Amen Of ê‘seuerauÌ„ce xx cha WEelbeloued Syster harken vnto saynte Hieromes wordes Men do not seke among chrysteÌ„ meÌ„ for theyr beginynges but for theyr ende and theyr contynuaunce Saynt Paule begaÌ„ but easesly yet he made a good ende Iudas Skaryot began well but he made a shrowed ende Iudas beginiÌ„g is alowed but the ende of his lyfe is reproued And sait Gregory saith y â— perseueraunce coÌ„tinuance is the vertue of al good workes he laborth iÌ„ vayn that begynneth wel and leueth of and Saynte Isydore sayeth God doth not iudge a maÌ„ after his lyuynge in tyme paste but after his ende For it is written as I fynde the so shall I iudge the. And gloryous saynt Magdalane because she contynued styll sekyng of Chryst she after his resuscytatyon deserued to se hym fyrste of all other it is also written in the Canticles In my lytle bed be nyght I sought him whome my soule doth loue Therfore I exhort you good virgyn to seke Christ Iesus iÌ„ your bed that is in rest and quietnes and in conteÌ„placyoÌ„ of y â— mynde and ye shall seke hym by nyght that is in this worlde sythynge vnto hi desiriÌ„g hym y t ye may ê‘fytely fynd hi in time to come se hi reigne iÌ„ his fathers sete seke hym contynually be good life y t ye may se his blissed face in y â— celestial kingdome of heueÌ„ I praye you good syster to saye with Dauid my soule is maruelously a thyrste that is it hathe great desyre to come to god the fountayne of lyfe And when shall I go and apere before the face of god Uerely youre soule dothe desyre god yf it loue hym aboue all thynge truelye youre soule doth desyre god yf for his loue it dispyse all earthly thynges certaynly youre soule doth desyre god and doth loue hym yf it desyre to se hym syttyng in heuen vpon the ryght hande of his father And the prophet Dauid exhortynge vs sayth Seke the Lord and ye shalbe confyrmed seke to come to his face y â— is in prosperyte in aduersyte in pouertye
of his head and delyuered hym to his enemes the whiche by by put out both his eyes And so the poore wretched man for asmoche as he behelde that he shulde not haue loked vpon he lost his syght and was in daunger of his lyfe Nowe good syster ye se that many a one by the syght of the eye haue bene bothe in daunger of body and soule Wherfore I exhorte you to make a bargayne w t your eyes that ye neuer loke wantonly vpon suche thynges as ye shuld not loke vpon beware that death enter and descende not by youre eyes into your soule but if your flesh as I haue sayde before do assale you if lechery do tempt you yf misorderd appetite do prouoke you yf the remembraunce of fornication do yet torment you set death in the presence of all these thynges cast before your eyes the ende of your lyfe call also to your remembraunce the paynes of hell that be ordeyned for synÌ„ers Let the horryble day of Iudgement be before youre eyes in your mynde and Imagyn with your self how streyght it shall be for yf it were not the great mercy of God there were no man able to abyde it The remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of y â— horryble paynes and vehement fyer of hell shall quynche the heate of fornicacyoÌ„ the memorye of the perpetuall flame fyre of hel shal cause you to forget all maner of fornicacy on For the greater heate quinched alwayes the lesser ouercommeth it And the ofte thynkynge vpon the horryble fyre of hell quinchet the vehement and burnynge fyre of fornicacy on Good syster I beseche GOd to gyue you trew chastite bothe of body and soule ¶ Of abstinence the .xxiiij. chapiter THat is called a perfyte faste when we fast outwardely and pray inwardly By fastynge mans prayer is soone harde By fastynge prayenge mans soule is ioyned to the angels and coupeled to God Fastynge is as stronge armoure to feyght agaynst the deuyll as may be by fastynge and prayenge the wycked spirytes are ouercommed My welbeloued syster in GOd wyll ye knowe howe fornycacion maye be best restrayned and kepte vnder Ye good brother yf it please you I pray you shew me harken then vnto me By fastynge and by abstynence fornicacyon is soone layde a syde By fastynge voluptuous pleasure lechery is quicly restrayned Neuer fyll your self luxuriousnes shall neuer ruell you Abstynence ouercoÌ„meth y â— flesh abstinence doth brydell bodely pleasure abstyneÌ„ce doth break diminyshe all fleshly lust mo cyon Abstynence dothe vtterlyè destrowe the power of fornicacion hunger and thryst doth ouer come all carnall concupyscence and lust That soule that is gyuen to diuersyte of meates and drynkes leseth the vigure and effecte of good prayer That soule that of longe seasoÌ„ hathe not ben repasted nor fed w t the word of god is lyke the bodye y t hathe ben long without meat Saynt hierome sayeth that a maÌ„ muste fast meanely w t moderacyon least that to moch fasting shuld febly she the stomacke For meat moderately takeÌ„ is both ê“fytable for y â— soule the bodye A fat bellye and moch aboundauÌ„ce of meat causeth dull wyttê dull vnderstaÌ„dyng Also it is moche better dayly to eate lytle then to eate but seldome and moche he fasteth well that exchuyt syn Better it is to abstayne froÌ„ vice then from meat but to abstayne that ye may afterwardê fyl your selfe is not laudable nor suche abstinence is nothyng coÌ„mendable A voyde bely prouoketh a man to prayer and deuocioÌ„ and a ful belly to slepe and slouthfulnesse kepe the bodye drye by the desyre of the kyngdome of heueÌ„ to thentent ye may fulfyll that is wrytten My soule my flesh doth greatly desyre god y â— flessh doth then desyre God when by moch fastyng it abstayneth and wareth drye Good syster yf ye ê‘fytly desyre god in this mortal lyfe he shal satisfye coÌ„teÌ„t your mind iÌ„ y â— glorious kiÌ„dome of heueÌ„ abstineÌ„ce doth both kil giue lyfe for it quyckeneth y â— soule mortifyeth the bodye AbstyneÌ„ce doth edifye ingeÌ„der vertue in mans soule destroyeth the vicyousnes of y â— body We shuld w t all diligeÌ„ce despyse glotony the coÌ„cupyscens desyre of dilicate viandes meates shulde be left and litle regarded A man shuld not care for his belye when the belye is to moche replenyshed then the bodye is inflamed with wantoÌ„nesse lechery We shuld not eare to fyll the bellye but to sustayne the bodye For when the belye is full then is the fyer of fornycacyon kyndeled that body that is chasted and kepte lowe by abstynence is neuer inflamed nor hurt with the fyre of voluptuous pleasure The ryche man clothed in purpure the which to euery maÌ„nes iudgment syght lyued in great abundauÌ„ce bycause he wold not abstayne in this world from immoderate meates and drynkes was caste into the fyre of hell desyred but one droppe of water to refreshe cole his tunge withall yet he could not haue it nor neuer shal And as be abstinence all vertue is roted and edyfyed in the soule of manne so be the abundauÌ„ce of meate and drynke vice is noryshed in maÌ„s bodye nor man shall neuer obtayne the perfytenes of vertue yf he do not fyrste tame and refrayne the glotony of the belye The thre childreÌ„ were not burnt nor coÌ„sumed because they were abstinent and sober And Danyell was delyuered frome the lyon because he was abstinent No man of hym selfe can repell temptacyon yf he refrayne not froÌ„ iÌ„moderate eatiÌ„g driÌ„kyng The systers demauÌ„de DEare brother I praye you to tel me how I shuld chasten my body w t abstineÌ„ce The brothers answere GOod syster ye muste nourishe your body vnder suche a fassioÌ„ y â— it waxe not prowd and rebellyous ye muste so kepe it vnder and so represse it that it fall not ye must so refreshe your flesshe that it maye do you seruyce so chasteÌ„ your body with abstinence that it peryshe not if ye punish your body more then nedethe ye kyll your freÌ„de yf ye kepe it to waÌ„toÌ„ly ye nourish your enmy Good syster in all abstynence beware ye hurt not your bodye but the vycyousnes therof absteyne froÌ„ meates loke youre face be pale and not ruddy loke youre body be leane and not fatte eate so that ye maye be alwaies a hungerde neuer iÌ„ferce nor fyll your bellye with moche meate Be euermore a hungerde a thryste in abstynence and leanenes ye can not ouercome temptacyon yf ye chasteÌ„ not your body For by moch eatyng drinkyng lechery dothe encrece y â— abuÌ„dauÌ„ce of wine daiÌ„ty metes doth styr y â— fleshe to bodyly pleasure luxuriusnes is euermore ioyned to saturite y â— cold of moch watchiÌ„g doth quench the heate of carnal lust euyl spirytes are very moche there where is suê‘fluytye of meate drynke Therfore good syster in Chryst Iesu yf ye inteÌ„d as I haue
