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
the cantykels Thou that art nuryshed amonge the lilees environed and coÌ„past with the coÌ„panes of virgyns glorifyenge your spouses with glorie and giuynge them greate rewardes and giftes whethersoeuer ye go the virgyns do folowe you and syngynge behynde you they beset you and delyte and conforte you with many folde swete songes and hymnes that is with depe loue and deuoute prayer O welbeloued syster let nothiÌ„ge be swete vnto you but only chryste Iesus requere no nother loue but his onely loue no nother mans beutefulnes but his only and loke ye wepe and wayle to come to his loue and vntyll ye maye se hym syt vpon the ryght hande of his father Of the loue of thy neyghbour the .xiij. chap My welbeloued sister harkeÌ„ what the lord sayeth to his discyples Men shal know that ye are my discyples yf one of you do loue another Wherof foloweth this good lerniÌ„g that who so wyl be iÌ„teÌ„des to be christes discyple must indeuer hymselfe to loue his neyghboure as him selfe neyghbourly loue causeth no harme for the consumation of the lawe is dilection and loue And saynt Paule sayeth Walke so in loue as god hath loued vs delyuered hym selfe for vs. And saynt Iohan sayeth He that loueth his brother is in the lyght and there is no shame in hym He that hateth his brother is in darknesse and knoweth not wether he goeth for y â— darknes hath blynded hym Who so euer sayeth y â— he loueth god hateth his brother he lyeth falsely there is no trueth in hym and this is goddes commauÌ„dement that he that loueth god must loue his brother For howe shall he loue god whome he seeth not that loueth not his brother whome he seeth And salomoÌ„ sayeth a frynd is alwayes in loue and a mans brother is proued in necessite And S. austen sayth A man is ouercommed by humane felicite and the deueil by louynge of oure enemye But yet good syster amonge goddes seruantes must be no carnal loue but onely spirytual loue There is nothynge more acceptable to god then the vertue of loue nor nothing that the deuel desyreth more theÌ„ to quinche charite good spirituall loue contayneth nor hathe no shame in itselfe And loke ye thynke euery good faythfull man to be your brother and remeÌ„ber that one workemaÌ„ made vs al trew loue hath no bitternes of shame by louynge of your neyghbour ye shall lerne and knowe howe to come to the loue of god and as loue doth eleuate maÌ„s mind so dothe malyce and hatred depresse it ye can neuer loue GOd truely and as ye ought to do w t out your neyghbour nor youre neighbour without god ye haue theÌ„ trew charite if ye loue your frende in god and your enemye for Goddes sake and the more large and faruent ye are in the loue of your neyghbour y e more higher shal ye be in the loue and fauour of god Yf ye loue youre neyghbour truely your mynde is in traÌ„quilite and rest he that hateth his neyghbour is beset and compast with darknesse and enuy by louyng of your neyghbour ye shall pourge the eye of your harte and mynde se god the better Yet good syster I wolde ye shulde loue no man carnally wherupon sayeth saynt Isydore That man sayth he is very depe in earth that loueth anye mortall maâ— more then he shuld do we cannot be in goddê company if we loue not one another A frend is knowen in tyme of nicessite Yf we kepe Goddes commaundementes we muste loue oure neyghboure as oureselfe and yf a man loue his brother without dissymulatyon he shall soone please the father of heuen He that loueth his neyghboure can not commyt murther aduoutery thefte periure nor beare false wytnesse nor haue anye enuyousnesse or stryfe in hym Therfore good syster let vs euermore thinke vpon the loue of GOD and of oure neyghboure in the whiche two dependeth all the lawe and Prophettes and let vs do so indede for if we can be sory for our neyghboure when we se hym in tribulation or syckenesse in any losse or in pryson then we be of Chrystes churche but yf we be not sory for hym we be euen as people seperated from Chryste and his congregacyon For as longe as anye parte of man is adheruet and ioyned to the bodye so longe it sufferth with the bodye but after it be cut of it can not feele nor nor suffer yf a mans hande or foote or any otherpart of his body be cut froÌ„ y â— body or yf it be deuided in many partê or cast into the fyre the for sayde hande or foote feleth nothynge bycause it is deuyded from the body so in lyke maner it is with all such chrystians