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
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
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
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
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
misdoing the soner is his prayer harde A prayer must be spokeÌ„ pronouÌ„ced w t harte not w t thy lyppes only it is better to pray vnder sileÌ„ce w t harte theÌ„ in worde with out good inteÌ„cioÌ„ Amans prayer is theÌ„ moste purest wheÌ„ it is not corrupt w t suê‘fluus thoughtes such mens myndes are far from god whose prayers are troubeled w t worldly busynes Prayer is let froÌ„ his purpose two maner of waies The fyrst is when man intendeth not to leaue his synful lyuyng The seconde is when man wyl not forgyue such msfautes iniuries as hath ben done vnto hym A mans soule mynd is theÌ„ celestial wholy in the meditacyoÌ„ of god when it is not disturbed nor troubeled w t worldly workes and busynesses When a man doth pray he calleth the holy goste vnto hym after whose coÌ„myng al such deuellysh teÌ„ptacyoÌ„ as do vexe trouble his minde vanissheth away for the deuyll can not abyde the presence of y â— holy goste He y â— is hurt must praye continually for those y t did hurt hiÌ„ or els he is in great defaute syn For as the surgeÌ„ or medecyn caÌ„not remedy the wouÌ„de as longe as theyr is hyerne in it so y â— prayer of him y â— beareth maliee doth ê“fet hiÌ„ lytle or nothiÌ„g And he doth syn y â— in his prayer to GOd dothe repete opeÌ„ his good dedes as dyd y â— pharise laudiÌ„g hiÌ„ self more then god of his good dedê O good sisâ— pray to god coÌ„tinually w t tearê pray nyght daye cease not froÌ„ prayer Be euermore wel armyd w t harnis made of good prayer Let prayer neuer fall froÌ„ youre mouth be ofte in prayer wepe wayle coÌ„tinually Rysevp in the nyght to pray watch and pray watch al night in prayer take a lytle nap and then pray agayne For continuall prayer putteth a waye all deuyllyshe teÌ„ptacyon Quotidiane and dayly prayer ouercoÌ„meth y â— deuelles dartê al his malyce prayer is the fyrst cheyfest vertue agaynst the assauttes of the wycked fend his teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s oratioÌ„ prayer dothe ouercome all y e temptacyons of our gostly enemy it sermouÌ„teth ouercoÌ„meth al euyll spirytes Good syst let your prayer be pure clene and I exhorte you to pray for those y t be good y t they may coÌ„tinew in theyr goodnesse And for those y â— are noughtes y t they may turne froÌ„theyr noughtinesto goodnes Pray for your freÌ„des and for youre ennemies and for all chrysten soules Of holy lessoÌ„ the xlix cha BY prayer we be purified froÌ„ al syn By good lessons we be taught what we shulde do bothe are good But yet it is better to praye theÌ„ to rede For wheÌ„ we pray we speake to god wheÌ„ we rede god speketh to vs Good syst yf ye desyre to be coÌ„tynually w t god be alwayes prayenge rediÌ„ge for deuine lessoÌ„ is very necessary profytable By suche lessons we lerne what we shuld do what we shuld exchew and where to we shulde tende of this thynge sayeth Dauid The word of god is as a lanterne for my fete y â— is for my affections And as a light to my foote patthes goyng by diuine lesson a maÌ„s vnderstaÌ„dng is increasedâ— good lessoÌ„s do instructe man to prayer good workes good lessons do informe both life actiue coÌ„templatyue And therfore it is wrytten Blessyd is he y â— doth thynk both day nyght vpoÌ„ the lawe of god Prayer good lessons are y â— wepeÌ„s w t the which y â— deuil is ouer coÌ„med the instrumeÌ„tes be y â— which meÌ„ coÌ„ to eternal beatitude By prayer lessoÌ„ vyce is expelled vertue in maÌ„â— soule iÌ„cresed The haÌ„d mayde of god shulde coÌ„tinually pray and rede For it is wrytteÌ„ I shall neuer be coÌ„fouÌ„ded if I coÌ„sider welthy coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes Therfore my welbeloued syst in god pray ofteÌ„ coÌ„tynew in the meditacioÌ„ of holy scrypture by dilygent in redynge of Goddes lawes Use your selfe to rede scrypture Let it be your dayly lessoÌ„ your daily meditacioÌ„ For such holy and deuoute lessons remoue the mynd froÌ„ worldly vanite augmeÌ„teth the vnderstanding such deuyne lessoÌ„s do tech maÌ„ what he shuld do what he shuld exchue flye ye shal ê“fite gretly yf ye folow y â— ye rede I pray y â— lord to opeÌ„ your hart iÌ„ his lawes coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tê ¶ Of workes the .l. cha THe ê“phete Ieremias sayeth Let vs lyft vp our hartê w t our haÌ„des to god He y â— praieth laboureth doth lyft vp his hart his haÌ„des to god But he y â— prayeth laboureth not lyfte vp his harte to god but not his handê And he y â— laboureth praieth not lifteth vp his haÌ„dê to god but not his hart Wherfore good syst it is very necessary y â— we lyft vp our hartê by praier our haÌ„des by good operacioÌ„ workes why so Least y â— we be repÌ„heÌ„ded to be negligeÌ„t in obseruiÌ„g kepiÌ„g