oyle in there vessels that is they haue chastyte in theyr soules but suche as ve onely virgyns of body not of mynde be very fooles nor can not go to mete theyre spouse for they haue no oyle in theyre vessels y e is they haue not chastite in theyr soules And s Isodore sayeth She y e is a virgyn in bodie not in soule shall haue no remuncracyon ne reward And y â— lorde speakynge of these foolysh virgyns sayeth I knowe not what ye be Wherfore I exhorte you to be a virgin both in soule body y â— hereaftÌ„ ye may be set in the celestial rhaÌ„bre of your spouse christ iesê° Uirginite is not coÌ„mauÌ„ded but yet our holy fathers do couÌ„sell vs to kepe it as a thynge most excellent The gyfte of virginyte is double for it hathe no carefulnesse in this worlde and in tyme to come it shalbe excellently rewarded without doute they that continew chast and in virginite shalbe egal with goddes angelles And the prophete Izaye doth beare wytnes that virgyns aboue all other shalbe most fortunate iÌ„ the eternal beatytude be sayeth those wordes speakynge vnto the Enuques that is to those that be chaste lyue chastly for goddes sake I wyll gyue them my house a place within my walles and a better name then hath my chyldren a name that shall dure for euermore and neuer perysshe All maner of synne through penaunce deserueth pardon forgyuenesse but virgynite once peryshed and lost can in no maner of wyse be recouered for not withstandinge a man by penance doth optayne pardon therof yet he by no maner of meanes can retourne to his fyrst estate purenesse O my good syster bodely virginyte is of no valure where is no integrite of harte mynde All suche virgyns as glorifye them selfe of theyr merytes are compared to Ipocrytes the whiche requyre exteryor glorye for theyr good workes and dedes the which they shuld haue inwardly and in conscieÌ„ce And this is it that is wrytten Howe the foolyshe virgyns had no oyle in theyr vessels that is howe they kepte not inwardely in theyr conscyence the testimony of good workê but that they wolde be glorifyed heare in this worlde amonge men and not in harte with God Saynt Austen sayeth that the virginyte of the bodye helpeth not where that anger dothe rule And there is a great difference betwyxt pure virginite of the soule the which is not poluted ne defyled with contagyousnesse and that that hathe ben subiecte to many bodely pleasures Good sister I pray you harken vnto Saynt Hierom wordes sayenge That it profyteth nothynge that the bodye be chaste yf the mynde be maried Also it is as nothynge to kepe the bodye chaste yf man refrayne not his eyes from concupiscence wanton lokes Norvirgynyte profyteth nothynge yf theyr be in the mynde no charite nor no humilite Wherfore good syster I wold counsel you to take the oyle of good workes with you and that ye garnyshe your lampes with good cleane maners and that ye kyndle and lyght them with good and goostly vertues that when so euer ye shall heare that the bryde grome is commynge ye maye go and mete hym that is to saye ye maye go and mete with Chryst Iesus youre spouse and be receyued and set in his celestyall chambre ¶ Of continence the .xxij chapitur Good sister I pray you to harken with all deuocyon vnto my admonicyon The nomber of thyrte is the fyrst noÌ„bre and it sygnifyeth the coÌ„federatyon of maryage The noÌ„bre of thre score is the seconde degre of noÌ„bres it sygnifeth the coÌ„tyneÌ„ce of wydowes A hundered is the thyrd degre of nombers the which is deputed vnto virgyns for the glorye and crowne of theyre virginyte Saynt Isodore sayeth y â— ther be which in there youth lyued luxuriusly in age do inteÌ„d to lyue chastly and that wyl liue then in continence and chastite when voluptuousnesse bodely pleasure hath forsaken left them but suche men shall haue litle or no reward for they haue taken no payne to resyste temptacyoÌ„ They shal be rewarded the crowne of glorye appertayneth to them that valyaÌ„tly haue foughten and warsteled for it the fruyte of chastite is swetnesse Chastite is the sauegard of the soule and the health of the body Luxuriousnesse dothe feble a mans