of the lorde and drynke of his cup vnworthelye shalbe culpable of his blode body that is to say he shall syn greatly fylthyly bespotte his soule why so For there coÌ„meth y t is bespotted noughtê to that thynge y t is good And therfore maÌ„ shulde proue hym selfe that is he shuld reasoÌ„ w t hym selfe so eate of this bread drynke of this cuppe As though s Paule woide say that euery maÌ„ shuld coÌ„syder his owne lyuynge and pourge his mynde of al synne myschefe to the tent he may worthely come vnto y e blessed sacrameÌ„t of y e auter For who so receyueth the precyous body blode of Christ Iesu vnworthelye he doth eate driÌ„ke his owne iudgmeÌ„t that is to say he eateth the cause of his daÌ„nacioÌ„ And of this thiÌ„g saith s I sidore that al such as lyue yl in chrystes church receyuiÌ„g dayly the blessed body of Chryst thiÌ„kyng y â— by such dayly coÌ„munyoÌ„ they may be pourged of theyr sinnes I wolde al such shulde know sayth he that it ê“fyteth theÌ„ nothyng towarde the purgation of theyr sinnes for it is writteÌ„ Why hath my louer coÌ„mytted so many crymes synnes in my house holy fleshe shal neuer purge hiÌ„ of his fawtes Therfore he y t wyll receiue y e blessed body of Chryst must or euer he receiue it staÌ„de stedfast iÌ„ faith delectioÌ„ of god And saiÌ„t IohnÌ„ sayth He that eateth my fleshe drynketh my bloode is in me I in hym as thoughe he wolde say he is and doth dwell in me that doynge good workes fulfilleth my coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes For if dwell not fyrst in me by fayth good workes and I in hym he can not eate my flesshe nor driÌ„ke my blode What thing is it theÌ„ that meÌ„ receyue the which do coÌ„menly receyue the sacrament of the auter They do receyue it in very dede but some receiue and eate his flesh driÌ„kth his blode spiritually sacrameÌ„tally some other receyue it onely sacrameÌ„tally that is the very bodye of Christ vnder the sacrameÌ„t but not the thyng of the sacrameÌ„te This sacrameÌ„t is called the very body of Chryste borne of the cleane byrgyn Mary but y â— spirituall thyng therof is Christes fleshe The good christeÌ„ maÌ„ being iÌ„ the state of grace receiueth this sacrameÌ„t both sacrameÌ„tally spirytually but so doth not the euyl leuer for he receueth it vnworthely therfore as sayth the apostle he receyuethe his iudgement for he ê“ued not him selfe or euer he receyued it nor made no dyffereÌ„ce betwyxte the flesshe of Christe other flesshe What thing doth y e mysliuer receyue theÌ„ Truly he receyueth nother fleshe nor blode spiritually nor yet for his soule helth but he receyueth his iugemeÌ„t to his daÌ„pnatyoÌ„ not w t standynge it apeare that he receiueth y e sacrameÌ„t as other do And so the one receyueth the body of Christe to his saluacyoÌ„ the other to his daÌ„pnacyon He that receyued it as Iudas did shalbe daÌ„pned w t Iudas And he that receiueth it with saynt Peter other faythfull people deuoutly laufully is saÌ„ctytyed in y e bydy of Chryst w t. s Peter the other apostles Harken good syster vnto saynt Austen wordes He that coÌ„meth to theauter to be howfled being chast of body cleane of harte w t a pure coÌ„scyeÌ„ce a deuout mynde shall come to the heuenly auter before the face of god Welbeloued syster lysten to the wysdome of the sarpeÌ„t wheÌ„ y â— sarpeÌ„t doth iÌ„tend to driÌ„ke or euer he come to y â— wel he iÌ„forceth hym self to vomyt out al such venym as is in hym then he drynketh I praye you good syster to folowe the serpente in this thynge and to vomyt out all your poyson or euer ye come to the fouÌ„tayne that is or euer ye come to receyne the very body blode of our lorde Christ Iesus vomyt oute all hatred anger malyce enuy euyll wyll hurtfull thoughtes forgyue al your neyghboures all such thynges as they haue wronfully done vnto you that your synnes also may be forgyueÌ„ you For the lorde sayth forgyue ye shal be forgyuen and doyng thus as I haue told you ye may come to the fouÌ„tayne of lyfe that is to Christ Iesus the louÌ„tayne of all goodnes For he sayth I am y â— breade of lyfe y t is cuÌ„ froÌ„ heueÌ„ of this breade speketh Da. Men hathe eateÌ„ aÌ„gels breade and not w tstaÌ„dynge this breade came from heuen yet because it is a bodely thiÌ„g it was nothyng coÌ„uenyent for angels but that thynge onely that was prefygurde mente by y t breade wyne God is y e angels bread the sacrameÌ„t of y e auter is his very flesshe blode the whiche man doth eate and driÌ„ke spirytually and by the selfe same thiÌ„ge that angels do lyue by in heuen by the selfe same man doth lyue iÌ„ earth for that thyng that man doth receyue is spirytuall but as the apostle sayth Some that were in wildernes did eate this meat spiritually yet they be deade so it is now in goddê church For to some the body of Chryst is very lyfe to some other it is payne and the punysh meÌ„t of syn withoute doute this blessed sacrament is a very lyfe to those y â— be goddes seruauÌ„tes to those that throughe neglygeÌ„ce ignorauÌ„ce are meÌ„bres of the deuyl it is death Wherfore good syster A exhorte you y e wheÌ„soeuer ye receiue this blessed sacrameÌ„t y â— ye stedfastly beleue it to be a nother thynge theÌ„ it semeth to be by y â— taste Here good vyrgyn what y â— prest saith when he doth coÌ„seerate this blessed sacrameÌ„t We desyre pray saith the prest that this oblacyoÌ„ may be made blissed by the which we be blessed and to be wrytteÌ„ by y â— which all we are wrytten in heuen ratifyed by the which we are rekened to be in Chryst and to be reasonable by the whiche we are delyuered froÌ„ all bestyalyte that it wyll please god to make it acceptable to that inteÌ„t that we beyng dysplesed w t our myslyuyng maye be acceptable vnto his blessed son Christe Iesus Therfore good vyrgyn Christe as I haue tolde you be fore in hym selfe dothe fede the angelles in heuen and also in earth he in hiÌ„selfe doth norysh all good faythful people Christ by his onely preseÌ„ce doth fede y â— angelles in heaueÌ„ Christe of hiÌ„selfe doth fede vs by faith iÌ„ this worlde that we faynt not in the way Christ doth repast both angell man of hym selfe yet he remayneth holle in him selfe O how good is this bread O how maruaylous a thynge is it by y â— whiche the angelles of heuen we of the worlde are satysfyed Chryst is y â— breade of life which is the angels fode and refectyoÌ„ and our onely redeÌ„ption Now good sister pray vnto god w t all your hart minde
his synnes to memory the other is wheÌ„ the soule with great depe sythes desyreth to come to euerlastyng ioye the soule of euery iust maÌ„ is moued by coÌ„puÌ„ctioÌ„ foure maner of wayes The fyrst is by y â— remembrauÌ„ce of his syn the seconde by the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the paynes y â— be to coÌ„e The thyrd is by remeÌ„braunce of the peregrinacion of this mortall lyfe The fourth by the desyre of heueÌ„ the whiche the soule of man dothe greatly couet Euery wretched synÌ„er knoweth that god doth then visyte hym when that by compunction he is prouoked to wepe for S. Peter dyd wepe through greate compunction when god beheld hym for it is wryten that oure lorde turned hym and behelde peter and that incontinently he went out and wepte bytterly of this speaketh the Psalmist God loked and the earth moued and trembled The earth doth then tremble when the poore wretched synner is moued to bewayle his si 〈…〉 es Wherfore good syster I wolde counsell you to call your synnes to remembrauÌ„ce in prayer and sorowfulnesse for his prayer is not cleane nor yet acceptable that prayeth w tout coÌ„punction or contrition I pray you to harken vnto the examples of holy sayntes y e which by coÌ„punction and lamentacyoÌ„ haue obtayned of god pardon and forgiuenes of theyr sinnes As Samuels mother by compunctyon deserued to haue a chylde and ferthermore she optayned of god the gyfte of prophecie Dauid by long waylyng and coÌ„punctioÌ„ optayned pardoÌ„ of his aduenture and murther for the prophet sayde thus vnto hym Thou shalt not die for the lorde hath translated thy synne And good father Tobias by such coÌ„puÌ„ction teares was restored to his syght and holpen of his pouerte for the angel Raphael sayde thus vnto hym be glad quod Raphael agayne be of good chere for y â— shalt