of goddes coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tê thiÌ„kiÌ„g to optaine by only praier or by onlâ— labut y â— thiÌ„g y â— we demauÌ„d desyre of this sayeth s Paule He y â— wyl not labour shal not eat ye shuld euermore pray rede or labur lest ê‘adueÌ„tur y e spiryte of fornicacyon deceyue your Idle mind al fleshly carnal desyre is ouercomde by labour O welbe loued syster deuyde youre tyme in thre partes in the fyrstye shal pray in the second ye shall rede in the thyrde ye shall labour work Kyng SalomoÌ„ throughe Idilnesse wrapt hym selfe in to diuers kyndes of fornication through the great and ferueÌ„t desyre he had there vnto he worshypped Idolles Good syster these thre thynges prayer lesson labour are very necessary For by prayer we be pourged by devine lessoÌ„ we be instructed by labour workes we be beatifyed blessyd As it is wrytten Thou shall eat y â— laboururs of thy haÌ„des y â— shalbe blessed wel y â— shalt be And it at any tyme ye do leaue of reding theÌ„ to auoyd ydelnes ye shal labour for idelnes is enmy to the soule the deuyl doth very esely deceiue those that he findeth idle O Christes spouse beware lest wheÌ„ he shall behold enquire of other mens doynges that he fynde nothiÌ„ge iÌ„ you he may accuse you of And therfore I exhorte you that ye be neuer idle pray god that ye may shew al other y e loue of god not in wordes onely but also in good workes for theÌ„ ye loue god wheÌ„ for his loue ye do al y â— good ye caÌ„ for euery good deuoute soule shulde manifestly both in worde dede open shew y â— he loueth god of the which thynge it is wrytten The bryde grome that is Chryst Iesus appareliÌ„g the bryde that is y â— deuout soule sayth Lay me vpoÌ„ your hert as a sygnacle allo vpoÌ„ your armes In
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
feble and frayle he resteth in his beddes of downe all mortall Good syster in chryst I do shew you these thynges to thentent ye may knowe how vayne these worldly thinges be The felicite of this worlde is very short the glorye of this worlde is small this temporal powre is exceding frayle and bryttell Wherfore loke ye despyse all worldly abouÌ„ daunce and that wyllyngly ye forsake these earthly thinges to come to eternall Refuse that is traÌ„sitory to come to euerlastyng Gyue away these tryflynge and worldly thynges that god maye gyue you eternall exchew and flye the worlde and the coÌ„pany of man y â— ye maye come to that goodly and celestiall company of angelles to the whiche company I desyre he wyll brynge you that bought you w t his precious bloode Amen Of the haâ—yte coÌ„uenieÌ„t garmentes cap. ix THe lorde sayeth They that are delicately and softly besene are in greate mens houses A mans garment is called softe delicate bycause it mollefyeth corrupte the mynde great mens houses delyte in such wanton delicate vesture but the churche of god deliteth taketh pleasure in humble and sharp arraye In the vesture of chryst seruantes of his hand maydeÌ„s shuld not be nor yet a peare newfangelnesse no vanite no superfluite nor no sygne of pryde or of vayne glorye Wherupon S. Hierome sayeth that the tender and softe vesture doth not ornate nor set forth goddes seruaÌ„tes but the clerenesse of thought Therfore my welbeloued syster let vs decke vs with spirituall ornamentes that is with charite humilite gentylnes obedience and pacieÌ„ce these be the very ornamentes with the whiche we may please oure celestial spouse chryst Iesus for oure inuisible spouse requireth no erteryoure beutie but the interior inward beutie as Dauid the Prophet sayeth All the glorye of the kinges doughter that is of god is inwardly and all such glorye is in a good in a humble and in a pure conscyeÌ„ce and in such thynges they that be good do onely glorye but these idiotes do euer more glorye iÌ„ these exterior thinges Therfore let good maners be your ryches let good liuyng be your beutye for I wolde my good syster that that thynge myght be sayde by you that is red in the canticles My swete harte ye are all goodly nor there is not a spot in you And againe it is wryten come from the mouÌ„tayne of Libano for ye shall be crowned Truly that soule may well be called fortunate that seruyth god vndefyledly ye shalbe very fortunate yf ye maye serue god youre spouse without any spot of syn in deuer not youre self to plese god with your fayre face but with your harte youre vesture shal neyther be to precyous nor yet to vyle but moderate and coÌ„petent And so sayeth saynt Austen of hym selfe I confesse sayeth he that I am a shamed of my goodly araye And agayne he sayeth that such goodly araye besemeth not his profession it pertayneth not to these membres it besemeth not these graye eares Be therfore good virgyn well and honestly besene not to apeare to be bewtifull but only for bodely health least that when ye are trymblye besene ye fall to synne for the more that the body is wantonly set forth invayneglorye so moch