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
ye may se the lorde in his hygh maieste it were better for you to wepe for the loue of chryst Iesus then to wepe for the feare of hell Thy chekes are as fayre as the turtyll doues the nature of the turtyll is that yf by any occasion or chaunce she lese her mate neuer to take no nother O chrystes spouse folowe be lyke the turtyll and loke that besyde Chryst Iesus ye take no nother spouse nor louer Be lyke the turtyll wepe bothe day and nyght with the desyre of Chryst Iesus your louer for he is nowe ascended to heuen where ye maye se hym syt apon the ryght hande of his father Your chekes are as goodly as the turtylles honest shame fastnesse is wont to be shewed and apeare in the chekes ye haue the chekes of the turtyll yf for youre spouse Chryst Iesus sake ye do nothynge agaynste his wyll ye haue the chekes of turtyll yf ye haue no nother louer then Chryst Iesus that is to saye yf ye loue no nother creature more then hym and all other for the loue of hym ye haue the turtylles chekes yf for the loue and reuerence of GOd ye leaue of al thynges that shulde displease him Therfore good syster bewayle wheshe out your synnes and wheshe them with compunctyon and many folde teares wheshe awaye youre neglygenses and youre manyfold transgressyons with contynual teares optayne by compunction and waylynge the remissyon of your synnes be sorowfull oft syghynges fynd the meanes to optaine and possesse ioye euer lastyng bewayle your iniquites bewayle the horribilnes of your synnes and by great lamentation call them to memorye and all to be sprynkyl them w t the aboundaunce of water and with contynuall and bytter teares deface them with continual deploracyon and with manyfold teares wheshe out that ye haue done by iniquite and agaynst goddes lawes for yf ye lament not your synnes in this world whē shall ye saye these wordes Good lord ye haue receyued and layde my teares before you yf ye bewayle not your iniquite in this worlde when shall ye saye My teares haue ben to me as bread bothe by nyght and by day Therfore chrystes spowse I monyshe and exhort you to bewayle your syn in this mortall lyfe that ye may be confortyd in heuen for it is wryttē fortunate be they that wepe in this worlde for they shalbe conforted Of heuinesse the .xi. Cha. THe lorde sayeth Amen amen this is goddes othe his maner of swerynge as though he wolde saye I sweare vnto you that ye shall wepe but the worlde shall reioyce ye shalbe very heuy but your heuynesse shall be tourned into great ioyfulnesse and pleasure and Salomon saveth a mery harte causeth a mery counte naūce a heuy spiryte is deiected in to the heuinesse of the soule A ioyfull harte and mynde maketh a man lustye but a heuy spiryte dryeth vp mans bones good chylde make no stryfe nor no contradiction in good thynges and in all thyng that is gyuen you loke ye vse no angery nor no euyll wordes for tribulacion is the heuinesse of the hart and y e ioyfulnesse of the harte is mans lyfe a troubelous mynde ingendereth heuynesse but a wyse man wyll resyst it by heuynesse commeth death heuynesse doth alter the force and strēgth of mans harte but a mery and a lyght harte ingēdereth health heuines drieth vp mans bones And the holy man Athanasius sayeth that a heuy and a melancolius person is euermore malitius and causeth the holy gost gyuen vnto hym by GOd to be heuy as S. paule sayeth Cause not the holy goste that is in you to be heuy by whome ye are marked in the day of redemption Therfore good syster take good hede ye cause not the holy goste beynge and dwellyng in you to be heuy least he leaue you departe from you put al maner of doute and all hyghe myndefullnesse from you For they do cause the holy goost to be in care heuynesse therfore leaue of all heuynesse for heuynesse is syster bothe vnto doutefulnes hygh myndefulnes verely seculer heuynesse is of all euyll spirytes y ◠very worst very noyful to goddes seruantes secular heuynes hurteth feblished y ◠seruātes of god the holy goste can not away ī no maner of meanes w t bodely heuynes Therfore good sister ordre your self so y t ye may be euermore in spiritual gladnes ioyfulnesse the which god aloweth greatly all spirituall gladnesse is good and thynketh apon nothynge but that good is despisynge all vayne and worldly heuynesse