sufficient apte to haue good meditacions and to remembre the gret benefites that god hath done for the. The most holy men women that euer were audydynge all worldly company haue chosen to serue god in secrete placis one holy man sayde I come neuer amoÌ„ge coÌ„pany but I deê‘te with lesse vertu as it semeth me as we maye see by experyence yt ys more dyffyculte to kepe sylence in company than to â—e so cyrcumspecte that we offende nat in no circuÌ„staunce of speche It is moche more sure for a religious persone to byde at whome in solitarye contemplacyon than to be abrode in the worlde where he may lyghtly be brought in many folde temptacyoÌ„s Therfore they that entende to come to spirituall ê‘feccion they must with oure sauyour auoyde the tumultuous company of people there be no religioê° people that with suerte apere to the worlde but they be glad to be dymysshed from worldly occupacion And there is no man sure in prelacy but he that is redye to be subiecte And none that surely coÌ„mauÌ„deth but they that be redye to be obedyent And no man surely ioyeth but he that hath testymony of a good conscyence None speketh surely but they that be glad in tyme to kepe syleÌ„ce And euer the suerte of blissed peple is full of the drede of god euer the more grace vectuous theyr soules were anowrned wythe the more meke obedyent they were both to god man The suerty of euyll people risith of pryde and presuÌ„pcion in the conclusion it disceyueth them if thou be monke of the cherterhouse anker or ankeres as longe as thou lyuest in this lyfe euer beware of presumed suerty thinke that many holyer than thou in the syghte of the worlde for they re inwarde elacion presumcion haue perisshed therfore to auoide this inwarde vayne glory presuÌ„cion it is expedieÌ„t that we be exersysed with temptacioÌ„ O that religious soule that wolde it might contempne all transytory ioye and nether wolde ne it mystred to dele with the worlde Howe pure a coÌ„science might it preserue O that soule that wolde putte aweye all worldly besynes wolde laboure allonly for godly thiÌ„ges gostly goodys putte all their confidence iÌ„ god how great pese â—etnes shulde that soule haue â—here is no persone worthy to haue heuenly consolacion but if they exercise their self in holy coÌ„punccioÌ„ penaunce CoÌ„punccion is remembrauÌ„ce of our siÌ„nes with great displeasure whiche must be done iÌ„ secrete place as Dauid saith Lete thy inly sorow for thysiÌ„nes be done iÌ„ thy secrete chambre O thou religius ê‘sone thou maist fynde that grace in thy celle which thou maist lyghtly lese without in the world And thy celle well inhaunted shall waxe swete And if thou inhaunte it nat well It shall iÌ„duce the iÌ„ to we rynes displeasure If thou wilte in the begynniÌ„ge of thy couersacion indeuoure thy selfe to bringe the into a custome to abyde in thy celle with remeÌ„braÌ„ce that for a lytell tyme ocupyinge thy selfe well there thou shuldest therby come to euerlastinge liberte the abidinge that shulde be full plesauÌ„te to the. The deuoute soule in silence â—etnes moche ê“fiteth and there comith to thy vnderstandiÌ„ge the knowlege of the hydd scipture of god There it may fynde the water of contricion teris wherby it may wasshe cleÌ„se it selfe from siÌ„ne And euer the more it withdrawe it selfe fro all worldly tumultuê° besines the more famyliar dere it shal be to god And tho ê‘sons yâ— wtdrawe them from theyr worldly frendes knowleâ—â—â— our lorde with his aungels shal drawe nere aâ—â—â—â— withe them It is full expedieÌ„t for a religiê° souâ—â— to auoide yâ— vn ê“fitable plesure of worldly sight â—â—ther to desire to see the worlde ne there to be seen 〈◊〉 woldest thou see that thiÌ„ge that by righte thou maist nat haue And if thou myghtest haue it yet thou shulde haue lytell continuaunce therwithe for the worlde passeth with all his plesaunt delites The seÌ„suall desires draweth moueth a religius ê‘sone to go abrode but whan short reÌ„nynge or pleasure is past what remaineth but remorse of coÌ„scieÌ„ce iniâ—etnes of herte It is oftymes sene that a glad goinge out foloweth a sory returnynge And a mery cueÌ„tyde foloweth a sory morow tide for all carnall seÌ„suall ioy entreth with delite dobely but iÌ„coÌ„clusion it displesith hurteth what maist thouse without thy cloyster that thou maiste nat se within Beholde there heuen the elemeÌ„tis wherof all erthly substauÌ„ce