be shortly holpeÌ„ And the glorious Magdalene through greate coÌ„punction and manyfolde teares harde these wordes of GOddes owne mouthe thy synnes be for gyneÌ„the Good syster I haue recyted these exaÌ„ples of holy sayntes vnto you that your teares lameÌ„tacyon for your missautes with coÌ„punction maye be swete vnto you for coÌ„punction is a desyrefull treasure and to mans mynde a ioye ineâ—arrable he that prayeth with trewe compuÌ„ction dothe prophet his soule very moche A stronge champion is no lesse worthy of prayse beynge in lamentation then beynge in battayle consyderynge then that after oure bapteme we haue bespotted and defyled our lyfe with stynken syn set vs nowe baptyse rynse our coÌ„scyence w t teares for where is wepynge there is spiritual goostly fyre the whiche shall illuminate kyndle y e secretes of maÌ„s mynde y â— weping the teares of peniteÌ„t ê‘sons are vnto God as a chrystendome Welbeloued syster in christ yf ye haue coÌ„punctioÌ„ ye are happe for coÌ„punctioÌ„ of y e hart is the health of y e soule the coÌ„punction of the mynde thought is the illumination of the soule for theÌ„ the soule is kynled when that by coÌ„punction it is moued to wepe the coÌ„punctioÌ„ of teres is the remission of synnes for then a mans synnes are for gyuen hym when with bytter wepyng and teares he remeÌ„bereth them coÌ„punction dothe brynge the holy gost to man for as soone as the holy goost doth visyte mans mynde by and by the poore synner shall bewayle his mislyuynge ¶ The sisters demaunde O Good brother I requyre you to tell me for what causes in this mortall lyfe we shulde wepe The brothers answere GOod sister there are foure causes the first is for our owne synnes The second for the wretchednes and misery of this worlde The thyrde is for the compassyon of our neyghbour The fourth is for the pleasure of the celestiall and heuenly rewarde He wepte for his synnes that sayde I wyl washe my bed euery nyght and with my teares I wyll wete the couerlet of my bed And agayne bewaylynge the misery of this wretched worlde he sayde Alas I am in great sorowfulnesse for why my labour that is my lyfe is prolonged and in these my wretchednes I dwel not among good men but among synners the whiche are vnderstanded by this worde cedar my soule hath ben very longe absent from god Also y â— good lord wepte through pite and coÌ„passyon apon Lazarus and apon the citye of Hierusalem sayeng for yf thou hadest knowen the tyme of the visitacyon c. And S. Paule commaundeth that we shuld reioyce with those that are in ioye and wepe with those that wepe and beynge in greate heuynesse he sayde Who is sycke and I am not sycke And they y â— are good iuste men wepe for ioye of the â—eward of lyfe euerlastyng rehersynge the wordes of Dauyd say enge We sat apoÌ„ the floodes of BabiloÌ„ wepte wheÌ„ we remembered the SyoÌ„ that is wheÌ„ we remeÌ„bre our celestiall rewarde This preseÌ„t life is but death for it is ful of misery wretchednes the which thynges are not in heuen but only in this preseÌ„t lyfe the which is neuer at home but alwayes as vanished for beyng in this world we be neuer in the citie but wanderynge abrode and as straungers as it is wryten we haue no parpetuall demore in this worlde but we seke search for a place y t is to come that is for heueÌ„ Therfore good syster fyrst aboue all thynge I wold ye shuld bewayle your synnes secoÌ„darely y e wretchednes of this world Thyrdly your neyghbour fourthly for the loue of the celestiall reward Honest virgyn loke ye pray to god w t good deuocion desyrynge hym to gyue you trewe coÌ„punctioÌ„ of mind and of harte contrition for compunction causeth god to be with vs as he himselfe sayeth I and my father wyl come to him that hath coÌ„punction and we wyl tary with hym Where is moche wepinge and wayling there are lightly no euyll thoughtes and yf paraduenture at some tyme they approche nygh yet they take no rote and therfore they can not abyde longe wepynge causeth a man to haue good confidence in God Harken good syster vnto goddes owne wordes Stand vp good doughter and come vnto me for truely wynter is gone and past the floures begyn to appeare and the tyme of loppynge is come for we haue harde the voyce of the turtyll in our countrey that is to say the voyce of the preachers and of the apostles are hard in goddes churche This turtyll is a very chast byrde whose custome is to buylde her nest in hygh trees and by her is signified the apostelles and other good docters whiche may say our inhabitauÌ„ce and dwellynge place is in heuen the whiche turtyll rather mourneth then syngeth whose mournynge dothe signyfye the teares and sorowfulnes of good sayntes exortynge there frendes to mournynge and lamentacyon sayenge be petyfull and mourne you Therfore welbeloued syster taken an example by y â— turtyll and wepe vntyll
for who so euer he be that appereth heuy to the holy gooste his prayer is not acceptable but feble and not hable to asceÌ„de vnto god wherfore leaue all heuynesse leaue of to be heuy set all heuynesse apart gyue not youreself to heuynes coÌ„tinue not in heuynesse set not your hart mind apon heuynes heuynesse is one of the seuen princypall vices therfore goddes seruaÌ„tes shuld clerely and vtterly auoyde and flye it Wherupon the holy S Isedore sayeth yf ye haue loued well and mercyfully ye shall neuer be heuy for a good lyfe is alwayes in ioye and gladnesse Therfore honest virgyn auoyd all heuinesse for as the mothe coÌ„sumeth the gowne and as the worme gnaweth asuÌ„dre and consumeth the woode so dothe heuinesse noye hurt mannes harte Therfore pourge youre mynde from al worldly mournefulnes and so shall your oration prayer be acceptable vnto God wepe for youre synnes and reioyce in the loue of god bewayle your mysfautes when ye remembre them and reioyce in the hope of the celestyal and eternal reward be sory for youre synnes and neglygences and mery that GOd hathe promysed you to come to heuen be heuy for suche thynges as ye haue mysdone and glad of the eternall rewarde to the which I desyre and pray god to gyde and to brynge you Of the loue of god the xij Chap. THe lorde sayeth he that loueth me wyll kepe my commaundemeÌ„tes and my father shal loue him and we wyl come vnto him and dwell with hym And saynt Iohan sayeth We loue god for he hath fyrst loued vs he y e loueth god shall pray for the forgyuenesse of his synnes and take hede he fal no more My wel beloued syster loue almyghtye god and call vnto hym for help for the loue of God is the very lyfe and his hatred very death God wyll not be beloued onely with worde but with harte and good workes he loueth not god that dispyseth his commaundementes the mynde of hym that loueth God is not in earth but in heueÌ„ and euermore desyryng of celestyal and heuenly thyngê Good syster I exhorte you to loue God aboue all thynge We shulde rather loue GOD then our freÌ„des why so For he hath created and made bothe vs and them with his owne haÌ„des that is through his owne propre vertue and power as it is wryten He hath made vs and not we haue made oure selfe Also he hath gyuen vs greater gyftes then eyther father or mother dyd and therfore we ought to loue hym aboue them Yt is a greate fooly to loue any thynge more then GOD yea he synneth greatly that loueth anye creature more then GOD he is in greate arrour that preferth the loue of any creature aboue the loue of GOd and therfore God must be beloued aboue al thing O honest virgyn I pray you to say thus by chryst Iesus w t loue and dilection My welbeloued god of whome I am greatly beloued the which pastorth amoÌ„g the liles vntyl it be day that is aslonge as it is daye and tyl the cloudes go downewardes that is vntyl the cloude of this present lyfe swage and auoide and that the day appeare that is vntyl the clerenesse of the spiritual beatitude blysse doth appeare It is a poynt of Iustice to loue god with al your harte and wyllyngly to cleue vnto hym And to loue the soueraygne goodnes is soueraigne beatitude he that loueth god is good Yf he be good he must nedes be blessed how moch more a man loueth god so moch the more he is blessed Dilectation and loue is the proper vertue of saiÌ„tes I haue sayd these thynges vnto you to thenteÌ„t that the loue of this traÌ„sytory worlde shulde not seperate you from god And hearewith I pray you to tell and to declare vnto vs somwhat of the loue of