body and causeth man to seme olde and aged before his tyme continuall and longe chastite is reputed for virginite Therfore good syster the beutifulnesse of chastite oug ht to be loued and myche made of They that lyue continently and chastely prepare them selfe as and humble synner is more to be laudyd a great dele then the proude iust man Therfore dysprayse no womeÌ„ for many a holy womaÌ„ hath ben maryed and haue had chyldren truely yf ye blame or accuse any such ye are culpable before god For the holy prophete saynt â—n was maryed Yet neuerthelesse she prophesyed of Chryst and deserued to se hym Also Mary Magdalene was a secular woman and yet she sawe chryst after he was rysen from death to lyfe and deserued to be chrystes messenger to his apostles we shulde neuer haue them in coÌ„tempte the whiche god hath chosen to be his seruantes Wherfore I exhort you that for the loue of chryst ye do them the seruyce and pleasure ye maye or can and that ye loue them as mothers And good syster ye ought to loue them as your owne chyldreÌ„ for god hath conuerted and drawen them froÌ„ the worlde to his seruyce Yf ye then despyse them bycause they be his handmaydeÌ„s and seruantes ye do hym iniure O good syster in Chryst Iesu neuer say or thynke your selfe a drye stock or an vnfrutefull tree For yf ye loue the lorde as ye shuld do ye haue seuen goodly chyldren The fyrste is called shamefastnesse the seconde patyence the thyrde sobernesse the fourth teÌ„peraunce the fyfte is charyte the syxte humilyte the seuenth chastite Behold nowe good syster how that by the great grace of GOD without any grefe or corporall corruptyon ye haue brought forthe to GOddes honour seuen fayre chyldren And so ye haue fulfylled that is wrytteÌ„ The barreÌ„ hath brought forthe seuen chyldren Therfore good syster ye muste nouryshe repast confort and chasten these your goodly chyldren ye muste nouryshe them with good maners with deuoute contemplacyon with the mylke of eternall swetenesse ye must repast them with the loue of heueÌ„ly pasture ye muste conforte them with the breade of the worde of God Ye must chasten them with the roddes of the feare of god and commaunde them to flye and auoyd all pryde and lyghtnesse that they neuer transgresse his commaundementes and that they neuer go ne departe from you Nowe ye se then howe that virgyns fynd out and optayne the moost excellentes and moost souerauÌ„ce place of the kyngdome of heuen not without a great cause for they haue dispised this present worlde And therfore they are
syster Charite is very necessary for without it no man can please GOD he loueth not GOD that hateth his peple nor he loueth not god that dispeseth his cōmaundementes charite is the very rote of all vertue without charite what soeuer we do it helpeth not al our diligēce is vaine without charite where that charite is not there raygneth flesly cupidite and lust and therfore a man is called perfyte when he is ful of charite for without charite notwithstandynge a man byleue neuer so well he shal neuer come to eternall beatitude the vertue of charite is so excellent and so noble that without it all other vertues auayle not but yf charite be in man as it ought to be he hath all thynge he that loueth not GOd loueth not hym selfe Therfore nowe at this tyme I monyshe you that by perfite loue ye annexe ioine your self to your īuiseble spouse chryst Iesu and that be no meanes ye couet not these worldly thynges And haste you also be affection to be out of this dale of wretchednes thynk it a payne to be long here nor take no pleasure therī but w t al your myght and desyre be as faruent as ye may to departe vnto god youre louer that for the loue of him ye esteme and repute youre proper helthe as nothynge And loke y t ye be euermore throw pearsed with the woundes of his excellent loue and so that ye maye say these wordes I am wounded with charite My welbeloued lyster in chryst Iesu harken vnto goddes wordes Whosoeuer sethe that he loued me shal be beloued of my father I wyl loue hym and manyfestly vysclose my selfe vnto hym Therfore good sister loue him in this