the more the soule is inwardly bespotted and defyled Therfore good syster shewe your professioÌ„ to your pace and in your habyte that in youre pace be simplicite and honeste in youre mouynge purenesse in your gesture grauite and in youre maner of goynge honeste and that therein appeare no dishoneste no waÌ„tonnesse no pryde no sluggesneshe nor no lyghtnesse for why the wyll and mynde of a man dothe appeare and is knowen by the gesture of the bodye the gesture of the body is the declaration of the mynde by a mans gesture his corage is soone perceiued Therfore good syster let your maner of goyng and pace haue no symilitude of lyghtnes in it Let not your pace ofteÌ„de mans syght Let it not cause men to gase apon you or be any occasyon why men shuld slauÌ„der and speake euyll by you Good syster clense youre conscience so from all malyce and iniquite that chryst Iesus your spouse may say thus vnto you O ye are fayre ye are fayre your eyes are as goodly as the doues ye are fayre by perfectioÌ„ of harte cleÌ„lynesse of mind ye are fayre for your intencyon is good and full of all simplicite for all that ye haue done ye haue not done it all to please man withall but onely for the pleasure of god Loke your eyes be lyke vnto the doues eyes for so shall ye kepe them vndefiled from al malyce suâ—lacion and fiction I wryte vnto you these thinges good syster because ye shulde rather reioyce inwardly of your excellent good vertues then outwardly of your freshe and gay clothyng Wherupon saynt Gregory sayeth that nomaÌ„ desyreth ryche goodly apparell but onely for vayne glorye that is bycause that meÌ„ shulde extoll and laude hym and thynke theÌ„ more honorable then all other There is no man that desyreth to be wel decked but there onely where he may be sene and so it is manifest that he desyreth it only forvaine glorie O good virgyn by the desyre of such ryche and worldly apparel men knowe we do loue this worlde for he y e loueth not the world careth litle or nothiÌ„g for suche vanites When man reioyseth in such goodly ryche habyte then his harte is far froÌ„ the loue of god his maker how moche the more we delyte in the fashonyng and trymmynge of our bodyes so moche the more farther of be we from the loue of god How moch y â— more we take our pleasure in these earthly transitory thinges so moche the lesse we desyre celestial and heueÌ„ly thinges Truely that woman that delyteth and loueth precyous aray can not be but defyled with syn the spouse of chryst louynge suche clenly and goodly apparell can not be without syn The handmayde of GOd that hath earnestly lefte the worlde desyreth no such apparel huÌ„ble and symple vesture is a token of the contempte of the worlde Therfore good syster I praye you that good maners maye be your habyte and be no nother inwardes then ye be outwardê Loke ye be in very dede the selfe ye wold be estemed and reputed to be And as ye be to maÌ„s sight so be in al your operatioÌ„s workê as ye are in countenaunce so loke ye be in very dede Of coÌ„punction the x. cha THe coÌ„puÌ„ction of the harte is y e humiâ—ite of the mynd the whiche procedeth of the remembrauÌ„ce of syn and of the feare of Goddes iudgement this coÌ„punction is a perfyte thyn g by the whiche all carnall delectacyon is auoyded and the mynde intention study of man fixed in the meditacyon and contemplacyon of god We rede of two maner of coÌ„puÌ„ctioÌ„s the tone is wheÌ„ the soule of goddes seruant is moued and therwith reduceth
his synnes to memory the other is wheÌ„ the soule with great depe sythes desyreth to come to euerlastyng ioye the soule of euery iust maÌ„ is moued by coÌ„puÌ„ctioÌ„ foure maner of wayes The fyrst is by y â— remembrauÌ„ce of his syn the seconde by the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the paynes y â— be to coÌ„e The thyrd is by remeÌ„braunce of the peregrinacion of this mortall lyfe The fourth by the desyre of heueÌ„ the whiche the soule of man dothe greatly couet Euery wretched synÌ„er knoweth that god doth then visyte hym when that by compunction he is prouoked to wepe for S. Peter dyd wepe through greate compunction when god beheld hym for it is wryten that oure lorde turned hym and behelde peter and that incontinently he went out and wepte bytterly of this speaketh the Psalmist God loked and the earth moued and trembled The earth doth then tremble when the poore wretched synner is moued to bewayle his si 〈…〉 es Wherfore good syster I wolde counsell you to call your synnes to remembrauÌ„ce in prayer and sorowfulnesse for his prayer is not cleane nor yet acceptable that prayeth w tout coÌ„punction or contrition I pray you to harken vnto the examples of holy sayntes y e which by coÌ„punction and lamentacyoÌ„ haue obtayned of god pardon and forgiuenes of theyr sinnes As Samuels mother by compunctyon deserued to haue a chylde and ferthermore she optayned of god the gyfte of prophecie Dauid by long waylyng and coÌ„punctioÌ„ optayned pardoÌ„ of his aduenture and murther for the prophet sayde thus vnto hym Thou shalt not die for the lorde hath translated thy synne And good father Tobias by such coÌ„puÌ„ction teares was restored to his syght and holpen of his pouerte for the angel Raphael sayde thus vnto hym be glad quod Raphael agayne be of good chere for y â— shalt be shortly holpeÌ„ And the glorious Magdalene through greate coÌ„punction and manyfolde teares harde these wordes of GOddes owne mouthe thy synnes be for gyneÌ„the Good syster I haue recyted these exaÌ„ples of holy sayntes vnto you that your teares lameÌ„tacyon for your missautes with coÌ„punction maye be swete vnto you for coÌ„punction is a desyrefull treasure and to mans mynde a ioye ineâ—arrable he that prayeth with trewe compuÌ„ction dothe prophet his soule very moche A stronge champion is no lesse worthy of prayse beynge in lamentation then beynge in battayle consyderynge then that after oure bapteme we haue bespotted and defyled our lyfe with stynken syn set vs nowe baptyse rynse our coÌ„scyence w t teares for where is wepynge there is spiritual goostly fyre the whiche shall illuminate kyndle y e secretes of maÌ„s mynde y â— weping the teares of peniteÌ„t ê‘sons are vnto God as a chrystendome Welbeloued syster in christ yf ye haue coÌ„punctioÌ„ ye are happe for coÌ„punctioÌ„ of y e hart is the health of y e soule the coÌ„punction of the mynde thought is the illumination of the soule for theÌ„ the soule is kynled when that by coÌ„punction it is moued to wepe the coÌ„punctioÌ„ of teres is the remission of synnes for then a mans synnes are for gyuen hym when with bytter wepyng and teares he remeÌ„bereth them coÌ„punction dothe brynge the holy gost to man for as soone as the holy goost doth visyte mans mynde by and by the poore synner shall bewayle his mislyuynge ¶ The sisters demaunde O Good brother I requyre you to tell me for what causes in this mortall lyfe we shulde wepe The brothers answere GOod sister there are foure causes the first is for our owne synnes The second for the wretchednes and misery of this worlde The thyrde is for the compassyon of our neyghbour The fourth is for the pleasure of the celestiall and heuenly rewarde He wepte for his synnes that sayde I wyl washe my bed euery nyght and with my teares I wyll wete the couerlet of my bed And agayne bewaylynge the misery of this wretched worlde he sayde Alas I am in great sorowfulnesse for why my labour that is my lyfe is prolonged and in these my wretchednes I dwel not among good men but among synners the whiche are vnderstanded by this worde cedar my soule hath ben very longe absent from god Also y â— good lord wepte through pite and coÌ„passyon apon Lazarus and apon the citye of Hierusalem sayeng for yf thou hadest knowen the tyme of the visitacyon c. And S. Paule commaundeth that we shuld reioyce with those that are in ioye and wepe with those that wepe and beynge in greate heuynesse he sayde Who is sycke and I am not sycke And they y â— are good iuste men wepe for ioye of the â—eward of lyfe euerlastyng rehersynge the wordes of Dauyd say enge We sat apoÌ„ the floodes of BabiloÌ„ wepte wheÌ„ we remembered the SyoÌ„ that is wheÌ„ we remeÌ„bre our celestiall rewarde This preseÌ„t life is but death for it is ful of misery wretchednes the which thynges are not in heuen but only in this preseÌ„t lyfe the which is neuer at home but alwayes as vanished for beyng in this world we be neuer in the citie but wanderynge abrode and as straungers as it is wryten we haue no parpetuall demore in this worlde but we seke search for a place y t is to come that is for heueÌ„ Therfore good syster fyrst aboue all thynge I wold ye shuld bewayle your synnes secoÌ„darely y e wretchednes of this world Thyrdly your neyghbour fourthly for the loue of the celestiall reward Honest virgyn loke ye pray to god w t good deuocion desyrynge hym to gyue you trewe coÌ„punctioÌ„ of mind and of harte contrition for compunction causeth god to be with vs as he himselfe sayeth I and my father wyl come to him that hath coÌ„punction and we wyl tary with hym Where is moche wepinge and wayling there are lightly no euyll thoughtes and yf paraduenture at some tyme they approche nygh yet they take no rote and therfore they can not abyde longe wepynge causeth a man to haue good confidence in God Harken good syster vnto goddes owne wordes Stand vp good doughter and come vnto me for truely wynter is gone and past the floures begyn to appeare and the tyme of loppynge is come for we haue harde the voyce of the turtyll in our countrey that is to say the voyce of the preachers and of the apostles are hard in goddes churche This turtyll is a very chast byrde whose custome is to buylde her nest in hygh trees and by her is signified the apostelles and other good docters whiche may say our inhabitauÌ„ce and dwellynge place is in heuen the whiche turtyll rather mourneth then syngeth whose mournynge dothe signyfye the teares and sorowfulnes of good sayntes exortynge there frendes to mournynge and lamentacyon sayenge be petyfull and mourne you Therfore welbeloued syster taken an example by y â— turtyll and wepe vntyll