your spouse Chryst Iesu My louer is vnto me as a handfull or a shefe of myrre he restyth apoÌ„ my pappê Declare this thing a litle more playnly to vs that we may the better vnderstande it My louer I saye is vnto me as a litle shefe of myrre he shall rest betwexte my pappes the place of a mans hart is betwext the pappê that is to say the memory y e dilectioÌ„ the loue of christ Iesu shalbe euermore in my hart And whether it be in prosperite or in aduersyte I wyl euermore cal and reduce to my memory al the godnesse that he shewed me for he hath loued me and suffered his death for me and is asceÌ„ dyd to heuen to theÌ„tent I shuld come vnto hym He dothe dayly call me sayng Leaue the world my spouse come vnto me and ye shalbe crowned The lefte hand of my louer and spouse is vnder my head y t is to saye the gyfte of the holy goost resteth in me in this present lyfe and I wolde the vnderstandynge of holy scrypture were in my mind that I myght loue hym know hym perfytly His ryght hande shal in brayce me that is he shal conuey and brynge me to eternall lyfe blysse O good syster saye thus vnto the handemaydes of GOD vnderset me with floures vnderbolster me with appelles for why I consume away in the loue of my spouse Chryst Iesu O my holy systers y â— loue God aboue all thynge and prefer no worldly thinge aboue his moste swetest loue vpholde me by your good examples shew me howe I maye fynde my louer Chryst Iesus for I am sycke for the loue of my spouse This loue is swete this sycknesse is verye hooly this dilectyon is chaste this coniunction is intemerate this copulacyon is inuiolate this imbrasynge is with out any spot of synne O my holy systers sustayne me with the floures of your good examples of your hooly coÌ„uerfation for I am sycke for the loue of my spouse Uerely ye kepe your bed of contemplacyon for his sake yf ye loue hym aboue all thynges verely ye are sycke for goddê sake yf ye esteme that is celestiall aboue that is earthly verely ye consume and waste awaye in the dilection and loue of chryst and in youre bed of inwarde dilection and swetnesse yf ye be stronge in holy operations and workê feble in worldly worke and operatyon Good syster yf ye loue Chryst with all your harte nor prefer nothynge aboue his loue ye shall be with hym in great ioye in the kyngdome of heuen yf ye folow God with all youre mynde and loue hym with all youre harte without any doute ye shall be with hym in heuen and folowe hym with other hooly virgyns whether soeuer he go Yf ye cleue vnto god with all deuotion and with great desyre do sythe in this present worlde to come vnto hym without doute ye shall be with hym in greate ioye and pleasure in the hyghe palece of heuen and with other holy vyrgyns ye shall synge to his laude and prayse holy songes and deuoute hymnes as it is wrytten in
in all vertue Ye good brother and I pray you shewe me harken then vnto me If ye wyl increase your vertues loke ye disclose theÌ„ not but hyde theÌ„ for feare of elatyon hyde youre good workes for feare of arrogaÌ„ce euermore flye to be sene or estemed such as in very dede ye be hyde your vertue opeÌ„ your mysfautes and y â— vices of your hart mynd And if ye euer dyd well or sayde well neuer shew it in the preseÌ„ce of other open incoÌ„tynently your euyll thoughtes for synne detectyd with humilite displeasauÌ„ce is lyghtly pardoned forgyueÌ„ synne doth encrease by keping iÌ„ hydiÌ„g therof for yf it be cloked of a lytle it waxeth great if it be manifestid shewed out it decreaseth and agayne if it be kept in it increasethe whenne vertue is cloked in then it augmenteth and increasethe yf it come abrode be knowen it vanisheth awaye decreaseth Vertue throughe vain glory coÌ„meth to naughtes but yf it be hyddeÌ„ w t humilite kepte in it augmenteth meruelously Wherfore good syster as cryue your counsell all youre actes to god and iÌ„ al your operatioÌ„s workes cal vpoÌ„ god for help ascryue al thing to y â— gift grace of god nor appropriate nothing to your owne merites presume nothynge vpon youre vertue HarkeÌ„ good syster vnto the wordes of y â— apostle he that glorifyeth shuld glorify in god Therfore let all your glorify cacyon laude be in youre spouse Chryste Iesu Of humilyte the .xxxix. cha ODrare syster harkeÌ„ vnto youre spouse Chryste Iesus the whiche sayth in his gospel Lerne of me for I am meke huÌ„ble of hart good syster humilyate yourself vnder the myghty hand of god y â— iÌ„ time of tribulacyoÌ„ he may ex alte you helpe you y â— coÌ„scyeÌ„ce of a virgiÌ„ shuld euermore be huÌ„ble heuy y t be humilite it may be pÌ„serued froÌ„pride by heuines froÌ„ all lasciuyusnes wantonnes humylyte is the most souerayne vertue a vyrgyn caÌ„ haue pryde is a very euyl vyce and a myscheuous a vyrgyn that is huÌ„ble not w tstaÌ„dyng she be but euyll decked before god is glorious in vertue but the proude stately virgyn not w tstanding in the syght of maÌ„ she be good well besene yet in goddê syght she is but vyle reproued why so For the soule of the iust maÌ„ is goddes seate and he sayth vpon whome shuld I rest but on ly vpon him that is huÌ„ble quyet feryng my wordes Good syster be haÌ„ble grouÌ„d your selfe vpon humylyte be the lest of al other neuer preferre youre selfe aboue other repute not your selfe to be superyour to other but thike all other to be aboue you for y â— more higher ye be so moch the more ye ought to humilitate your selfe in all thynge ye shall come to the glory yf ye kepe humylyte and the more huÌ„ble and meke that ye shewe your selfe y â— more hygher shalbe your glory come downe that ye maye ascéde hymylyate youre selfe that ye maye be exalted Exalte not your selfe lest ye be humilyated deposed For it is wrytteÌ„ who so humilyateth mekethe hym selfe shalbe eleuated exalted and he that exalteth hym selfe shalbe humylyated broughte lowe the hygher a man doth fal the more greuous is his fal humilytye knoweth not what fallyng meaneth humilyte is subiecte to no ruyne O good virgi remeÌ„bre y t god came very mekely iÌ„ to this worlde that he humylyated hiÌ„ selfe in forme of a seruauÌ„t was obedieÌ„t to his father vnto dâ—th Good sister walke folowe his example fotesteppê be vyle dispised abiecte displesauÌ„t in your owne sight for he y t iudgeth hym selfe here to be vyle in the sight of god he shalbe hyghly estemed he that hateth hym selfe in dyspleasure shal please almyghty god hyghly O drare syster be humble lowe in your owne conceite and presence that ye maye be made great hyghe in the presence of god almighty how moch y e lesse ye esteme your selfe so moch the more shal god esteme you If ye haue profouÌ„de perfyte humilytye ye shall beyng assocyated with the wyse vyrgyns reioyce in the eternall blys of heuen Of pacyence the .xl. cha THe lorde sayth blessyd be they that lyue peacibly for they shall be named the chyldren of god Then good sister yf they y e lyue in rest peace be blessid and called the chyldreÌ„ of god pacyence is very necessary for you pacyeÌ„ce is a ê‘fyte thiÌ„ge of it selfe a pacieÌ„t virgyn is rekened to be wyse she that is impacieÌ„t testy is counted a foole ye may yf ye so wyl be marterde w tout any sworde that is yf ye kepe true pacyeÌ„ce A pacyent person shall come to the companye of angelles but the enuyous and the impacyent shall be partycypant part taker with the deuel the peacyble man auoydeth all dyscorde and the impacieÌ„t styreth vp stryfe debate a meke vyrgyn is conteÌ„t to take to suffre iniury a pacyent mayde prepareth her harte as a place for god to dwell in Why so for Christ Iesusis the very peace and is wonte to rest in peace the doughter of peace shuld loue peace O good vyrgi ye shulde rather prepare youre selfe to take and to suffre iniury theÌ„ to do any lerne rather to suffre harme theÌ„ to do harme Be pacyeÌ„t modestyous amiable loue peace be at peace with euery maÌ„ loue euery body in charyte mekenes stryue to loue all other better then they loue you But yet be not to lyght in loue breake no frenshyp be alwayes pacyent in mynde be geÌ„tyll and affable in your wordes and coÌ„municacion shewe your selfe mery spryted fle all occasioÌ„ of debate despyse stryfe lyue in peace and rest And good syster yf it be possible be at one w t al the world ouercome al slauÌ„derous iniurys w t patience with the buckler of patience breake y â— dartes of all iniury Holde out the shylde of good conscyence agaynst the sharpe and litigius tongue for as s Paule sayeth The wytnesse of good coÌ„scyence shalbe sufficient for you Ye are well armed w t vertue yf ye hurt not hym y t burieth you ye are worthie of great glorye if ye forgyue hym let hym go whome ye may displese The pece of god which passeth al vnderstaÌ„dyng defeÌ„de your harte soule froÌ„ all parel dauÌ„ger ¶ Of concorde the xli ca. THere are syxe thynges sayeth the lord that my soule hateth and the seuenth is that I detest and abhorre that is a maÌ„ y t soweth dyscorde among his brethren he is acursed that soweth dyscorde among goddes seruantes he dothe greatly agaynst god y t breaketh peace and coÌ„corde And he that causeth dyscorde amonge goddes seruantes dothe chryste great iniury why so For chryst is our peace y â— which hath made of two thynges one y