transitory worlde that he maye loue you with his father in perpetuall beatitude Amen ¶ Of the cōtempt of the worlde viij cha MY Welbeloued syster harken vnto Chryst Iesu the whiche sayth Whosoeuer wyl forsake and seue his house his father and mother his brethren and systers or his childrē his feldes or his heritage for y e loue of me and my name he shal receyue a hunderth tymes asmoch and therwith eternal and euerlastynge lyfe Wherfore good syster it is for oure greate luker profyte to leue al earthly thynges for Goddes sake to get eternall for whosoeuer be a frend and a fauerer of y ◠worlde he is goddes enemie Wherfore let vs not loue the worlde least that God shall hate vs. He shall easely despyse all thynge that rememberth euermore that he shal dye Yf we dayly call oure death to memory we shall wyllyngly despyse all earthly thynges yf we thynke dayly vpon the daye of oure death we shall efthsones forget and despyse all worldly pleasures The sisters demaunde O My good brother I wold be wel content for y e name the loue of god to leue all y e is in the world yf I had any thing but forasmoche as I haue neyther golde syluer nor yet no other ryches of this worlde I cā not tell what I shulde leue for goddes sake The brothers answere O Chrystes spouse ye leue many thynges when ye leue youre wyl to haue ye leue many thynges whē ye put backe youre desyre of bauynge ye leue moche when ye leue all carnall and flesly desyre ye leue moch when that for the name of god ye leue all delectations and plesures of this worlde ye leue moch whē ye renoūce these worldly couetus desyres GOd loueth more the soule of man thē he doth worldly ryches The lorde loueth moche more the hooly pure mynd of man then any worldly substāce good syster the kyngdome of heuen is worthe all that euer ye haue god axeth no more then he hath gyuen you Therfore rēder vp vnto hym that he hathe gyuē you y e is a holy a deuoute a chast a pure a religious a fere full mynde and a well manerred Then good syster the kyngdome of heuen is asmoch worth as ye are able to gyue or make gyue and offer vp your selfe vn to god ye shall soone optayne the kyngdome of heuen Let not the price therof trouble you trouble not your selfe for the pryce nor thynk it not moch for chryst Iesus to delyuer you from the handes of the deuyll to wyn to brynge you to god delyuered him self vp Therfore giue your selfe wyllyngly and hooly vnto hym that hath bought delyuered you from the hādes of your enemye for why to saue you he dyd hooly deliuer him self good syster set not by y e mucke of this worlde that ye may optayne the ryches of heuen ryches dothe bryng and leade man to the daūger bothe of body and soule Ryches bring a mā to his death Many a man hath bene destroyed by ryches by ryches many a man hath ben in extreme daunger Many a one hathe ben banyshed and outlawed for ryches Ryches hath bene the death of many a man Who so troubleth hym selfe with these earthly and worldly busynesses shall neuer be at rest nor yet inquiet The care of worldly substaūce dothe trouble a mans mynde maruelously and man gyuen and occupyde aboute suche vyle and earthly matters is in continual vexation and trouble Wherfore yf ye wyll be at rest and in tranquilyte desyre noone of these worldly thynges Ye shall be euermore in quietnesse of mynd yf ye leaue these worldly cures ye shall be at reste yf ye auoyde and leaue al worldly actions and busynesses for ryches are neuer gotten without the great daunger of synne No man melleth with worldly matters w tout parel of syn it is a very rare a seldome sene thing that they come to eternall rest that meldle with the worlde He that in wrappeth hym selfe in worldly matters gothe from the loue of god He that is fixed in the loue of these earthly thynges taketh litle or no pleasure in god these temporall cares and matters elienate a mans mynde frō god there is no mā that at once can bothe loue the glorye of heuen and of the worlde No man can loue god and the worlde togyther it is a very harde thyng to applye celestiall and worldly thynges togyther Yt is a hard point to loue god and the