yf spirytual myrth were not good the Prophet Dauid wolde not say be you mery and ioyfull in God and ye that are iust mē reioyse you and ye that are ryght hartyd men glorifye your selues in god and agayne The iust mā shal be mery in god and shall put all his trust in hym and all that are ryght harted men shall be reioyced and conforted ¶ The sisters demaunde O Good brother yf heuynes be so euyll noyfull to goddes seruantes as ye make it how chaūceth it then that Salomon sayeth that a wyse mans harte mynde is where is heuynesse and a foles harte where is ioye and myrthe The brothers answere WOrshypfull syster these wordes of SAlomon a wyse mans harte is where is heuynesse and the folysshe mans hart where is myrthe and ioye are to be vnderstanded onely of spirituall heuynesse and worldly ioye as though he wolde saye more playnly a wyse mans hart mynde is there where is spirituall and goostly heuynes And the hart of a foie is there where is worldly myrthe and ioye they are wyse that are in goostly heuynesse but they are very foles that are in worldly ioye And of this thynge speaketh the lorde sayenge be you glad and mery for youre names are wrytten in heuen And saynt Paule sayeth be as thoughe ye were heuy but trustynge and reioysynge euermore in god And againe he sayeth be ye mery in god I saye agayne be ye mery in god so it foloweth then that spirituall ioye is very good and confortable But the sorowfulnes that cometh by the couetousnesse of worldly goodes is very euyll of spirituall heuynesse ye haue in the gospel blessed be they that wepe for they shalbe conforted and of worldly and secular heuynesse Salomon sayeth Heuynesse hath ben many a mans death and hath no maner of vtilite ne profete in it and of spiritual ioye Dauid sayeth his harte that seketh god shall be in ioye of the worldly ioye it is wrytten Out vpon you that laugh and be mery nowe for ye shall wale wepe Yet good syster lystē vnto saynt Paules wordes sayenge that suche spirituall heuynesse bryngeth a man to penāunce and that worldly heuinesse bringeth a man to death His prayer that is euermore in heuinesse is of no vertue nor ascendeth not vp to GOD
are many that herken dilygently to theyr wordes y â— chasteÌ„ and correcteth theÌ„ But neuerthelesse they returne not to penauÌ„ce Euery maÌ„ doth here of the ioyes of heuen and it pleaseth them but let theym also here of the paynes of hel to fere theym that yf they returne not to God for loue at leste way that they returne vnto hym for fere These ar y â— wordes of saint I sydore they that are good meÌ„ receyue correctyon and repreheÌ„cyon very gentely Good syster dyscyplyne is the thynge that a mendyth all fautes the whiche oughte not to be abiected And therfore we be bouÌ„de to loue our prelates and other oure superyours and to accept there wordes geÌ„tylly for be theyr correccyon and castygacyon they take awaye oure wyll and cupidyte frome vs and of these prelates it is wrytteÌ„ in the Cantycles The kepers of y â— cyty haue founde me they haue beateÌ„ me and wouÌ„ded me and they haue taken away my cloke be the kepers of the walles and watchemen we vnderstaÌ„de y â— prelates and suche as kepe and defende the state of oure holy mother y â— churche the whiche also do fynde oute the deuout soule and be there preachynge stryke wouÌ„de her wyth y e loue of Chrystes charytie neyther doth this suffice theÌ„ but they also take away her cloke from her that is al teÌ„poral substauÌ„ce erthlye delectatio that so they may send her free froÌ„ worldlie ryches synne to the kyngdome of Heuen Wherefore deare syster iÌ„ cryst it is verie fit y t we loue our prelates so y t we may receyue froÌ„ theÌ„ y e dycypline of our saluacioÌ„ accordyng to the couÌ„sel of Kyng Dauid saying AppreheÌ„d discipline leste suÌ„time y e Lord be wrath y â— perishe out of y e iust waye It is expedient y â— we embrace dyscipline Yf he that receyue it not shal perishe out of y e ryght way doubtelesse he shalbe coÌ„fyrmed in y e iust waye y t receuyeth discypline Nowe therfore venerable sister I monyshe you y t you wittyngly accept dyscipline that you may bee freed froÌ„ y â— anger of God almigÌ„tye coÌ„firmed in the iust waye Gyue him many thankes y t shal chastyse you If your Abbesse or Prioresse shall repreheÌ„de you for your good be not greued wheÌ„ they