be fourmed what can thou see vnder the soÌ„ne that may any space abyde If all wordly plesurs bodily were preseÌ„t what shulde it be but a vaine sight lyft vp thy iyen to heueÌ„ pray out lorde of mercy for thy synnes necligeÌ„ce leue yâ— vaine thiÌ„gê to those yâ— be vaine atteÌ„de to those thiÌ„ges that our lorde coÌ„maundeth shet the dore of thy soule calle thy lorde Iesu to the abyde wyth hym iÌ„ thy cell for thou shalt nat fynde so great peas in no other place And thou woldest nat go fourthe ne gyue attendauÌ„ce to thiÌ„ges vn ê“fitable thou shuldest rest i more â—etnes But if thou haue delite to here noueltise thou muste somtyme therof suffre trybulacyon of herte ¶ The .xxi. chaptre is of yâ— coÌ„punccioÌ„ of maÌ„nis hert ANd thou wylte proffyte spyrytuallly preserue the in the drede of god and stande rather vnder obedyence than in thy propre wyll resraine all thy sensuall partes with the brydell of reasoÌ„ teÌ„perauÌ„ce Haue ê‘fite coÌ„punccion of hert thou shalt fynde inly deuocion CoÌ„punccyon sorowe for our synnes sheweth many thynges to vs that a dissolute behauiour hideth and leseth It ys merueylc that any persone in this worlde consideringe his exile great ieopardise can be mery in any worldly thinge For the vnstablenes of herte necligence of our defautes we ê‘ceyue nat the sorowe of our soule therfore we oftymes laughe vainly at those thingê whereat we shulde rather wepe There is no ê‘fite liberte ne true ioye but in in the good conscience and the drede of god That person is happy that hath grace to auoide the impedimentê of holynes of mynde can assemble all the vertues of theyr soule in very true coÌ„punccion and meditacion of god That ê‘son is happy that auoydeth euery thynge that maye of reason offende his conscience Than they that be ouercome of customable synne let them striue mightely ogeynst theyr custome For euyll custome may be ouercome by good custome Haue thy coÌ„sideracion fyrste of thy selfe and monisshe thy selfe before al other frendes It is nat expedient that man iÌ„ this lyfe haue many consolacions wordly and if we haue nat deuyne consolacyons it is for that we haue nat true compunccyon of herte or elles that we refuse nat vayne consolacyons of the worlde we shulde repute our selfe vayne vnworthy to haue deuine consolacions but
with the prophete Samuel that thou vouchesaue to speke to me thy selfe I shall here the. Let nother Moises ne none other ê“phet but thou good lorde the inwarde inspirour of al ê“phetes speke to me in me For thou only without them maist ê‘fitly teche me They withoute thy goodnes can nat profyte me They may well ê“fer vtter thi wordes but they can nat gyue the spirite of vnderstandynge they ê“fer fayre wordes but if thou worke nat with them they make none ardour inwarde they shewe fayre letters writtiges but thou alone openest theyr sense they profer great misteries but thou alone openest the clere vnderstandige of them They shewe thy coÌ„maundementes to be fulfylled but thou alon helpest vs by thy grace to perfourme them They shewe vs the way that we shulde walke i but thou alone doest coÌ„fort vs to go theri They worke only without forth but thou only illumynest within forth They onlye water outwardely but thou gyuest vs the frute of grace good workes They crie speke to ys in outwarde wordes but thou giuest vnderstandinge of that we here wherfore I besech the that I may here the speke to me nat moyses lyst I die be voyde of the frute of good lyuynge if I be only outwarly monisshed nat iflamed iÌ„wardly that nat thy worde be only herde nat fulfylled in dede knowyn nat loued byleued nat kepte so be to me daÌ„pnacioÌ„ speke thou good lorde to me thy seruaunte shal be redy to here the for thou haste the wordes of eternall life shyt in the Speke to me I beseche the yâ— wordes of rsolacion coÌ„forte to my soule to the amendement of my lyfe to thy euerlastinge laude praysinge in heuen ¶ The .iii. chaptre howe the wordes of god shulde be wekely herde howe many ponder them nat in theyr conscience OUr lorde spketh to his deuoute seruaunt saiynge thous My sone gyue hede to my wordes they be full swete pcellige alwisdome cuÌ„nige of philosophers wise men of this worlde Mi wordes be spuÌ„al gostly lyfe nat paisible in mannes mynde they be nat to be applyed ne drawed as vaine complacens but to be herde stydfastly in sylence and peas of soule and to be taken with