the whiche are nothiÌ„g sory for theyr neyghbours tribulatioÌ„ losse or necessite but rather reioyleth therin suche a neyghbour is deuyded from the body of the churche and is none of chrystes flocke Honest virgin yf we kepe trewe and ê‘fyte charite we must nedes loue al faith ful peple as our self for through suche concord charite and true dilectioÌ„ we shall appeare w t him in his glorye We loue our frendes yf we loue them for goddes sake not for theyr owne sake Wherupon sayeth S. Isodore he that intemperately and immoderately loueth his frende loueth hym more for his owne sake then for Goddes sake And who so despiseth his frende smyt ten with aduersite doth contrarye to the Iustice and goodnes of god trewloue by no maner of occasion can be defaced nor lost at no tyme for howe soeuer the worlde goeth it remayneth stedfast But there be very fewe that charitably do contynewe in frenshyp and that is reputed to be trewe loue that onely requyreth of his frende his good beneuoleÌ„ce that is loue for loue Therfore I exhorte you to loue your freÌ„des in god that is in al goodnesse and in lyke maner youre enemyes for Goddes sake as it is wryten Loue your ennemies and do good to them that hate you And yf youre ennemye be an hungerde gyue hym meate yf he be a thryst giue him drynk And agayne blesse and saye wel by them that trouble you blesse them but speake no euyll by theÌ„ DilectioÌ„ is charite charite was neuer without dilection nor dilection or loue without charite Therfore good virgyn dilectioÌ„ and loue is very necessary oute of the whiche do sprynge manye great vertues Dilection hathe two wynges the ryght wynge is the loue of god the left wyng is the loue of oure neyghboure there is no man that can flye to heuen with one wynge alone for the loue and dilection of god without the dilection and intere loue of oure neyghbour helpeth nor auaileth not to come to heueÌ„ nor the loue of our neyghboure without the loue of God preuayleth not to come to eternall beatitude Wyse and prudent virgyn take these two wynges vnto you that is the loue of GOD and the loue of your neighbour
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
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
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
hi self take good heed that he be not deceyued Wherfore good syster it is very necessary we pray vnto god almygh tye y t he suffre vs not to be tempted in this worlde more then we may bere or suffre for god doth restrain our enemies power because he shuld not do such hurt as his wil is to do And in y â— can tycles y â— holy goost reproueth hiÌ„ saynge Lyfte thy self vp thou northe wynde come hyther y u south wynde blow ouer al my gardeÌ„ theÌ„ shal y â— aromatyke swete fragrant sauers cuÌ„ sorth The north wynd y â— which throughe his great ferueÌ„t colde causeth slouthfulnes doth sygnyfy no nother thiÌ„g but our gostly enemy the deuyl the which at the hathe once teÌ„pted maÌ„ is iÌ„posse ssioÌ„ of hiÌ„ causeth hiÌ„ to be slouthful iÌ„ al good workê y â— southwiÌ„de beynge both swete hote dothe sygnify y â— holy gost y â— which after he hathe neuer so lytle towched the soules of good meÌ„ loseth theÌ„ from al slouthfulnes makynge theÌ„ stedfast iÌ„ the loue of god let therfore this north wynde that is this euyl spyryte departe froÌ„ goddes churche and from euery deuout soule that he tempte no man more theÌ„ behoueth let the southe wynde come blow vpoÌ„ the garden the aromatike sauers shal comfort then shal the holy gost come powre the fyre of charite into theyr myndes vnbynde theÌ„ froÌ„ al temptation slothful negligeÌ„ce The which thynge ones done the swete redolette sauers shal sprynge and come abrode for at the coÌ„myng of the holy gost the herte y â— was slouthful shal chaunge be moued to good workes and shall floure lyke a garden after the floure it shall bryng forth swete redolent and nuryshyng fruyte with the which he may by good example repast and refresh both hym selfe and his neyghboure The systers demaunde GOod brother I pray you to shew me what remedy ther is agaynst the temptacion of the deuell The brothers answere MY welbeloued sister in Chryste Iesu the best remedy for him that is yet sore vexed tempted w t vice and deuyllysh temptacyons is this that the more he is tempted the more he takethe hym in his prayers And therfore yf anye worldlye thoughte do trouble youre mynde or intyce and perswade you to do any thiÌ„ge