shal shewe you the way of saluatioÌ„ listeÌ„ wittyngly vnto theyr doctrine when anye one seketh to aduaunce you iÌ„ y e spiritual course whyche you haue vndertakeÌ„ be not rebellyous towardes him Loue them y t shal reprehende you for your offeÌ„ces reuyle not them y t rebuke you neyther render euyl for good ne aunswere churlishlye to good instructioÌ„s render not vnto them crosse wordes for their courteous admonicioÌ„s And why so For he that lerneth dyscypline loueth wisdome therefore yf you will loue discipline you wyl become wise prudent if you wil pacieÌ„tly endure chyding you wyl become patiente if you endure correctioÌ„ humbly Honest vyrgyn for this cause we are chastysed of oure Lorde of our superiours in thys lyfe that with y â— world we be not damned It is far better for vs to be correÌ„ted in this lyfe by oure superiours for our neglygences then to be damned iÌ„n y t lyfe to come It is better for vs to be chastysed now for our transgrecioÌ„s faultes theÌ„ to be punyshyd in the next world It is better for you to be scourged by y e hande of youre Abbesse then to endure eternal sorrow anguysh It is better for you to be chastysed by y e hande of your Abbesse theÌ„ to susteyne those tormentes that are endeles those tormentes y â— shal neuer cease those torments iÌ„ternal whych shal last for euer It is better for you to be teÌ„poral lye scourged wyth twigges by y e hand of your Abbesse or Priores theÌ„ to be eternally scortched in those hellish flames FroÌ„ which he vouchsafe to delyuer you who wyth hys precyous bloud hath redemed you Amen Of Obedyence Chap. xix My deare syster hear y e wordes of y â— Apostle S. Poule Let euerie soule be subiect to y e hygher powers for there is no power but of God Those y t are of God are ordayned To resyst y e power of god is to resist y e ordynaunce of God we shulde dyspyse no maÌ„nes power whether he be of y e church or of y e worlde for they be ordeyned of God Therfore when so euer be inobedyence we resyste agaynste oure prelates we do iniurye vnto almyghtye god and when that be pryde or be inobedyence we be rebellyous and sturbburne agaynste oure superiours we do agaynste goddes commaundemente and as inobedyente personnes we dyspyse god saynge They y t here you here me that is to saye they that obeye you obey me and they that dyspyse you dyspyse me Good syster in God they that dyspyse theyr pÌ„lates dispise god they y â— honour theyr pÌ„latê honoure god they y â— be obedieÌ„t to theyr prelates are obedyente to god The Prophet Samuell dothe greately prayse obedyence saynge that obedience is moche greater and moche more acceptable to god then is sacryfyce And to obey is moche more acceptable theÌ„ to offer vp y â— fatte of shepe for why to repugue not to wyll obey nor accorde to our superyoures is reputed as Idolatry Mary through pride and inobedyence murmured agaynst her brother Moses and by and by she was smitten with the lepre This Mary that rebelled agaynste Moses that is againste her prelate dothe sygnyfye the soule of euery man y â— by iobedyence and pryde dothe murmour agaynste his prelate to y â— which he wyll not obey nor receyue his good and holsome preceptes of saluation and therfore it is smytten with the lepre that is with stinkynge syn And in lyke maner Chora Dathan and Abyron the which by pride and inobedience withstode Moses and Aron were through the represumptyon punyshed as it is wrytten by Dauid The erth dyd open and swalowed in Dathan and closed it selfe vpoÌ„ the congregacyoÌ„ of Abyron and y â— fyre burned theyre churche and them And when kynge Ozyas be pryde and inobedyence toke vpoÌ„ hi to sence agaynst goddes lawe intendyng to do sacrifyce the Lorde smyt hym with the lepre in the forhede to lerne hym that he sholde haue bene a shamed of his folyshe enterpryse And kynge Sall throughe his inobedyence lost his kyngdom and was takeÌ„ by his enemyes And the whale swalowed in the ê“phet Ionas y e which flede his wayes be inobedyeÌ„ce and kepe hym in the bottome of the See thre dayes Therfore we muste take good hede we rebell not agaynst our prelettes and oure superyoures leste the Lorde vysyte vs and sharpely punyshe vs be theym for they are in his stede place Good syster the lorde hath apoiÌ„ted ordeyned the prelettes of the church with other rulers for our soule helth to ê“uide for vs to giue hi acouÌ„pt of our