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
come to euerlastynge ioye to the whiche I desyre that he do brynge you to whose seruyce ye haue consecrated bothe bodye and soule Amen Of fornication the .xxiij. chap. DEare syster I exhorte you that with all deuocyon ye lysten vnto the wordê of our lorde Iesus Loke that your loynes be gyrded and that ye haue burnyng lampes in your haÌ„des we gyrd our loynes when that by contynence we represse all fleshly and bodely lustes We holde burnyngelampes in oure handes wheÌ„ we shewe good example to our neyghbour bodely fornicacyon yf it be taken largely is as sayeth saynt Isodore adultery But fornicatioÌ„ of the soule is Idolatre The fyrst assautes of fornicacion are by y â— eyes the seconde by wordes He that is not taken by the eyes maye soone resyst and withstande wordes Al fylthe pollucioÌ„ is called fornication notwithstandynge that all the kyndes therof bye dyuers voluptuous pleasures are coÌ„men And of this vayne fornicacyon are in gendered dyuers greate synnes by the whiche the kyngdome of heuen is closed vp and man seperated put from god And amonge all other capitall and deadly synnes fornycatyon is the cheyffest by extencyon that is bycause it is more coÌ„men then any other or els bycause it hathe mo braunches then any other By the vnclenlynesse of the flyshe the teÌ„ple of god is defeyled by takyng away of chrystê meÌ„bers they make it the member of a struÌ„pet that is of that vyle woman the whiche out of wedlock doth make her selfe a coÌ„men brodel Wherfore good virgyn yf this be trewe that god lyueth in you loke that all fornicacion be deade in you Lechery is Goddê enemye the perdicyon of eternall blysse and of all wordly substance FornicacyoÌ„ doth not onely bespot maÌ„s body but also his soule and conscyence and not w tstanding that he that coÌ„mitteth fornicacioÌ„ semeth to lyue yet for al that he is dead god shal iuge these aduouterers and fornicatours that is he shal coÌ„dempne them Harken good syster vnto Saynt Isodore wordes Yt is a great dele worsse to be defyled with fornycacyon then with any other syn For fornicacyon as I haue sayde before is greates of all syn FornicatioÌ„ is a very greuous syn Fornicacyon surmouÌ„teth and excedeth all other fautes Fornication is more greuous then death Yt were better to dye then to commyt fornycacyon or to be in any maner of wyse bespotted withal Yt were better to dye then a maÌ„ by fornycion shuld dampne his his owne soule Lechery bryngeth a man to the paynes of hel Lechery drowneth mans soule in hel Lechery seÌ„deth a man to damnacyon The eyes are fornycacyons messengers The syght is the fyrste cause of fornication the soule is oftentymes taken by a mans eyes by y â— eyes the darte of loue coÌ„meth to the soule Wherfore my welbeloued syster in Chryste Iesu refrayne your eyes plucke backe youre syght Fasten not your syght vpoÌ„ the goodlynesse of the fleshe Loke ye cast your eyes apon no man to dysyre his coÌ„pany Beholde no mans face to loue hym in euyll turne awaye your eyes from al vanite loke ye neuer desyre the beutyfulnesse of man O my good syster tel me I pray you What vtilite is ther in the carnall bewtye of man Is not man as drye as hay And dothe not his goodly beutye vanyshe awaye as dothe the shadowe And when death coÌ„meth I pray you tell me what goodlynesse shall remayne in the bodie wheÌ„ ye shall se his body swolleÌ„ and turned into all fylthy stynche and sauer shall ye not then stop your noose from such vnsauery sauer And from suche a stynkynge bodye Tell me I praye you where shall his goodly and his amable face be then Wher shall his swete wordes be with the which he was wont to melte theyre hartes he spake vnto Wher is then his swete and mery communication Tell me honest virgyn where y t his laughynge couÌ„tynance and his vnhonest sportes be then Where shal his vayne and his vnprofytable ioyfulnesse and myrthe become then Yt is gone consumed to nought and vanyshed awaye in lykenesse of smoke This is the ende and the consuÌ„macyon of bodely beutye Therfore good syster lerne nowe that beutyfulnesse is but a vayne thynge Consyderyng theÌ„ good syster that bodely shape is but a vanite a corrupt matter nothynge but earth nothynge els but duste and asches loke ye behold no man to desyre hym Why so For the worlde and all his concupiscence and pleasure vanysshet away And all that is in the worlde is but the concupiscence of the fleshe or of the eyes Therfore this worlde shulde be despised for goddes sake with al that is in it And you that haue lefte it for the loue of God shulde neuer reioyce in the beutyfulnesse of man Therfore I exhorte you to loue chryst Iesus your spouse aboue all thyng for yf the