â— is the angels maÌ„ to be of one accorde The coÌ„cord of euyll meÌ„ is y â— contrariete of good meÌ„ And as we shuld desyre y e good men might be in peace so we shulde desyre that the peace concorde and vnite of euyl men myght be broken For concorde and vnyte to do euyll is not laudable But concorde to do well to serue GOD to folowe Iustice is laudable And the congregacyons and commyng togyther of Chrysten people into the church is to serue god in one spiryte in one wyll For so shulde they do that inhabyte goddes house For it preuayleth not to be togyther if our wylles be not al one for GOD loueth moche better the humilyte of the wyl then the humilite of the place We be many togyther in one house of dyuers maners of dyuers hartê of diuers mindê al these thigê must agre in one intencyon in one mynde and one loue in god Therfore we muste be all of one mynde of one wyl to serue god and to loue hym w t all oure hartes w t all your soules and oure neyghboure as oure selfe And therfore concorde is verye necessarye for vs for yf I folow my wyll pleasure you yours he his then must there nedes be diuision coÌ„tention anger the whiche thynges as sayth paule are workes of the fleshe They that do suche thynges shall neuer obtayne the kyngdome of heueÌ„ Bileue me good syster all our fastyng praynge sacrifice pleaseth not god so moch as dothe good coÌ„cord and therfore he sayeth Go thy wayes fyrst and recoÌ„cyle thy selfe to thy brother and then come and offer vp thy gyfte Honorable syster the vertue of coÌ„corde is very great to warde god w tout the which our sacrifyce can not please him ¶ The sisters demaunde TEll me good brother whether the deuyl be a ferde of any thynge The brothers answere MY worshypful syster there is nothiÌ„g y t he feareth so moch as concorde and charite yf we gyue all that euer we haue for GOddes sake he feareth it not For he getteth nothiÌ„g therby Yf we faste he feareth it not for yf he neuer eath Yf we watche he feareth it not for he neuer slepeth but yf we lyue in good concorde and charyte he feareth it verye sore why so For then we obserue kepe that thyng in earth that he kepte not in heueÌ„ And this is the cause why men saye that our holy mother the churche is as fearfull as terryble to her enemyse as is a great coÌ„panye of meÌ„ of war wel armed set in good ordre For as our enemyes be in great fere wheÌ„ they sethere aduersaryes commyng agaynst them in good aray ordre so the deuyll is in great feare wheÌ„ he seeth y â— Chrysten men be well armed w t vertue coÌ„corde vnite Therfore all we shuld lyue togither in good accorde y e is in the churche to ouercome the deuyl The handmayde of GOd that wyll lyue in coÌ„corde traÌ„quilite must fyrst of all leue and cast a way all euyll customes least by her ê‘uersite she put other to rebuke and shame Also she muste moderate her workes dedes her mouyng her wordes and al her lyfe and after the lawes of God agre with all other Therfore good syster I exhorte you to liue in good accorde and in humilite and to reuoke all hatred and stryfe to peace and concorde Use no suche wordes as may breake good agrement and concorde ¶ Of sufferaunce the xlij chapiter DEare syster lerne modestyusnesse and sufferaunce of CHRYSTE Iesu marke hym well for so doyng no man shal put you to heuines he hath suffered death for vs al and hathe lefte vs an example of sufferaunce He was beaten scourged whipte mocked bespued naylde to y â— crosse crowned w t thorne coÌ„deÌ„ned to be hanged vpon the crosse al this whyle he held his peace nor murmurd not agaynst it But yf any man doth vs iniure it is for our synnes our myscheuousnesse synfull liuynge is the cause therof for whatsoeuer doth chaunce agaynst vs all is for our synnes we shall y â— better suffer al such aduersytes yf we coÌ„syder vpon what occasion for what cause they do chauÌ„ce vnto vs. Therfore yf a maÌ„ do you displeasure speke fayre vnto him if he curse you blesse hym yf he be angery with you speake patiently vnto hym Dissolue his furiusnes w t geÌ„tyll wordes ouercome his iniquite w t softnes his malyce w t goodnes his iniure with tranquilite Good syster pÌ„pare your selfe and be alwayes redy bothe to good and euyll And as they chaunce so suffer beare them suffer both prosperite and aduersyte as they chaunce take theÌ„ mekely set not by iniurius nor by coÌ„tumelyus reproches for by despysyng of such iniurius wordes ye shall ouercome all derâ—sion by dissembulyng of suche thynges ye shal litle or nothing regarde suche mens fautes and errours And notwithstandyng good syster that men do styrre you prouoke you assayle you re proche you and blame you althoughe they speake iniuryusly vnto you and do you iniury although they prouoke you to anger do you great wronge yet for al that hold you your peace kepe youre sileÌ„ce care not for it dissemble the matter answer not to theyr iniures speake no crabbed wordes vnto theÌ„ set aparte all coÌ„tumeliê° iniurius wordê say nothiÌ„g for by holding your peace ye shal sone ouer come theÌ„ O chrystê spouse stryue agaynst these worldly greues wretchednesse be stedfast stroÌ„ge in al aduersite suffre althyng patienly take it well in worth and suffre that is commen to all men For he that troubeleth and he that is troubeled are mortall and he that doth wrong and he that suffereth wronge shall dye Byleue me good syster No man can trouble you no man can be against you if god suffered him not nor the deuyll hym selfe hathe no power vpon you but by goddes sufferaunce We muste coÌ„e to heueÌ„ by great tribulacioÌ„ yet all the passions and aduersities of this world are not to be coÌ„pared to the great glorye and ioyes of heueÌ„ It is impossible beynge a womaÌ„ but nedesye must taste the troubelsumnes and misery of this worlde And beyng in this worlde we ought to suffre euery thynge in lyke maner There is noman lyuyng in this worlde but muste nedes syghe mourne atsome times for this mortal lyfe is full of heuynesse the begynnynge of this lyfe is waylyng wepyng The chyld that is nowe borne begynneth his lyfe w t wepyng The chylde when it coÌ„meth oute of his mothers wombe or euer it laughe it wayleth mourneth worldly tribulacyoÌ„ is very necessary The stormes of this worlde are ê“fytable the more we be tormeÌ„ted troubled in this world the more we be coÌ„fyrmed the more we be vexed in this vale of mysery the more shall oure ioye be in heuen Yf we be troubled and punyshed in