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
shal coÌ„fort y â— O miserable soule who shall bewayle the. Alaswhere is the keper of maÌ„ Where is y â— redemer of al soules O goodshepparde where are ye Alas why haue ye despysed me why turne ye your face froÌ„ me Good lorde forget me not at the last Leaue me not good lorde for euermore Leaue me not in the deuyls power I am a synner I am a wretched ê‘sone yet good Lorde I come to the for help ye are very kynde ye are swete mercyfull Ye refuse nor despyse no man nor put no man from your mercy Ah good lord shew thy great mercy vpoÌ„ me I hartely beseke the denye me not that thynge that ye mercyfully haue graunted to many other I do not defende my misdedes I hyde not my synnes I am ryght sory for them Alas wretche that I am I haue synde I confesse my errour I open my faute I knowledge mine iniquite Good lorde I haue done amys be mercyful vnto me wretched synÌ„er ê‘doÌ„ me my mysdedes For gyue me my synnes O good Lorde yf ye regard iniquite who shal sustaine it No man can then be sure at the daye of your examynacyon nor yet the iust man with al his iustyce for who is he be he neuer so iuste that dare saye he is without syn there is no man w t out syn There is no man cleare from syn in thy syght nor amoÌ„g all the holy saites there is none vnbespotted nor they that serued god were not stedfast and iniquite hath ben founde amonge the angels y â— starres be not cleare before the lorde and heuen in thy syght is not clere TheÌ„ good lorde yf no man be w tout spot in thy syght then can not I beyng a vyle synÌ„er a vile pece of earth a vile worme the chylde of man the which hathe dronke vp iniquite as water and multiplyed and increaced in synnes be cleare and without syn And yet I syt in duste and dwel in a house claye and my foundacyoÌ„ is but earth Good lorde gyue me wretched synner thy ryght hande I pray the good Lorde to remeÌ„bre of what substaunce and where of I am made Remembre good lorde that I am but earth but powdre asshes Gyue me some maner of medecyn where with I may be holpen where with I may be clensed and purifyed froÌ„ all syn For I am fallen into the dept of all my synÌ„es I am falleÌ„ into the depe pyt of hell delyuer my soule good lorde froÌ„ the captiuyte of hell that the deptnesse therof do not inclose me that hel do not swalowe me and that the depe pyt of hell opeÌ„ not his wyde throte vpon me and that the profoundnesse and deptnesse of hel let me not to depart froÌ„ theÌ„se Nowe the dredeful day of donie approchet nygh the laste day is come y â— tyme of death is at haÌ„de I haue nowe nothynge left me but my graue good Lorde forgiue me or euer I go to y e place of darknes Helpe me good lord or euer I go to the land of wretchednesse O redemer of mans soule succoure me or euer I departe Unbynde and lose me froÌ„ all my synnes or euer I come vnto death The brothers answere WElbeloued sister in Chryst Iesu I be seche God almyghtye to haue mercy vpon you and to forgiue you al your sinnes al your nâ—sdedes and to pardon you of your synnes all your misdedes to pardon you of all that euer ye haue done and froÌ„ hense forwarde do as ye shulde do Purpose stedfastly in your harte neuer to sinne more stablysh your mynde neuer to misdo neuer to returne vnto syn neuer to defile your selfe with synne agayne after penaunce retourne not agayne to vnthryftye liuyng He is not reputed nor taken as penitent but as a gester a discem let that renueth y t he hath done penauÌ„ce for nor he is not estemed to pray huÌ„bly but rather to mocke w t god y â— renueth y â— thiÌ„ge for the whiche he hath done penauÌ„ce for s I sodore sayeth that penauÌ„ce to be but as vayne the which afterwardes is defyled arayde w t syn for a renued wouÌ„d or sore can hardely be curyd agayne and he that synneth ofte and repent hym ofte shall scacely besaued Therfore be sted fast in doyng of penauÌ„ce and leaue not of the good lyfe ye haue begon for euerlastyng lyfe is promised to those that contynew in goodnesse and Dauyd sayeth Blessed be they that euermore kepe iugement and do iustyce it is wrytten That he that contynueth vntyll the ende shall be laued Honest virgyn I exhorte you to haue alwaies a shamfast couÌ„tenaunce to be ashamed of your synnes wheÌ„ ye remeÌ„bre theÌ„ Be a