world togyther no man can perfetly loue god and the worlde noman can egally loue them bothe at once O honest virgyn I praye you to harken vnto me for not withstandynge a man do florysh in the glorye of this worlde not withstanding he be clothed with purpure and golde notwithstandynge he semeth to be excellently well arrayed floryshynge in golde and precious stone not w e dyng he hath his garde of goodly men aboute hym and his armed watche men and inuironed with innumerable cōpany of seruantes Yet he is euermore in payne in anguish and heuines in parell and daunger And not withstandyng he be among his goodly tapettes and rych hangynges yet vexed moch troubeled he lyeth in his beddes of golde and syluer and beyng full
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
GOd this feare is also caulde chyldly feare for it feareth not god as a seruaÌ„t fereth his cruel maister but as a child feareth his swete father But what meneth Dauid be this sayenge y t feare of god remayneth for euermore When saynt Iohn layeth that perfet charite dothe repell and chace feare awaye This is that we tolde you before that he hathe chast feare in hym that fereth not GOD bycause of the paynes of hell nor for the tormeÌ„tes of the fyer but for the reuerence loue he hath vnto GOd and this reuerent louynge feare to God shall endure for euermore He that feareth god for the paynes of hell hath not this chast fere but the feare called seruyle nor he hath no perfyte charite for yf he loued god perfetly he wolde haue ê‘fyte iustice in him selfe shuld not feare god for feare of the paâ—es of hell but onely for reuerence and good loue therfore the fere of payne is not in charite for perfyte Charite putteth all feare awaye A seruaunt feareth his maister after another sorte then the chyld the father The seruant feareth his mayster with dispeare and hatred the childe fereth his father with all loue and reuerence Therfore I aduyse you to feare god with all loue and reuerence I wyl not ye shuld be euermore vnder the yoke of feare but that ye shulde lyfte vp your selfe vnto god the father that made and created you as his owne doughter Also I exhorte you to loue god chastely and that ye prefar nothynge aboue his loue but y â— for his sake loue ye esteme lytle all worldly thynges Ferthermore honest virgyn I desyre you to amende your liuyng as moche as ye maye possible in such maner that your wordes and coÌ„municacioÌ„ may be pudyke chast youre pase all honest your couÌ„tenauÌ„ce huÌ„ble meke your tongue affable your soule replenished w t the loue of God your handes ful of good workê the lorde helpyng you without whose ayde it is impossible to do well My deare syster in chryst yfye feare GOd withall youre harte ye shall haue great abouÌ„daunce of ryches not onely in this preseÌ„t lyfe but also in tyme to come Of charite v. cha THe king hath brought me into his wyne celler hath ordayned charite in me This wine celler is y â— church in the whiche is the wyne of prechyng of y â— gospel Into this celler is brought y e louer of y e spouse y â— is y â— deuoute soule of maÌ„ wheriÌ„ charite is ordained set for eueri thynge ought not to be equally belouyd but in diuers maners we shulde not loue all thynges alyke and with one affectioÌ„ but one more and another lesse for why to know what we ought to do and not to knowe howe to order it is no perfite science for yf we loue not such thynges as we shulde loue or yf we loue suche thynges as we shulde not loue our charite is not well orderde or yf we loue any thynge more or lesse then we shulde do oure Charite is not well ordered for Charite well ordered wylleth y â— we feare god aboue all thyng we shulde loue god with al our harte that is with all our vnder standyng and w t all our mynd that is with all our wyll and with all our thought that is w t all our memory we shulde also eâ—alte and lyft vp vnto god all our vnderstandynge all oure thought all oure lyfe of whome we haue althynge And beware that there be no part of our lyfe in ydelnesse but what soeuer y â— coÌ„meth to our mynde redresse it vnto hym from whome finally all