al humslyte desire of the soule The deuoute seruaunt of god answereth his lorde god thus sayinge to hym Blessed is that man that thou doest enfourme and teche good lorde to vnderstande thy lawes coÌ„maundementis that thou maist so spare hym in the day of thy wrathe fro thy indignacion that he be nat loste wythout coÌ„forte in the lande of dampnacion Oure lorde say the agayne I haue taught ê“phetes with other fro the begynnige of the worlde hytherto and yet I cesse nat to enforme men but many there be that be harde defete to here my wordes Many here more gladly the wordly spekynge than godly or gostly spekynge Many folow gladly theyr flesshely appetites of theyr body than the pleasure or coÌ„mauÌ„d ment of god The worlde ê“mitteth somtyme gyueth vs temporall thynges lytell of valure for the whyche we serue it with greate desire But god almyghty ê“mytteth gyueth vs hye thynges eternal yet men be dulle lowe to his seruice and to at tayne suche rewardes as he ê“mytteth Who so serueth obeyeth god almyghty in obseruynge his coÌ„maundmentis as it is obeyed to wordly princes maysters Almoste none for a lytell fee or prebende greate iourneys harde labours be take an hande for suche wordly lordes for yâ— etnallyfe skarsly we may any labour or any hardnes suffre So a vyle price is besily sought an excellent rewarde is put vnder For a peny to be gotten or won we wyl lightly put our body soule iÌ„ ieoâ—dy aueÌ„ture for a vaine thynge and a lytell ê“myse we gyue oft our selfe day and nyght to great fatygacyon but alas for god almyghty that is euerlastynge goodnes rewarde of ryght wyse people for the vnspectable iestymable Ioy in heueÌ„ or for the hye honour glory intermynable for to be had in rewarde in heueÌ„ we dysdeyne be slowe to suffer a lytell faty gacioÌ„ Be thou ashamed sayth our lorde god to slowe folke repreuyth them with theyr seruyce that worldly folke be fouÌ„de more dylygeÌ„t to theyr ê‘dycioÌ„ thaÌ„ be to euerlastyng lyfe they ioy more in vanyte than other in trothe or stedfast thynges yet they be ofte frustrate of that that they truste vpon but the promyse of our Lorde god deceyueth no man for he is true faythfull all his wordes behestys to suche folke specyallye that serue hym vnto theyr ende I am sayth he the rewarder of all good folke and the prouer helper of all deuoute men wryte my wordes sayth he in thy herte thynke vpon them they shall be to the right necessary in tyme of trybulacyon Thou shalt vnderstaÌ„de iÌ„ tyme of my vysytacyon these thynges that thou redyst before vnderstaÌ„de nat I am wonte to vysyt sayth our lorde my seruauntis in two maner wyse that is to saye by probacyon and coÌ„solacyon I proue them dayly by rebukynke theyr vyces defautes and I coÌ„forte them agayne by exortacyon to vertu and to the encrese of grace He that hereth my wordes and dispyseth them hath that shall iuge hym iÌ„ the last day ¶ The .iiii. chapter how by prayer we may opteyn to deuocyon THou good lorde arte all goodnes I am nat worthy to speke to the thy excellence is suche I am thy moost poore seruauÌ„t moost abiecte worme moost poore coÌ„temptyble of all other for I am very noughte nothynge hauynge ne nothynge of valoure thou alone good lorde arte god ryghtwyse and holy thou arte almyghty thou geuest all thyng thou fulfyllest all thynges leuynge all onely the synfull voyde of grace haue mynde good Lorde of thy merytes fulfyll my hert with thy grace for thy workynge is neuer voyde Howe may I lyue withoute great anguysshe perplyxyte in this wretchyd lyfe but if thy grace mercy coÌ„forte me wherefore I beseche the that thou turne nat thy gracious face of helpe from me tary nat thy vysytacioÌ„ from me with draw nat thy swete consolacioÌ„ fro me that nat my soule be aryfyed be made as drye erthe withoute the moystoure of grace good lorde teche me to knowe fulfyll thy wyll teche me to lyue humbly and worthely in thy pleasure for thou arte all wysdom iÌ„ the which thou knewe me before the worlde was and before I was brought into this lyfe by naturall byrthe ¶ The .v. chapter how we ought to beleue truthe huÌ„ilite before god here SOn sayth our lorde walke before me alway iÌ„ truth symplicite of herte all doublenes auoyde from the in suche wyse do alway seke me He that walketh before me and alwey in trouth shal be safe from all perellys Ieo berdyes trouth shall delyuer hym froÌ„ deceyuours