shamed to lift vp your eyes wheÌ„ ye thynke vpoÌ„ theÌ„ when ye walk hold downe your heed let your couÌ„tenauÌ„ce be sorowfull Let your smock be made of here let the earth be your bed ye are but dust syt therfore in duste ye are but asshes therfore syt in asshes be euermore in heuines euermore sobbiÌ„g sythyng and hauyng remorse of coÌ„scyence in hart coÌ„punctyon be alwayes wepyng mornyng be always redy to wepe The seruauÌ„tes of god good syster in this worlde be they neuer so good shuld neuer be in suerte goddes seruauÌ„tes shuld alwayes be watching and w t great lameÌ„tacyoÌ„ many folde teares reduce theyr mysdedes to memory To y â— laud of Chryst it is wrytten in the Can tycles that his heyre is as hygh as is y â— palme trye as blacke as the crow By Chrystes heare is vnderstanded good faythful people y â— which kepyng in hart the holy fayth of y e trinite cleuige vnto god do y t they beleue as haÌ„ging vpoÌ„ his hed do honour hiÌ„ The palme tre growiÌ„ge vpwardes of heyght doth betokeÌ„ vyctory Christes heyre is lykened vnto apalme tre for good people mouÌ„tyng euermore asceÌ„dyng to the height of vertue ar brought through goddê grace to victory but yet they ar blacke as y e crow For not w tstaÌ„dynge y t by vertu they do euermore asceÌ„d towardes heueÌ„ yet they knowledge theÌ„ selfe to be siners So good syster notwithstaÌ„dyng ye lyue well and serue god iustlye deuoutly yet I wold ye shuld neuer leaue wepyng Therfore yf ye wyll wasshe cleane awaye youre blacke spotted sinnes loue to be euer more mournyng wepyng let your teres be swete vnto you let wayling weping delyte you be as inclining and redy to wepe as ye were to do yll and as redy to do penaunce as ye were to faule A mans me dicyne must be minystred vnto hym after as his infirmite is Greate synne requireth moche waylyng great repentaunce Good syster I pray hym to comforte you and helpe you in this worlde the whiche the aungels do worshyp in heuen Of coÌ„munyon that is of the receyuing of the very body and blode of Christ the .xxviii. Chapiter WHo soeuer shall eate the breade
this world we shal be god wyllyng fouÌ„de pure and without faute atthe day of iudgment ¶ Of sickenes the .xliij. ca THe lorde sayeth Those that Idoloue I chasten God doth chasten correcteth men in this worlde thre maner of wayes he correcteth those that are noughtes to theyr dampnacyon Those y t he hath choseÌ„ if they do are to there purgacyon And those that are good meÌ„ to y â— augmentacyon of theyr glorye God punysshed the egiptiens to theyr dampnation Lazarus to his purgacion And Iob to his probacion God also at some tyme dothe punish man or euer he syn and that bycause he shulde not syn as was saynt Paule The whiche by the instygacyon of the deuyll suffered the temptacyon of the fleshe Also God punyssheth man after that he hath trespast to theÌ„tent he shulde amende as he that is delyuered to the deuyll to be punished in body for the saluacyon of his soule Also it is verye profytable for those that are welthy and in good helth to be troubeled w t sycknes least that be to moche helthe they take greater pleasure in these transytore and earthly thynges theÌ„ they shuld do such bodely helth as causeth the soule to be sycke is not good But bodely tribulacyon sycknesse bringinge a mans soule to saluacyon is ryght pâ—ofytable The apostle prayseth the sycknesse of the body saynge The weker I am in body y â— more stroÌ„ger I am in spiryte A maÌ„ shuld neuer murmur agaynst goddes punyshmentes for by suche correctyon he amenth his disordinate lyfe and mislyuynge But yf we wolde remembre the syns we haue displeased God withal we shulde suffer the sycknes of the body moche better then we do A man shulde not murmure agaynst GOd when he visete hym with sycknes why so For god whose iudgemeÌ„tes are iust hath iudged hym to haue deserued it Yf then in his sycknes he murmour against goddes vt sytacyon he estemeth the iudgement of GOd to be vntrewe and so he prouoketh God to anger Nor that thynge cannot be iuste that pleaseth not god the ryght iudge God dothe chasten those that he loueth scourgeth all such chyldreÌ„ as he draweth vnto hym And taketh no lesse pleasure in them then doth the father in his chyldren God in this lyfe doth spare and is very gentyll to synners not to those that are good men But in another