deuoute soule giueÌ„ all to coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ sayth thus Ryse vp hast you my welbeloued fayre louer cuÌ„ vnto me as though he wolde say more plaiÌ„ly Ryse vp hast you my louer by delectioÌ„ faith my doue by innoceÌ„ce siÌ„plycyte my fayre syster by y e vertue of chastite Rise vp froÌ„ your swete estate y â— is froÌ„ your rest of coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ iÌ„ the which ye desyre to coÌ„teÌ„t to please me iÌ„ salmode hipnes prayer such other spiritual soÌ„ges melody hast you therfore cuÌ„ hyther y â— is come out to ê“fyte your neighboures cause theÌ„ by pÌ„dycacyoÌ„ good exaÌ„ple to folow you The vysyoÌ„ of y â— bestes in Ezechyel y â— which weÌ„t retorned not agayn do ê‘taiÌ„e to y â— coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce of y â— actiue life y â— bestê y â— weÌ„t retorned agaiÌ„e pertayne to life coÌ„teÌ„platyue for wheÌ„ maÌ„ boweth his miÌ„de therto by by through his infyrmyte he is deiected cleane tourned but after he remeÌ„breth him selfe agayne he retourneth froÌ„ that he came fro the which thyng caÌ„not be done in actyue lyfe For yf a maÌ„ fall froÌ„ it neuer so lytle by and by he is inwrapte intaÌ„gled w t vyce Often tymes the soule of maÌ„ is exalted frome the earth to heuen and ouercomed w t carnall infyrmytye it descendeth agayn from heueÌ„ to earth Also god doth vysyte manye seculer men through his greate grace doth lifte theÌ„ vp in to coÌ„templacyoÌ„ Also by his secrete vnknoweÌ„ iudgemeÌ„t he suffreth many a conteÌ„platyue maÌ„ to fall to these earthly matters so leueth them And as he y â— is deed buryed doth cease froÌ„ al worldly busynes so doth the coÌ„teÌ„platyue maÌ„ cease frome all worldly workes and as they that come froÌ„ the actyue lyfe be buryed in the quyetnes rest of conteÌ„placyoÌ„ so y â— conteÌ„platyue lyfe doth receyue theÌ„ as buryed in it that depart come froÌ„ the worldlye lyfe and as the actyue lyfe is y â— graue of the seculer and worldly lyfe so is y â— conteÌ„platyue the monumeÌ„t graue of the actyue lyfe And as good holy men at sometymes come froÌ„ the secretnes of conteÌ„platyoÌ„ to the actiue lyfe so they retourne agayne to the secretenes of lyfe contemplatyue and theyr in warde contemplatioÌ„ there to laude god where they lernde how to do good workes abrode to the laude praise of almyghtye god and as it is goddes wyl that man gyuen to coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ at some tymes shuld leaue it come abrode for other meÌ„nes profyte so at some tymes his mynde is that no maÌ„ shulde dysturbe or vnquyet theim but that they shulde rest in theyr secrete swete conteÌ„placyon the whiche thyng god doth declare for byddyng the maydeÌ„s of HierusaleÌ„ that they awake not his spouse layng O ye madens of hierusaleÌ„ I adiure you by the wylde gottes hartes of the feldes that ye awake not my louer vntyll she haue lust to ryse that is to say that ye call not vp nor awake not the deuour soule gyueÌ„ to coÌ„teÌ„platyon ocupyed in prayer dyuyne lectures nor prouoke her not to any vtward operacyon vntyll that she wyll her selfe that is awake her not vntyl y â— tyme of her coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ be exspyred vntyll she wyll be awaked froÌ„ her interyor reste swete quietnes yet iÌ„ this mortal lyfe there is no man that can ê‘fytely conteÌ„plate god as saythe saynt IohnÌ„ in his apocalypsys There was scylence in heuen aboute halfe an hoüre heuen is taken for the soule of euery iust maÌ„ as god sayth by the prophet Esay Heuen is my seate so that when quyetnes of lyfe contemplatyue is in the mynde then there is scyleÌ„ce iÌ„ heueÌ„ y â— is in the soule for the trybulacyon of all earthly thiÌ„ges are theÌ„ in quyet far froÌ„ maÌ„s cogitacioÌ„ thought But for asmoch as coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ caÌ„not be ê‘fyte iÌ„ this worlde we sayde not that there was scyleÌ„ce in heuen a hole houre but halfe an houre but he that wyl lyue ê‘fytely in coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ must leue all worldlye matters of this speaketh God in y â— Cantycles I slepe but my harte is a wake as though he wolde saye more playnly WheÌ„ I slepe and kepe me froÌ„ worldly troubles inwardly in my mynde I reuolue thiÌ„ke vpon celestyall spirituall thyngê Also y â— arche of Noe the which was double chaÌ„berd sygnyfyeth the lyfe actyue coÌ„teÌ„platiue of y â— which two the actyue is lowest the coÌ„teÌ„platyue hyghest And it hadde as some say thre chaÌ„bers y â— which do sygnifye thre orders of meÌ„ that are coÌ„prysed in the church that is those y â— ar maried those that are contynent and those that lyue chast as virgyns of this contemplacioÌ„ like god saieth in his gospell Yf ye wyll be perfyte sel al y â— ye haue giue all to the poore and ye shall haue a treasoure in heuen come folow me And agayne he sayeth Mary hathe chosen the best parte the whiche shall not be taken from her For the lyfe contemplatyue shal neyther be taken awaye in this lyfe nor in no nother but the actyue life taketh his end in this world So doth not the lyfe contemplatyue for it continueth for euermore The lyfe actyue doth end in this world the coÌ„templatyue begynneth heare is made perfyte in heuen Good syster I exhorte you for the loue of god to despyse this present worlde and for his loue to leue of all worldly cares thoughtes Gyue all your mynde study to god Let no worldly care w tdraw you froÌ„ goddes seruyce Auoyde caste froÌ„ you al such thynges as may let youre good purpose And I wolde couÌ„sell you to hate w tall your harte mynde all that the worlde doth loue Be deade in this world and with draw your selfe as a deade persone froÌ„ this present lyfe and as a dead ê‘son desyre not y â—glorye of this world Good syster haue no mynde vpoÌ„ the worlde but euen as thought ye were beryed withdrawe your selfe from all worldly businesses for yf ye so do ye shal optayne y â— eternall and euerlastyng blysse ¶ Of curiosite che lij cha MY welbeloued Syâ—er I exhorte you to study coÌ„tinually to profyte in good workes and y â— ye desyre not the vanites whiche other do desyre But I exhorte you to coÌ„syder the goodnes ye shulde do for a certayne wyse man sayeth In vaniteâ— and vayne thinges be not curiouse nor it is not for your profyte nor yet nedefull to know that passeth mans wyt to know And reasoÌ„ wold y â— heshuld leue of to iuge other mens mindes that can not perfetely know what men thinke Why so For we iudg that y â— is vncertaine vntyl y â— lord come y â— which shal giue clere knowledge of al such thiÌ„gê which aâ— secret far froÌ„ maÌ„s knowledg shal manifestly opeÌ„ the secret counsell of
shortnes of life the lvii Chapiter DEare syster harken vnto SalomoÌ„s wordes Aâ— that ye caÌ„do do it out of hande For neyther worke nor reason nor scyence nor yet wysdome shalbe in the inferior ê‘tê to y â— which ye ar going AmaÌ„aloÌ„ly may do good iÌ„ this world for in another worlde good workes are not loked for but the reward of good workes This life is very caduke shorte wher of s Isodore sayeth y â— his thought is good and profytable y t coÌ„sydereth by the space ende of this lyfe how longe how shorte lykewyse howe miserable it is Therfore my good syster in chryste yf ye seke for the trewe waye go towarde chryst seke for eternall lyfe for that is euerlastyng and this but mortall And therfore in body ye muste be in this worlde as a dead womaÌ„ that in soule ye may be quycke and goddes seruant for he is estemed a lyue y â— is deed carnally giuyng his hoole mynde vnto GOd to whome he ê“mysed to lyue after his lawê it is a paine for a good man to lyue longe in this world for he thynketh it longe or euer he come to the perpetuall ioyes of heuen Noman knoweth the ende of his lyfe and wheÌ„ a man thynketh hym selfe moost surest therof by and by he is gone Let euerye man therfore make hast to ameÌ„de hym selfe least he departe in iniquite ende his lyfe and his misâ—iuyng together For the deuyll goeth aboute to brynge theÌ„ to ê‘petuall torment and payne at theyr last ende the which in this lyfe he inticed and brought to syn And not w t standiÌ„g a maÌ„ be both good iust yet wheÌ„ he shal depart he feareth he shalbe punyshed y â— pesable the geÌ„tyll departynge of good men out of y â— worlde causeth men to thynk y t they depart in good estate to be associated w t angels in euerlastyng ioye Of this speketh y â— spouse in the caÌ„ticles sayenge My louer is come into my garden to the crowne of blisse of all swete aromatike sauers For GOD visitinge his churche coÌ„meth vnto theÌ„ w t greate grace y â— which he knoweth hath gyuen the good sauers of good examples vertues renome vnto theyr neyghbours he taketh a delyte in gardeÌ„s reioycyng in the vertue of good soules he gathered lilies wheÌ„ he calleth his electe chosen seruaÌ„tes froÌ„ this lyfe to euerlasting ioye Wherof it is wrytteÌ„ The death of holy sayntes is very precious to god Cloth is endid by thredê a maÌ„s lyfe by dayes wheÌ„ deth coÌ„meth the soules of goddes chosen seruantes are in great teare vncertayne wether they shal be saued or daÌ„pned Sum good men at there departyng are pourged of all theyr veniall synnes SuÌ„ other at the same selfe tyme are in greate ioyfulnes remeÌ„bringe the ioyes y t ar to come And it is Goddes pleasure we shulde not knowe the tyme of our departiÌ„g bycause we shulde thynke y â— it is euermore at hand For the more that a man is vncertaine therof the more he shall applye gyue him selfe