feruentnes of loue dothe descende and flowe Therfore my dere syster it is a ryght worthy thynge a very necessary that we loue God aboue all thynge for he is the soueraine goodnes then to loue the souerayne goodnesse is souerayne beatitude the more a man loueth god the more he is fortunate he that loueth god is reputed to be good and yf he be good it foloweth y â— he is fortunate Of the whiche thynge it is wryten in the canticles The loue of god is as stroÌ„ge as death that is well sayde for as death doth violently seperate the soule from the bodye so the loue of god dothe violently seperate man from all carnall and worldly loue and verely the loue of GOD is as stronge as death for wheÌ„ that through the loue of god we be mortified froÌ„ vice then what soeuer death dothe in mannes body the same dothe the delection of god in the cupidites and pleasures of this worlde God shulde be beloued for his owne sake for he is the souerayn goodnes of all goodnes and he that hathe created vs of nought Charite is the delectioÌ„ by the which the lorde is loued for his owne sake and a mans nyghbour forgoddê sake Aboue all thing fyrst god ought to be beloued as I haue shewed you that is before all other thynge and secoÌ„darely your neyghbour in god that is in all goodnesse Charite hath two coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes and preceptes The fyrst pertayneth to the dilection of god the whiche is y â— principall point of all The seconde pertayneth to the dilection of your neyghbour the which is lyke vnto the fyrst as it is wryteÌ„ Thou shalt loue thy lorde god thy neyghbour as thy selfe as thoughe he wold say y â— shuld loue thy neighbour for y e thiÌ„g to y â— ende y â— dost loue thy selfe y e iâ— y e he maye be good come the blysse of heuen And of this godly neighbourly dilection chryst in the Canticles sayeth vnto his spouse charite for if charite were in him god shuld be in hym for God is charite Also we shulde loue our neighbours kynsfolke yf they be good goddes seruaÌ„tes but yet we shuld rather loue a strauÌ„ger copelyd vnto vs by charite then our kynsfolke that neyther loue nor serue GOd Why so For the coÌ„iunction copulatioÌ„ of men by charite is of a more ê‘ fectioÌ„ holynesse then onely bodely coniunction We shulde loue all faythful people but for asmoch as we caÌ„not profyte theÌ„ all we ought principally to profyte theÌ„ the which by reasoÌ„ of in habitatioÌ„ tyme other oportunites are straytly ioyned vnto vs by charite but yet w t lyke loue we shuld desyre euery mans saluattoÌ„ loue al maner of people charitable that is we shulde loue them to thentent they may loue God and be saued yet we ought not to shewe the workes of mercy egally to euerye man but to some more to some lesse My welbeloued sister yf we kepe trewe and perfyte charite by GODdes helpe and grace we may come to saluation and for the loue of god we shulde loue our enemyes as it is wryten Loue your enemyes do good to those that hate you and pray for them that persecute you that euen so ye maye be the chyldren of GOD. Then good
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
of good liuyng and of mortifyeng the fleshe of the whiche one of them sayeth yf ye lyue after the appetite of the fleshe ye shal dye and agayne Ye that are in the worlde mortifye your membres that is to saye ye that are deade in soule through vitious liuynge mortifye your meÌ„bres that is youre bodye the whiche hath many meÌ„bres And agayne the church sayeth My fyngers are full of myr moost approued then truely it is myr moost approued when the fleshe is perfetely mortifyed and all maner of vyce and syn clene set a syde remoued Therfore welbeloued syster yf we desyre the societe and felowshyp of sayntes it is requisyted we followe there examples but yf we syne we haue no maner of meanes howe to excuse it why so For the lawe the commaundementes of God do dayly exhorte vs to lyue wel and the examples of good holy fathers do dayly incite and prouoke vs to do well And yf peraduenture we at anye tyme be prompte redy to folow those there examples that are naught why be we