worlde he dothe not so For there he doth spare vpholde the iust sharply correcte the vniust mysdoer Deare syster dolor heuines is coÌ„men to all men There is no man with out sorowe in this worlde God doth euer more correcte chasteÌ„ those he wolde shuld be saued Good syster be not moued nor chafe not in your sycknesse But wheÌ„ ye be sycke thaÌ„k god therof rayther desyre soule health theÌ„ bodely helth For the aduersites of y e flesh is y e remedy of y â— soule Sicknes wouÌ„deth hurteth the body but it curith the soule sicknes consumethe vyce syckenes couleth queÌ„cheth the heate of al bodely lust by syckenes a maÌ„ is proued not dystrude golde is proued by fyre pourge youre selfe in the chymney of tribulatyoÌ„ that ye may be appere vn defyled suffre to be burnt w t the fyre of persecutyoÌ„ y â— ye may appere immaculate pure for all these thinges that ye suffre are for your probacioÌ„ Therfore my welbeloued syster in god murmour not in your syckenes blaspheme not nor ye shal not saye Why do I suffre all this trybulacioÌ„ why doth god punish me Good brother I pray you tel me what I shuld say wheÌ„ I am sicke in tribulatyoÌ„ how I shulde accuse my selfe Deare syster accuse yourself after this forme maner I haue sinde and done a mysse I am not punyshed as I haue deserued I perceiue not that god taketh egall veÌ„geauÌ„ce vpon my synnes I fele y t I am gentlier intreated theÌ„ I haue deserued my tribulatyoÌ„ is moche lesse then is my faute my payne is nothyng in coÌ„paryson of my synnes my tormeÌ„tes are nothiÌ„g lyke my myslyuyng O good syster wyll ye be pourged of your synnes then in trybulacyoÌ„ and payn accuse your selfe extolle the iustice of god it is suffycyeÌ„t for your purgacyoÌ„ if ye ascriue your punyshemeÌ„t and payne to goddes iustyce yf ye humlye mekely gloryfye god for y â— syckenes and trouble he senteth you for god dothe correcte you with the scurge of pytyfull castigacton he doth vse very gentyll correctyon and he that lettynge you vnchasted dyd despyse you and caste you of dothe now correctynge you desyre ye shulde retourne vnto hym agayne O honeste vyrgyn thinke and call all worldlye tormentes to your mynde and all maner of payne all maner of crudelytye and tyranny all oppressyon all heuynes and compayre me all these thiÌ„ges to the payne of hell and ye shall fynde that youre payne is very easy lyght Good syster yf ye feare any payne feare the paynes of hell For the paynes of this world are temporal the paines of hel eternall yf a maÌ„ desceyse dye iÌ„ these paines the payne remaynethe here but yf he be in the paynes of hell they succede styll and continew for euermore Ueryly yf ye fortune to amende and retourne to goodnes theÌ„ al the paynes and tribulation that ye suffred were your amendmeÌ„t for trybulatyoÌ„ doth lose hym that is conuerted froÌ„ synne These preseÌ„t worldly troubles are as a purgacyon to hym that is ameÌ„ded he that is tormeÌ„ted and chasted in this worlde is delyuered in a nother but they that are not chastened nor corrected here are in dauÌ„ger to be daÌ„pned both teÌ„porally eternally For they are fyrst iudged in this worlde fynally in a nother for euermore and such haue double paine daÌ„pnacyoÌ„ they are twysevexed and trouled for they ar here iudged and troubled hereafter iÌ„ perpetuall payne So it foloweth theÌ„ y â— it is goddes haÌ„de y â— doth punish you his indyngnacyoÌ„ y â— doth vexe you and being angry with you he hath coÌ„mauÌ„ded ye shuld suffre such tormeÌ„t trybulacyoÌ„ That ye are broughte lowe by syckenes y â— ye are tormeÌ„ted with the sharpe teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s of y â— fleshe that ye are vexed w t sorow and w t the passyoÌ„s of the mynd that ye are troubled w t euil spirytes all this the iustyce of god dothe sende you for your synnes your owne wepens fyghteth agaynst you ye are wouÌ„ded with youre owne arrowes ye are hurt with your owne daâ—te for that that hath caused you to trespas doth trouble vexe you and because ye haue folowed youre bodylye luste ye are tormented in youre body ye coÌ„plaine of that thing that ye trespaste with all Good syster ye are tormented in youre bodye because ye haue synde w t the body ye are troubled iÌ„ that thyng that hath been the cause of youre trybulacyon loke by what thynge ye fell to synne in the selfe ye