to good workes The deuyll at the departynge of all mys liuers dothe receyue theyre soules y e theyre inticers to pleasure syn maye be theyr punisshers tormenters in payne At mans departyng y e wycked spirites giue imploy all theyr diligeÌ„ce to bryng to mans remeÌ„beraunce all y â— euer they ê‘suaded them to do in this worlde and y t to brynge them theyr pore soules to euerlastiÌ„g paine The synner after his death is brought to torment and payne but the good syuer to coÌ„tinual ioye and blysse And as we do byleue that good men after theyr great paynes labour takeÌ„ in this world do rest be in quiet so muste we beleue that mildoers be in great payne tormeÌ„tes Good syster I tell you this bycause ye shulde knowe y t it is very nedeful and necessarie for vs to despyse all earthly thynges to remembre that we shall dye Harke what y â— apostle sayeth What other thinge is our lyfe but euen a vapur appearing for a whyle And Salomon sayeth Neuer put truste in the next day folowyng for ye can not tell to what chance it shall prepare you therfore my welbeloued syster ye shuld in coÌ„tynually coÌ„sider y â— ende of youre lyfe and despyse the flatterynge inticementes of this worlde to come to euerlastyng ioye bliss In all your busynesses coÌ„syder your last ende and ye shal neuer do annsse And therfore I exhort you that ye take no pleasure in these worldly trifylles For with out doute ye shall heuse truste not to these temporall thynges for theyr isno wayes to sckape dâ—ath a why shuld this wreched and slynkynge flesshe reioyce in worldly goodes consyderynge it is prepared to fede wormes This I tell you good syster because ye shulde not for gette the ordre of youre estate and condycyon Remembre ye are but asshes and that ye shall retourne to asshes that ye are but dust and shal retourne therto again and so sayde the Lorde vnto Adam Remembre also what Iob was woÌ„te to say vnto him selfe I shalbe consumed as dust and like vnto the vesture that is eaten with mothes call to remembraunce that ye shal dye and remembre it contynually that throughe the remembraunce there of ye may eschew and auoyde all vicious lyuynge ¶ Of death the .lviij. cha WHorshypfull sister I pray you to harken vnto the sainge of y â— wyse man O deth howe bytter a thing is it for hym that is in quiet restfulnesse of his substance to remember the And agayne O death thy iudgement is good to those that are in wretchednes pouerte Unto this agreeth S. I sodore saynge O death howe swete arte thou to wretches and to those that liue in bitterfulnes How plesant vnto those that be in heuynes and lamentacion Death is the ende of al worldly mysere of all wretchednes and of all calamite death bryngeth a man to the ende of all worldly tribulation but alas death commeth very late slowly to those that are iÌ„ tribulatioÌ„ Wherfore good sister it were better to dye wel then to lyue wretchedlye it were better not to be theÌ„ to dye vnhappely and myserablye ¶ The systers demauÌ„de DEre brother I pray you telme whether we shulde bewayle those that ate deade and wepe for our frendes that are departed ¶ The brothers aÌ„swere GOod sister vnto this saynt I sodore doth answer you saynge that not w t standyng pytty enforceth and wylleth vs to bewayle suche as dye in good belefe yet our fayth do the inhybyte vs to wepe for theÌ„ And therfore we shulde not wepe for the death of such good people but rather thanke god y â— it hath pleased his grace to delyuer them oute of all worldlye wretchydnes bryngyng theym as we do beleue to perpetuall lyght rest and peace And therfore we shuld not he wayle such good chrysten
the cantykels Thou that art nuryshed amonge the lilees environed and coÌ„past with the coÌ„panes of virgyns glorifyenge your spouses with glorie and giuynge them greate rewardes and giftes whethersoeuer ye go the virgyns do folowe you and syngynge behynde you they beset you and delyte and conforte you with many folde swete songes and hymnes that is with depe loue and deuoute prayer O welbeloued syster let nothiÌ„ge be swete vnto you but only chryste Iesus requere no nother loue but his onely loue no nother mans beutefulnes but his only and loke ye wepe and wayle to come to his loue and vntyll ye maye se hym syt vpon the ryght hande of his father Of the loue of thy neyghbour the .xiij. chap My welbeloued sister harkeÌ„ what the lord sayeth to his discyples Men shal know that ye are my discyples yf one of you do loue another Wherof foloweth this good lerniÌ„g that who so wyl be iÌ„teÌ„des to be christes discyple must indeuer hymselfe to loue his neyghboure as him selfe neyghbourly loue causeth no harme for the consumation of the lawe is dilection and loue And saynt Paule sayeth Walke so in loue as god hath loued vs delyuered hym selfe for vs. And saynt Iohan sayeth He that loueth his brother is in the lyght and there is no shame in hym He that hateth his brother is in darknesse and knoweth not wether he goeth for y â— darknes hath blynded hym Who so euer sayeth y â— he loueth god hateth his brother he lyeth falsely there is no trueth in hym and this is goddes commauÌ„dement that he that loueth god must loue his brother For howe shall he loue god whome he seeth not that loueth not his brother whome he seeth And salomoÌ„ sayeth a frynd is alwayes in loue and a mans brother is proued in necessite And S. austen sayth A man is ouercommed by humane felicite and the deueil by louynge of oure enemye But yet good syster amonge goddes seruantes must be no carnal loue but onely spirytual loue There is nothynge more acceptable to god then the vertue of loue nor nothing that the deuel desyreth more theÌ„ to quinche charite good spirituall loue contayneth nor hathe no shame in itselfe And loke ye thynke euery good faythfull man to be your brother and remeÌ„ber that one workemaÌ„ made vs al trew loue hath no bitternes of shame by louynge of your neyghbour ye shall lerne and knowe howe to come to the loue of god and as loue doth eleuate maÌ„s mind so dothe malyce and hatred depresse it ye can neuer loue GOd truely and as ye ought to do w t out your neyghbour nor youre neighbour without god ye haue theÌ„ trew charite if ye loue your frende in god and your enemye for Goddes sake and the more large and faruent ye are in the loue of your neyghbour y e more higher shal ye be in the loue and fauour of god Yf ye loue youre neyghbour truely your mynde is in traÌ„quilite and rest he that hateth his neyghbour is beset and compast with darknesse and enuy by louyng of your neyghbour ye shall pourge the eye of your harte and mynde se god the better Yet good syster I wolde ye shulde loue no man carnally wherupon sayeth saynt Isydore That man sayth he is very depe in earth that loueth anye mortall maâ— more then he shuld do we cannot be in goddê company if we loue not one another A frend is knowen in tyme of nicessite Yf we kepe Goddes commaundementes we muste loue oure neyghboure as oureselfe and yf a man loue his brother without dissymulatyon he shall soone please the father of heuen He that loueth his neyghboure can not commyt murther aduoutery thefte periure nor beare false wytnesse nor haue anye enuyousnesse or stryfe in hym Therfore good syster let vs euermore thinke vpon the loue of GOD and of oure neyghboure in the whiche two dependeth all the lawe and Prophettes and let vs do so indede for if we can be sory for our neyghboure when we se hym in tribulation or syckenesse in any losse or in pryson then we be of Chrystes churche but yf we be not sory for hym we be euen as people seperated from Chryste and his congregacyon For as longe as anye parte of man is adheruet and ioyned to the bodye so longe it sufferth with the bodye but after it be cut of it can not feele nor nor suffer yf a mans hande or foote or any otherpart of his body be cut froÌ„ y â— body or yf it be deuided in many partê or cast into the fyre the for sayde hande or foote feleth nothynge bycause it is deuyded from the body so in lyke maner it is with all such chrystians the whiche are nothiÌ„g sory for theyr neyghbours tribulatioÌ„ losse or necessite but rather reioyleth therin suche a neyghbour is deuyded from the body of the churche and is none of chrystes flocke Honest virgin yf we kepe trewe and ê‘fyte charite we must nedes loue al faith ful peple as our self for through suche concord charite and true dilectioÌ„ we shall