not moch more redye dilygent to folowe the examples of those y t are good Let vs therfore good syster praye vnto almyghtye god y t such holy vertues as he hath prepared to the salute coronatyon of his sayntes be not to our daÌ„natyon but to our saluacyon profyte for we doutelesse beleue that yf we followe there good examples that after this mortall and transytory lyfe we shall reygne with them in euerlastyng blysse And how moche the more we rede there holy lyues not folowiÌ„g there good example so moch the more we shal be blamed fouÌ„de fauty O honest vergiÌ„ I besech god almightie to grauÌ„t you y e vertu of the holy fathers That is the humilyte of chryst Iesu the deuotion of saynt Peter the charite of saynt IohnÌ„ the obedience of Abraham the pacience of Isaac the tollerance of Iacob the chastite of Ioseph the mansuetude and swetnesse of Moses the coÌ„stance of Iosue the benignite of Samuell the mercy of Dauid the abstience of Daniel and the other good dedes of our fore fathers y e after this wretched mortall lyfe ye maye come to theyr blessid company O good virgin consider I pray you with what moderacyon with what intency on with what coÌ„punction chrystes seruaÌ„tes haue pleased him Of the whiche thyng in christes person it is wrytten in the canticles O kiges doughter howe goodly are your goiÌ„ges in your prynsely shoes The LORde throughe his diuyne power is lorde of all creatures and therfore our holy mother the church is called his doughter for by holy and deuoute preachynge he hath reduced her to a newe maner of lyuynge And what other thynge is vnderstanded by the shoes of the churche but onely the examples of sayntes by the whiche she is defended and by there ayde passeth ouer al worldly tribulation Good sister we do then put on our shoes spiritually when we accepte the good examples of holy fathers for by folowynge of them we maye ouer come all worldly tentations And agayne it is wrytten in the cantycles I went downe in to a gardeÌ„ to loke vpoÌ„ the appelles of the vales and to know whether the vines were florished or no and wether the poone Garnettes were spronge or no. The vynes do floryshe when we retourne to Chrystes church to his fayth and to good and holy coÌ„uersacyoÌ„ grounded vpoÌ„ good workes the poone Garnettes do sprynge wheÌ„ that perfyte good men throughe the examples of there good workes edifye theyr neyghbours in vertue and wheÌ„ that be good lyuyng good workes holy predicacioÌ„ they reduce theÌ„ to holy coÌ„uersatioÌ„ Wherfore my spirituall frende I exhorte you that as longe as ye shall lyue that your good examples and good lyuynge maye iluminate al other for as sayeth saynt Gregory They that hyde there good liuynge are as touchynge them selfe wel inflamed but they gyue no lyght to no nother but they that by examples of vertue by good liuynge by goodly sermons declare shew to other the waies of saluacyon for they are the burnyng laÌ„pes they shewe to other the wayes of saluacyon Of the which thyng the lorde sayeth Let your lyght that is your good workê glyster and shyne in the syght of men that they maye se them and gloryfye youre father that is in heuen for al glorye shuld be onely attributed giueÌ„ to god Yet neuerthelesse good virgyn I couÌ„sell you so to opeÌ„ so to manifest youre good workê to y â— ê“fyte of your neyghbour y e your inteÌ„cyoÌ„ be euer more close and secrete in god that ye loke for no worldly prayse for it is but vayne And as I haue shewed you before in all youre actions in all your workes and in all your coÌ„uersacyon ye shall followe the blessed sayntes hauynge contynually there noble and vertuous examples before you conterfetynge and folowynge theÌ„ and acceptynge them as a glasse of good and godly lernynge mark and consyder well there vertues for folowynge of them ye maye do wel vnderstande there good doctrynes to lyue well for in so doynge nothynge shall stayne nor yet defyle oure lyfe nor no euyll opinyon shall brynge you to any sorowe or heuynesse lerne to shyne by good maners haue good wytnesse in you kepe your good name and beware in anye wyse it be not defyled with the