wroÌ„gfully by pure prayer deuoute watche it may sone be shakeÌ„ of And therfore when ye praye be customably w t all deuocyon in the sight of almyghty god that the temptacyon that is nowe at hande maye the more easely be repelled and ouercoÌ„med Also good syster ye shall vnderstaÌ„de that we must not onely stryue against such deuyllish teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s but also agaynste y â— vyce of the foule fylthy stinkynge flesshe why so For y e fleshe doth couet agaynst the spiryte the spirite agaynst the fleshe And therfore we shuld so contyne w in prayer that throughe the grace of god we myght ouercoÌ„e such suggestyons suche carnall desyres deuylly she teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s for contynuall prayer doth quench debate suche vycyous impugnacyons contynuall prayer dothe surmouÌ„t ouercome the deuyls dartes prayer is the hed vertue agaynst the assaultes of all teÌ„ptacyon Therfore good sister as I haue tolde you by pure orason prayer with holy watche ye may ouercome all diabolyke teÌ„ptacyoÌ„ but yf ye fele y â— molestiousnes of y â— fleshe yf your fleshe doth yet prycke you yf as yet y â— remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of carnal delectacioÌ„ doth trouble you yf your flesshe do veâ—e you yf lechery do â—eÌ„pte you if delecracioÌ„ do ê“uoke you to syn call dethe to remeÌ„brauÌ„ce thiÌ„k vpoÌ„ y e ingemeÌ„t y t is to come remembre the tormentes paynes of hell the perpetual fyer of hell the horryble paynes that be there for the remembraunce of the hote burnynge fyre of hel shall quinche the heate of al luxuriusnes and lychery ¶ Of dreames the .lvi. ca MY welbeloued syster harken vnto me The wycked spirytes do oftentymes by nyght trouble mens myndes vnderstandynges with dyuers visyons and ofteÌ„tymes they do manifestly beate mens bodyes Dreames do chaÌ„ce after dyuers maners some by repletion and some chaunce as we know by experience by euacuatyon some by thought for mooste coÌ„menly of that thyng that maÌ„ thynketh vpon in the day he shall dreame in the nyght And many dremes do chance by y â— illusyons of the deuyll as sayeth Salomon Dreames haue caused manye a one to erre and they that haue trusted in them haue ben destrued There are certayne visyons which ar to be regarded for they chance by Godly reuelacion as we do rede in the olde testament of Ioseph Iacobs son the which through dreames was preferde before all his brethreÌ„ We do rede lyke wyse of Ioseph husband to our blessed lady mother and mayde the whiche in a dreame was warned he shulde fle w t the chylde into Egypt Somtimes such visions are myngled w t cogitacioÌ„ illusions or w t cogita cyon reuelacion as sayeth Daniel He that openeth the misteres shall shewe thinges y t are to come And notwithstandynge y â— some of these dreames be trewe yet we shuld not lyghtly byleue them For they chaÌ„ce by dyuers Imaginations we knowe not perfetly froÌ„ whense or by what meanes they come and therfore we shulde not be light of credeÌ„ce lest y â— the fynd traÌ„figure him self into an angel of light through our siplicite deceiue vs. At sometymes the fyndes deceyue those that be curius to take hede to dreames tell them the trueth in some thynges to deceyue theÌ„ in many other And notwitstandynge suche dreames chance to be eueÌ„ so as they sayde yet men shulde not byleue them lest they procede of illusioÌ„ as witnesseth scripture sayng Yf they tel you and it chance to be so yet byleue it not Dreames ar likened vnto augures the whiche do Iudge thynges by the chatteryng and flyght of byrdes and they that beholde suche thynges are cald auguriens therfore men shulde not byleue them notwithstandynge they appeare to be trewe they that truste in dremes or in these so the sayers haue no truste in god they ar likened to him y t foloweth y e wind to those y t go aboute to take a mans shadowe These so the sayngê ar but lyes dremes and deceytefulnesse we shulde neuer beleue dreames least they deceyue vs let our hope be onely fyred in god and as for dremes let vs not care for y e which thynge shalbe very acceptable vnto god And therfore my good syster I exhorte you that ye put not your confideÌ„ce in dremes but in almyghtye god For yf ye trust to such vanitê ye shal be ryght soone deceyued Therfore regard theÌ„ not but set your hope perfetly in the prouydence of god and so althynge bothe in this world and in tyme to come shall prospere with you Of the