appeare w t him in his glorye We loue our frendes yf we loue them for goddes sake not for theyr owne sake Wherupon sayeth S. Isodore he that intemperately and immoderately loueth his frende loueth hym more for his owne sake then for Goddes sake And who so despiseth his frende smyt ten with aduersite doth contrarye to the Iustice and goodnes of god trewloue by no maner of occasion can be defaced nor lost at no tyme for howe soeuer the worlde goeth it remayneth stedfast But there be very fewe that charitably do contynewe in frenshyp and that is reputed to be trewe loue that onely requyreth of his frende his good beneuoleÌ„ce that is loue for loue Therfore I exhorte you to loue your freÌ„des in god that is in al goodnesse and in lyke maner youre enemyes for Goddes sake as it is wryten Loue your ennemies and do good to them that hate you And yf youre ennemye be an hungerde gyue hym meate yf he be a thryst giue him drynk And agayne blesse and saye wel by them that trouble you blesse them but speake no euyll by theÌ„ DilectioÌ„ is charite charite was neuer without dilection nor dilection or loue without charite Therfore good virgyn dilectioÌ„ and loue is very necessary oute of the whiche do sprynge manye great vertues Dilection hathe two wynges the ryght wynge is the loue of god the left wyng is the loue of oure neyghboure there is no man that can flye to heuen with one wynge alone for the loue and dilection of god without the dilection and intere loue of oure neyghbour helpeth nor auaileth not to come to heueÌ„ nor the loue of our neyghboure without the loue of God preuayleth not to come to eternall beatitude Wyse and prudent virgyn take these two wynges vnto you that is the loue of GOD and the loue of your neighbour
for so without any impediment or let ye shall flye and come to the celestyall kyngdome of heueÌ„ Of compassyon the xiiij Chapiter MY welbeloued syster lysten what the lorde Chryst Iesu sayeth All suche goodnesse as ye wold other meÌ„ shulde do to you loke ye do it vnto theÌ„ And s Paule sayeth be mery w t those that are mery wepe be sad with those that be sad And agayne receyue the poore man vnto you be patient with euery man And Salomon sayeth he that despiseth his neyghbour doth sin kepe your promis with your neyghbour in his pouerte and reioyce in his prosperyte be faythfull to your neyghbour in his tribulacyon he that maketh a hole to deceiue his neighbour shal fall in to it And he that prepareth a lake for his neighbour shall peryshe in it of the whiche thing speaketh the Prophet Dauyd sayenge He hath opened the lake and the dyche and is fallen into it he dothe not perfytly loue his neyghbour that dothe not suÌ„ccoure and helpe hym in his necessyte howe moch y â— more we succour helpe oure neyghbours in there necessite pouer te somoch the more we approch vnto god we shulde so care for our self that we forget not oure neyghbour Wherfore good syster loke what thynge ye wolde not that shulde chaunce to your selfe ye shall not delyre it maye chaunce and happen to youre neyghbour Be sory for poore straungers and inforce your self to be sory and to wepe for other mennes losses and damages Be heuy for other mens tribulation and be sicke with those that be sycke bewayle other mens paynes and heuynesse as youre owne Wepe w t those that wepe be to all other as ye wolde they shulde be to you do not y â— thyng to another that ye wolde not a nother shuld do to you forgyue other as ye wolde be for gyuen yf ye se youre enemye in misfortune reioyce not in his aduersite nor in your aduersires death least any such mischaunce shuld fortune vnto youre selfe be not glad of your enemyes fall least god turne his anger vpon you mysfortune shall soone fall vpoÌ„ hym that reioyseth in his enemys aduersite let vs therfore be louynge to the misfortunate let vs sorow take compassyon vpon the poore let vs haue mercy vpon the wretched yf your ennemye be a huÌ„gerd giue him meat yf he be a thrust giue him drynk despyse not the poore nor the pore orphalines be no occasyon of heuynesse to no man let no man depart from you in sorowfulnesse visyt the syckman and coÌ„fort so the weke that ye maye haue goddes ayde and coÌ„fort in the kyngdome of heuen ¶ Of mercy the .xv. cap. WElbeloued sister harken what GOd sayeth Blessyd be they that are mercifull for they shall haue and optayne mercy And agayne be ye mercyful for your father of heuen is mercyfull And Saynt Paule sayeth be ye good and mercyfull one to another clothe you with this vertue of mercy as y â— electe chyldreÌ„ of god SalomoÌ„ sayeth y â— pitie iustyce pleaseth god moch more then doth sacrifyce mercyfulnes prepareth a place for maÌ„ after his merytes and deseruynges the pite and mercy that man hathe is but onely for hym selfe his neyghboure but y â— mercy of god is vpon euery man to be mercy full is as it were a sacrifyce vnto god it is calde mercy bycause it shulde haue pite and compassyon vpon another mans misery and wretchednesse For he that wyll not be pitefull vnto other shall neuer fynde ne optayne the mercy of god Therfore good syster loke that Iustyce pite be euer more in your syght neuer leaue of to be mercyfull for yf ye be mercyfull to other ye shal do your selfe great good He that is pitifull vnto other shall fynde god mercifull vnto hymselfe Good syster bestowe such thinges as ye haue in workes of mercy and shewe mercyfulnesse without any grudge or murmuracyon for your workes shalbe estemed after your intention Where is no beneuolence there is no mercy and take hede ye do your good dedes mercyfully and not for vayne glorye do nothynge for wordly laude ne prayse but onely to optayne ioye and rewarde euerlastynge do nothynge for any temporall opinyon but for celestyall remuneracyon do nothyng for worldly name and fame but to conquere and get lyfe euerlastyng to the whiche almyghtye GOd bryng you my good syster AmeÌ„ Of the examples of sayntes the .xvj. Chap. THe good examples of sayntes are very necessary and profytable for the amendement of Chrysten people And therfore good sister there mysfautes and synÌ„es and lykewyse there good ameÌ„demeÌ„t are wrytteÌ„ that we mooste wretched synners shulde not fall in to desperacion but rather hope trust after oure fall to ameÌ„de our selfe by penauÌ„ce coÌ„sideryng through the great goodnesse of god to what ameÌ„dement ioye these blessed sayntes after there falle be coÌ„meÌ„ vnto And therfore god to our example hath opened there good vertues that folowynge of them and doynge as they haue done we maye optayne the celestiall kyngdome of heuen but if we folow not the steppes of there payne and penauÌ„ce in this worlde we can not be eccused from suche paynes as we haue meritoriously deserued The holy sayntes for the tyme they were in this worlde neuer seased to occupy theÌ„ self in good workes as in fastynge almis dede chastite continence long animite pacience prayer persecucyon beniuoleÌ„ce huÌ„get thrust cold goyng bare in manifold other good workê for goddê sake The blessyd sayntes despysed y â— worlde to coÌ„quer get the kingdome of heueÌ„ nor beyng in this worlde they haue not taken nor yet receyued y â— wretched ê“myses miserable ryches therof y â— whiche bryng theÌ„ to the tormeÌ„tes paynes of hell y â— mys vse them but with all theyr intention and wyll they haue forsaken this miserable worlde lyftyng vp theyr eyes to hierusalem that heuenly mansion These blyssed meÌ„ haue auoyded synne bothe in worde dede iÌ„ thought in sight in hearynge in mouynge there eyes and there handes in anger in goynge in skoldynge in furye in discention in vayne glorye in pryde in elation in couytousnesse in glotony in tomochslepe in fornication in violence And to saue bothe bodye and soule they haue fasted two maner of waies Two abstaine froÌ„ delicate meates is very good but yet to abstayne from vyce is moch better of the whiche to our mother the holy churche sayeth My handes haue distilled myr what signifye the handes but y e good workes of blessyd sayntes and what other thynge betokeneth the myr but the mortificacyoÌ„ of the flesh and the mortifycacion of vices the haÌ„des of the church are the holy and blessyd sayntes of heuen the whiche do haue done manye good dedes of the whiche saynt Paule sayeth they haue done good workes and the handes of the churche haue distylled the myr of good workê for they haue shewed examples