desyre of carnall fornicacyon doth delite and please the soule more then the loue of chaslite it is in continuall syn But yf the most excelleÌ„t vertue of chastite please the soule more then fylthy fornicacyon then there is no syn in it but iustice And notwithstaÌ„ding a man be chaste of bodye and in mynd luxurius yet syn doth remayne in hym FornicacyoÌ„ of y e mynde is taken for Idolatre There is another spice of fornycacioÌ„ of y â— which y â— lord speaketh sayng Who so loketh vpoÌ„ a womaÌ„ desiryng her coÌ„pany coÌ„mytteth fornicacyoÌ„ in harte mynd MeÌ„ are more subiecte to the deuel by bodely fornicacyoÌ„ theÌ„ by any other synÌ„e or vyce Chastite is the goodlynesse of the soule and by chastyte man is made egal to the merytes of Aungels many a one for faute of kepyng there syght haue fallen into the daunger and parell of theyre soules ¶ The sisters demaunde I Pray you deare brother tel me whether ye haue knowen anye man that hathe ben deceyued by his eyes The brothers answere YE verely good syster I haue knowen many that haue bene deceyued and wrapped in the deuilles snares by there syght I wyl shewe you of some that I haue red of The fyrst is Dina the whiche went into strauÌ„g countrees to beholde and se the men of those regyons and anone Sychen emors the prynce of that countrey sonne beheld her and was taken with her loue and rauysshed her and defloured her And so the poore wretched woman bycause she was desyrous to se that becomde her not to se loste her virginyte And kynge Dauid standynge in his chamber sawe a woman named Bersabe and in contynent he was takeÌ„ with her loue and rauysshed her and for her loue committed aduoutrey and murther and so doyeng he traÌ„sgrest the lawes and beholdyng of that thinge he shulde not haue loked vpon ne regarded he was in greatfaute And Samson the stronge went into the regyon of the 〈…〉 ilistyans where he sawe a certayne woman and fell in loue with her and slepynge in her lappe she cut of the heere
â— is the angels maÌ„ to be of one accorde The coÌ„cord of euyll meÌ„ is y â— contrariete of good meÌ„ And as we shuld desyre y e good men might be in peace so we shulde desyre that the peace concorde and vnite of euyl men myght be broken For concorde and vnyte to do euyll is not laudable But concorde to do well to serue GOD to folowe Iustice is laudable And the congregacyons and commyng togyther of Chrysten people into the church is to serue god in one spiryte in one wyll For so shulde they do that inhabyte goddes house For it preuayleth not to be togyther if our wylles be not al one for GOD loueth moche better the humilyte of the wyl then the humilite of the place We be many togyther in one house of dyuers maners of dyuers hartê of diuers mindê al these thigê must agre in one intencyon in one mynde and one loue in god Therfore we muste be all of one mynde of one wyl to serue god and to loue hym w t all oure hartes w t all your soules and oure neyghboure as oure selfe And therfore concorde is verye necessarye for vs for yf I folow my wyll pleasure you yours he his then must there nedes be diuision coÌ„tention anger the whiche thynges as sayth paule are workes of the fleshe They that do suche thynges shall neuer obtayne the kyngdome of heueÌ„ Bileue me good syster all our fastyng praynge sacrifice pleaseth not god so moch as dothe good coÌ„cord and therfore he sayeth Go thy wayes fyrst and recoÌ„cyle thy selfe to thy brother and then come and offer vp thy gyfte Honorable syster the vertue of coÌ„corde is very great to warde god w tout the which our sacrifyce can not please him ¶ The sisters demaunde TEll me good brother whether the deuyl be a ferde of any thynge The brothers answere MY worshypful syster there is nothiÌ„g y t he feareth so moch as concorde and charite yf we gyue all that euer we haue for GOddes sake he feareth it not For he getteth nothiÌ„g therby Yf we faste he feareth it not for yf he neuer eath Yf we watche he feareth it not for he neuer slepeth but yf we lyue in good concorde and charyte he feareth it verye sore why so For then we obserue kepe that thyng in earth that he kepte not in heueÌ„ And this is the cause why men saye that our holy mother the churche is as fearfull as terryble to her enemyse as is a great coÌ„panye of meÌ„ of war wel armed set in good ordre For as our enemyes be in great fere wheÌ„ they sethere aduersaryes commyng agaynst them in good aray ordre so the deuyll is in great feare wheÌ„ he seeth y â— Chrysten men be well armed w t vertue coÌ„corde vnite Therfore all we shuld lyue togither in good accorde y e is in the churche to ouercome the deuyl The handmayde of GOd that wyll lyue in coÌ„corde traÌ„quilite must fyrst of all leue and cast a way all euyll customes least by her ê‘uersite she put other to rebuke and shame Also she muste moderate her workes dedes her mouyng her wordes and al her lyfe and after the lawes of God agre with all other Therfore good syster