darke spottes of syn nor imbrued with anye other opprobryusnesse or vyllany Of contention and stryfe the .xvij. chap. SAynt paule the Apostle sayeth WheÌ„ there is enuy and coÌ„tention among you ye walke as men and ye are carnall And Salomon sayeth amonge proude meÌ„ there is alwayes stryfe and debate a euyll person is alwayes sekynge for contention stryfe and the euyll angell is sent agaynst hym He that goeth by ioperdus wayes is soone downe and he that is euermore at debate and wordes w t his neighbour coÌ„meth very soone to shame all such as haue this goodly vertue commended vnto vs by Chryste called mansuetude neyther speaketh nor doth euyl to no maÌ„nor gyueth no euyll examples but doth for euery man Al such as haue this goodly vertue be neuer contentius nor loue neyther debate nor stryfe Fewe or none do loue those y â— are coÌ„tinually in stryfe contention And therfore peace and concorde is very necessary for all men O deare syster harken vnto saynt Austens sayenge O how irrepreheÌ„syble shall we be yf we wolde be as diligeÌ„t to ameÌ„de our owne vices syn as we be to correcte other meÌ„s But yf we take good hede we may soone spye and correcte many of our owne fautes I wolde ye shulde knowe that there is nothiÌ„g more vnhonest then is stryfe coÌ„tention amoÌ„g vs chrystians the which shulde be in concorde loue vnite and no nother wyse shine and glister in this worlde then the starres in the fyrmament ConteÌ„tyon is wont to procede of enuy and detractyon but
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
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
suffre payne and tormente O good Christes spouse ye are iustly punished ye are iustly scourged and iustly condeÌ„pned the payne and tormeÌ„tes ye are in do iustly chasten you Of couitousnes xliiii cha THe Lorde saythe in his gospell flye froÌ„ all couytousnes for the life of maÌ„ is not in the abundaunce of those thynges that he possesseth vpoÌ„ earth And saynt Paule sayth Let no fornycacyon no immundycyte nor yet no couytousnes be spoken of amonge you And agayne he sayth such as are fornycators vnclenly of lyfe or couytous shall not be parte takers of the kyngdome of heuen of this thynge sayth Salomon He that foloweth couitousnes doth trouble his house the couytous shall neuer be satisfyed with money he that louethe ryches shall neuer haue ê“fite be theÌ„ there is nothiÌ„g worse theÌ„ to loue money for his soule y â— loueth money is euermore redy to be solde as couytousnes doth droweÌ„ a man in hell so doth almous dede done w t lyberalyte eleuateth briÌ„gth maÌ„ to heuen The couytous man is lykened to hel for as hell is neuer satysfyed no more is the auarycyous maÌ„ and the more that he that hath the dropsy doth driÌ„ke the more he may so y â— more that the couytous man gettethe the more he desyrethe Auarycyousnes couytousnes are systers and pryde is theyre mother for pryde was neuer without auarycyousnes nor auaryce w toute couytousnes Good syster lette not yourhandes be redy to take and receyue but rather redye to gyue I wolde ye shulde delyte more in gyuyng theÌ„ in takyng it is a greater vertue and moch better to gyue theÌ„ to take Good syster take heed that auaryce fasten not her rootes in you loke there be no spot or smacke of couytousnes in you yf for Christe sake ye vtterly dyspyse al worldly thynges ye shal reioyce eternally with hym in heuen Of cupidyte the .xiv. cha CUpidyte is the roote of all myschefe no man can perfytely take vpoÌ„ hym to make spirytuall warre withoute he tame and refrayne al bodyly pleasure the soule of man can not be sette nor geuen to conteÌ„p lacyon yf it be intangled withe cupidyte and the desyre of transytory and worldly thynges the eye of the soule can not beholde celesty all thynges yf the dust of earthlye cupidyte do blynde it cupidyte is a greuous synne the matter and very occasion of all other crimes Wherfore it is no meruayle yf they be tormented w t the fyre of hell that iÌ„ this worlde wolde not quenche the flayme of theyr cupydyte Good syster not w t staÌ„dyng ye haue no money yet that shal nothiÌ„g preuaile you yf