other sodaynlye ryse Howe may this lyfe be beloued that hath so many bytternes and is so full of myseryes how may it be called a lyfe that gendreth so many dethes gostely infeccions and yet it is beloued and with great gladnes delyted idyed in The worlde is ofte reproued for that it is disceytfull and vayne And yet it is nat soone forfake whyle the coÌ„cupysceÌ„ce of the flesshe reygneth some thynges iÌ„ the worlde induceth man to loue the worlde some other to despyse it the coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of mannes flesshe the desyre of maÌ„nes eye pryde of yâ— hert But the peynes and the myseryes folowynge gendre hate and coÌ„tempte of the worlde yet for all suche myseryes the euyll delectacion of mynde that is geuen to the worldly pleasure ouercometh the heuenly desyre suche carnall delyte reputeth felycyte to bevnder such sensuall pleasure For such neyther sauer ne taste the swetnes of god ne yâ— inwarde ioy of vertue They that despyse the worlde study to lyue serue god vnder holy discyplyne they taste yâ— sauour of heueÌ„ly thyngê ê“mised to such gostly lyuers they also se verely yâ— errour dysceyte of yâ— worlde ¶ The .xxiii. chapiter how man shuld rest in god aboue all gyftes and goodes erthely O Thou my soule rest thou aboue all thynge in our lorde God for he is the eternall rest of sayntes Gyue me swete Iesu moost louable of all other grace for to reste in the aboue all other creatures a boue all helth and beawte aboue all glory honour power dygnyte aboue all ryces cuÌ„nyng subtylite or craftes aboue all gladnes ioy fame or laude aboue all swetnes coÌ„solacion hope or promyse aboue all meryte desyre or gyftes that thou mayst gyue to me body or soule aboue all ioy or iubylacyon that mannys mynde may fele and compryse And aboue all heueÌ„ly spyrytes with all other thynges vysible iÌ„uysible that is nat thy selfe for thou good lorde amoÌ„ge all thyngê art best hyest moste myghty moost suffycieÌ„t thou art moost swete fayrest moost louable moost noble gloryoê° aboue all iÌ„ whom all other godes be ê‘fytely haue be shal be And therfore what euer hit be that thou gyuest me thy selfe except it is insuffycient For my hert may nat verely rest ne holly be coÌ„tent but in the that surmouÌ„test euery creature or thiÌ„ge O my moste amyable spouse cryste iesu moost pure louer lorde of euery creature graunt me I pray the wynges of very lyberte that I may fle rest in the my feruent loue desyre O whaÌ„ shall it be gyuen to me fully to vnderstande se howe swete and good my lorde God is whan shall I fully gader me in the so that for thy loue I shall nat fele my selfe but yâ— alonly that excedest all knowlege mesure Nowe I ofte sorowe morne bere me in felycite lamentable myserye yâ— I am in with great heuynes For many euyls assayle me in this vale of mysery they sore trouble me and also ofte blynde me dystroyeth and letteth me that I maye nat haue fre accesse to the ne haue thy swete enbrasynge that the blessyd spyrytes haue ê¯tynually with all iocuÌ„dyte ioy I pray yâ— that my syghes inly desyres with my manyfolde desolacyoÌ„s may moue thy goodnes to enclyne to my desyres o iesu the lyght clertye of euerlastyng glory the solace conforte of wayfarynge soules my soule speketh to the with styll desyre and my mouth without voyce Howe loÌ„ge taryeth my lorde god to come â–ª I beseke hym to come to me his pore seruauÌ„t to my coÌ„solacyon gladnes Sende he his hande power to delyuer me from all anguysshe Come good lorde for with out the I can haue no gladde day or hour thou art my ioye without the my mynde borde is voyde I am a wretche and as a prysoner fetred withoute all ê¯fort agreued tyll tyme that I may be refresshid with thy presens so restored to lyberte shewe me therfore I beseke the thy fauour gracious pÌ„sens Let other seke for yâ— what so euer they wyll no thynge pleaseth me ne shall do but thou my lorde god yâ— art my hope eternal helth I shall nat cesse to pray call to yâ— tyll thou returne to me by thy grace speke to me inwardly saying lo I am here come to the for thou called me thy terys the desyre of thy soul thy huÌ„yliacioÌ„ ê¯tricion of hert hath made me enclyne brought me to the. And I agayne to my lorde good lorde I called the haue desyred to ioy in the all other thynges left forsakeÌ„ for the. Thou lorde dyd fyrst excyte me to seke the blessyd be thou that hast wrought such goodnes with thy