I exhorte you to liue in good accorde and in humilite and to reuoke all hatred and stryfe to peace and concorde Use no suche wordes as may breake good agrement and concorde ¶ Of sufferaunce the xlij chapiter DEare syster lerne modestyusnesse and sufferaunce of CHRYSTE Iesu marke hym well for so doyng no man shal put you to heuines he hath suffered death for vs al and hathe lefte vs an example of sufferaunce He was beaten scourged whipte mocked bespued naylde to y â— crosse crowned w t thorne coÌ„deÌ„ned to be hanged vpon the crosse al this whyle he held his peace nor murmurd not agaynst it But yf any man doth vs iniure it is for our synnes our myscheuousnesse synfull liuynge is the cause therof for whatsoeuer doth chaunce agaynst vs all is for our synnes we shall y â— better suffer al such aduersytes yf we coÌ„syder vpon what occasion for what cause they do chauÌ„ce vnto vs. Therfore yf a maÌ„ do you displeasure speke fayre vnto him if he curse you blesse hym yf he be angery with you speake patiently vnto hym Dissolue his furiusnes w t geÌ„tyll wordes ouercome his iniquite w t softnes his malyce w t goodnes his iniure with tranquilite Good syster pÌ„pare your selfe and be alwayes redy bothe to good and euyll And as they chaunce so suffer beare them suffer both prosperite and aduersyte as they chaunce take theÌ„ mekely set not by iniurius nor by coÌ„tumelyus reproches for by despysyng of such iniurius wordes ye shall ouercome all derâ—sion by dissembulyng of suche thynges ye shal litle or nothing regarde suche mens fautes and errours And notwithstandyng good syster that men do styrre you prouoke you assayle you re proche you and blame you althoughe they speake iniuryusly vnto you and do you iniury although they prouoke you to anger do you great wronge yet for al that hold you your peace kepe youre sileÌ„ce care not for it dissemble the matter answer not to theyr iniures speake no crabbed wordes vnto theÌ„ set aparte all coÌ„tumeliê° iniurius wordê say nothiÌ„g for by holding your peace ye shal sone ouer come theÌ„ O chrystê spouse stryue agaynst these worldly greues wretchednesse be stedfast stroÌ„ge in al aduersite suffre althyng patienly take it well in worth and suffre that is commen to all men For he that troubeleth and he that is troubeled are mortall and he that doth wrong and he that suffereth wronge shall dye Byleue me good syster No man can trouble you no man can be against you if god suffered him not nor the deuyll hym selfe hathe no power vpon you but by goddes sufferaunce We muste coÌ„e to heueÌ„ by great tribulacioÌ„ yet all the passions and aduersities of this world are not to be coÌ„pared to the great glorye and ioyes of heueÌ„ It is impossible beynge a womaÌ„ but nedesye must taste the troubelsumnes and misery of this worlde And beyng in this worlde we ought to suffre euery thynge in lyke maner There is noman lyuyng in this worlde but muste nedes syghe mourne atsome times for this mortal lyfe is full of heuynesse the begynnynge of this lyfe is waylyng wepyng The chyld that is nowe borne begynneth his lyfe w t wepyng The chylde when it coÌ„meth oute of his mothers wombe or euer it laughe it wayleth mourneth worldly tribulacyoÌ„ is very necessary The stormes of this worlde are ê“fytable the more we be tormeÌ„ted troubled in this world the more we be coÌ„fyrmed the more we be vexed in this vale of mysery the more shall oure ioye be in heuen Yf we be troubled and punyshed in
ye may se the lorde in his hygh maieste it were better for you to wepe for the loue of chryst Iesus then to wepe for the feare of hell Thy chekes are as fayre as the turtyll doues the nature of the turtyll is that yf by any occasion or chaunce she lese her mate neuer to take no nother O chrystes spouse folowe be lyke the turtyll and loke that besyde Chryst Iesus ye take no nother spouse nor louer Be lyke the turtyll wepe bothe day and nyght with the desyre of Chryst Iesus your louer for he is nowe ascended to heuen where ye maye se hym syt apon the ryght hande of his father Your chekes are as goodly as the turtylles honest shame fastnesse is wont to be shewed and apeare in the chekes ye haue the chekes of the turtyll yf for youre spouse Chryst Iesus sake ye do nothynge agaynste his wyll ye haue the chekes of turtyll yf ye haue no nother louer then Chryst Iesus that is to saye yf ye loue no nother creature more then hym and all other for the loue of hym ye haue the turtylles chekes yf for the loue and reuerence of GOd ye leaue of al thynges that shulde displease him Therfore good syster bewayle wheshe out your synnes and wheshe them with compunctyon and many folde teares wheshe awaye youre neglygenses and youre manyfold transgressyons with contynual teares optayne by compunction and waylynge the remissyon of your synnes be sorowfull oft syghynges fynd the meanes to optaine and possesse ioye euer lastyng bewayle your iniquites bewayle the horribilnes of your