ye be desirous therof It pÌ„uayleth not to be bare yf a man be desyrous of goodly aray Iudas through cupydyte solde Chryst we came bare in to the worlde shall departe from hence bare why shuld we theÌ„ couet or desyre these worldlye and traÌ„sytorye thynges And yf we know y t the goodes of the world shall perisshe come to noughtes why do we loue theÌ„ so effectuouslye If we loue these transytory thynges more then reasoÌ„ requyreth we offende greatlye Therfore good syster consyder the course and breuenes of your tyme and ye shall manyfestlye knowe and perceyue that a verye lytle thynge wyll serue you If cupydyte as I haue sayd before be the rote of all other myschefe it is necessary ye expell it leste it be the occasyon of other lette there be no euyl nor no peruerse cupydytye iÌ„ you the good lorde gyue you of his grace to dyspyse for his loue onelye the prosperyte of the world and not to feare the aduersytes therof Of pouertie the .xlvi. Chapi BLessed be they that are poore in spirite for the kyngdome of heuen is theyrs There are many power meÌ„ whose pouertie maketh theÌ„ rather wretched theÌ„ blessed because they suffre nor take not theyr pouertie pacyeÌ„tly for goddes sake but full sore agaynste theyr wyll other there be that pacyeÌ„tly do suffre theyr pouerte for goddê sake through theyr meke sufferauÌ„ce are blessed of y â— which it is wryteÌ„ blessed at they y â— ar pore in spirite Ye haue harde good syster of y â— tribulacyoÌ„ pacyence of Iob. Wherfore I exhort you to take heed that nother worldly trybulacyon do oppresse you nor prosperyte exalte you ye rede that y â— patryarches were very ryche of substaunce and meruaylous huÌ„ble meke of stomacke suche a one was Abraham that sayd I wyl speke to my lord god which I am but earth and ashes So my good syster yf in your welth woo ye gyue thankes vnto almyghtye god ye shall beleue well perceyue that the felycyte of this teÌ„porall lyfe vanysheth awaye as smoke coÌ„meth to nothyng for saynte Paule sayth If we trust onely vpon goodes rewarde in this world we are the most wretched of all other the which take y â— fruycyoÌ„ of theyr goodes here we great payn tormeÌ„t Christe Iesus promysyng vs perpetuall lyfe taught vs to dyspyse gold al other giftes because we shuld not fere huÌ„ger he fasted forty dayes because we shulde not feare to be bare he commauÌ„ded his discyples they shulde haue but one cote because we shulde not feare trybulacion he suffred great trybulacyon And bycause we shuld not fere deth he suffred deth for vs. All these worldly thinges are but fleshly coÌ„cuptscence the coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of the eyes and wordly ambition the worlde shall perysshe with al his coÌ„cupiscence Therfore good sister let vs not loue these wordly thynges lost we peryshe with theÌ„ Kynge Dauyd was a myghty prynce and notwithstaÌ„dyng he had great treasoure ruled his people with stronge haÌ„d yet he knowledge shewed hym selfe to be full of humilite saynge I am but poore and iÌ„ coÌ„mmual laboure And agayne he sayth I am poore iÌ„ greate necessite And againe I am but as a poore laborynge man in this worlde and a pylgryme as my fore fathers haue bene before me Good syster let not the flattery of this transytory worlde delyte and please you take no pleasure in this worldely coÌ„modite nor reioyce not iÌ„ worldly lucre nor be not moued with earthly losses For it is wrytten If ryches come plentifully and abundantly vnto you sette not your harte nor your minde vpoÌ„ them for yf man be in amours and loue with them he shall lese them with great paine sorow O Chrystes spouse lysten vnto me he whome heuen and earth doth serue made hym selfe pore for oure sakes Why so that by his pouertye he myght inryche vs. Therfore good vyrgyn folow y â— way of Christ Iesus leaue not of to folow his fote steppê for without doute yf ye folowe hym ye shal come to the euerlastynge kyngdome of heuen Beholde good syster the virginite pouerte of our blessyd lady the which was so in goddes fauour that she by hiÌ„ deseruyd to be
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