synnes and by great lamentation call them to memorye and all to be sprynkyl them w t the aboundaunce of water and with contynuall and bytter teares deface them with continual deploracyon and with manyfold teares wheshe out that ye haue done by iniquite and agaynst goddes lawes for yf ye lament not your synnes in this world whē shall ye saye these wordes Good lord ye haue receyued and layde my teares before you yf ye bewayle not your iniquite in this worlde when shall ye saye My teares haue ben to me as bread bothe by nyght and by day Therfore chrystes spowse I monyshe and exhort you to bewayle your syn in this mortall lyfe that ye may be confortyd in heuen for it is wryttē fortunate be they that wepe in this worlde for they shalbe conforted Of heuinesse the .xi. Cha. THe lorde sayeth Amen amen this is goddes othe his maner of swerynge as though he wolde saye I sweare vnto you that ye shall wepe but the worlde shall reioyce ye shalbe very heuy but your heuynesse shall be tourned into great ioyfulnesse and pleasure and Salomon saveth a mery harte causeth a mery counte naūce a heuy spiryte is deiected in to the heuinesse of the soule A ioyfull harte and mynde maketh a man lustye but a heuy spiryte dryeth vp mans bones good chylde make no stryfe nor no contradiction in good thynges and in all thyng that is gyuen you loke ye vse no angery nor no euyll wordes for tribulacion is the heuinesse of the hart and y e ioyfulnesse of the harte is mans lyfe a troubelous mynde ingendereth heuynesse but a wyse man wyll resyst it by heuynesse commeth death heuynesse doth alter the force and strēgth of mans harte but a mery and a lyght harte ingēdereth health heuines drieth vp mans bones And the holy man Athanasius sayeth that a heuy and a melancolius person is euermore malitius and causeth the holy gost gyuen vnto hym by GOd to be heuy as S. paule sayeth Cause not the holy goste that is in you to be heuy by whome ye are marked in the day of redemption Therfore good syster take good hede ye cause not the holy goste beynge and dwellyng in you to be heuy least he leaue you departe from you put al maner of doute and all hyghe myndefullnesse from you For they do cause the holy goost to be in care heuynesse therfore leaue of all heuynesse for heuynesse is syster bothe vnto doutefulnes hygh myndefulnes verely seculer heuynesse is of all euyll spirytes y ◠very worst very noyful to goddes seruantes secular heuynes hurteth feblished y ◠seruātes of god the holy goste can not away ī no maner of meanes w t bodely heuynes Therfore good sister ordre your self so y t ye may be euermore in spiritual gladnes ioyfulnesse the which god aloweth greatly all spirituall gladnesse is good and thynketh apon nothynge but that good is despisynge all vayne and worldly heuynesse yf spirytual myrth were not good the Prophet Dauid wolde not say be you mery and ioyfull in God and ye that are iust mē reioyse you and ye that are ryght hartyd men glorifye your selues in god and agayne The iust mā shal be mery in god and shall put all his trust in hym and all that are ryght harted men shall be reioyced and conforted ¶ The sisters demaunde O Good brother yf heuynes be so euyll noyfull to goddes seruantes as ye make it how chaūceth it then that Salomon sayeth that a wyse mans harte mynde is where is heuynesse and a foles harte where is ioye and myrthe The brothers answere WOrshypfull syster these wordes of SAlomon a wyse mans harte is where is heuynesse and the folysshe mans hart where is myrthe and ioye are to be vnderstanded onely of spirituall heuynesse and worldly ioye as though he wolde saye more playnly a wyse mans hart mynde is there where is spirituall and goostly heuynes And the hart of a foie is there where is worldly myrthe and ioye they are wyse that are in goostly heuynesse but they are very foles that are in worldly ioye And of this thynge speaketh the lorde sayenge be you glad and mery for youre names are wrytten in heuen And saynt Paule sayeth be as thoughe ye were heuy but trustynge and reioysynge euermore in god And againe he sayeth be ye mery in god I saye agayne be ye mery in god so it foloweth then that spirituall ioye is very good and confortable But the sorowfulnes that cometh by the couetousnesse of worldly goodes is very euyll of spirituall heuynesse ye haue in the gospel blessed be they that wepe for they shalbe conforted and of worldly and secular heuynesse Salomon sayeth Heuynesse hath ben many a mans death and hath no maner of vtilite ne profete in it and of spiritual ioye Dauid sayeth his harte that seketh god shall be in ioye of the worldly ioye it is wrytten Out vpon you that laugh and be mery nowe for ye shall wale wepe Yet good syster lystē vnto saynt Paules wordes sayenge that suche spirituall heuynesse bryngeth a man to penāunce and that worldly heuinesse bringeth a man to death His prayer that is euermore in heuinesse is of no vertue nor ascendeth not vp to GOD