seruauÌ„t after thy great mercy what shuld thy seruauÌ„t more do or say before the goodlorde but to huÌ„ble hym to thy mageste alway myndefull of his proper fraylte wyekednes None is lyke to the good lorde in all yâ— meruelous creatures iÌ„ heueÌ„ erthe all thy workes that thou hast wrought be very god thy domes ryght wyse trewe by thy ê“uydeÌ„s all thynges be gouerned Laude glory be to the that arte the wysdome of the fader celestyall My soule my mouthe with all partyes may loue the and prayse the with all other creatures wtout ende Amen ¶ The .xxiiii. chapter a remeÌ„brauÌ„ce or repetynge of the bnÌ„faytê of god GOodlorde open my herte in thy lawe and in thy pÌ„ceptes make me to walke Make me al way to vnderstande thy wyll and pleasure dylygently to ê¯syder with reuereÌ„ce thy bnÌ„faites both in generall in specyall yâ— I may dewly thanke the I knowe and confesse for trothe that I may nat gyue to the due thaÌ„kes for the leste benefyte that thou gyuest and am vnworthy thereof whaÌ„ I consyder thy excellence and noblenesse my spyryte fayleth in me for the great magnytude therof All thynges that we haue in body or soule within or without naturallye or suê‘naturally we haue of thy gyfte all they commende the of whom all goodnes cometh though some perceyue of thy larges mo graces or bnÌ„faites and some fewer yet all that we haue cometh of the the leest gyft may nat be had without the he that receyueth more bounteously of thy graces may nat toy therin as he had them of his owne merytes nor he maye nat very worthely exalte hym selfe aboue other ne vylypende his infery oure or the poure for he that ascrybeth nat to hym selfe ne to his merytes but onely to the goodnes of god is more meke and in gyuynge thankes vnto god more deuout and he that for all suche prerogatyues repreueth hym selfe moost vyle and vnworthy of other he is more apte to ê‘ceyue of the hande of almyghty God more larger gyftes he that perceyueth fewer gyftes of god ought nat therfore to be heuy ne wroth ne enuyous ayenst his rycher but he ought rather thaÌ„ke yâ—
thy holy tabernacle and dwellynge place and the sâ—te of thy eternall glorye No thynge be fouÌ„de in me at any tyme that shulde offende thy hye maieste after the greatnes of thy goodnes and thy manyfolde mercyes beholde me and here gracyosly the prayer of me thy poore seruauÌ„t beynge farre exyled iÌ„ the regyon of the shadowe of deth defende and conserue the soule of me thy seruaunt good lorde whyle I laboure amonge the manyfolde perels of this corruptyble lyfe and dyrecte it by thy grace coÌ„tynuallye in this lyfe vnto yâ— fynall couÌ„trey of euerlastyng peace and claryte Amen ¶ Here endeth the thyrde booke of IhonÌ„ Gerson Emprynted in London by Rycharde Pynson in Flete strete at the Sygne of the george at the commaundement and instaunce of the right noble excelleÌ„t princes Margarete moder to our soueraygne lorde Kyng Henry the. vii couÌ„tesse of RychmouÌ„t Derby the yere of our lorde god M. CCCCC and xvii The .vii. day of October ¶ Here beginethe the forthe boke of the folowynge Iesu cryst of the conteÌ„pniÌ„ge of the world In prynted at the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of the most excelleÌ„t prices Margarete moder vnto our souereine lorde kinge HeÌ„ry the .vii. Countes of RychemouÌ„t Derby And by the same Prynces it was traÌ„slated out of freÌ„che into Englysshe in fourme maner ensuynge The yere of our lorde god M. D. iiii ¶ Prologus COme to me saythe our mercyfull lorde all that laboreth and be charged and I shall gyue vnto you refeccyon And the bredde that I shall gyue vnto you shal be my flesshe for the lyfe of yâ— worlde Take ete it for it is my body that for you shal be gyuen â— sacryfice Do ye this in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of me For who soeteth my flesse drynketh my blode he shall dwell in me â— in hym ¶ These wordes that I haue sayde vnto you belyfeâ— and spiryte of helthe ¶ In what great reuerence and feruent desyre we ought to receyue our lorde Iesu crist Capitulo primo O My lorde Iesu crist eternall trouthe these wordes beforesayde be thy wordes Albeit they haue nat ben sayde in one selfe tyme nor wrytten i one selfe place yet for that they be thy wordes I ought feythefully agreably to vnderstande theym They be thy wordes and thou hast ê“ferred them And they be now myn for thou hast sayde theym for my helthe I wyll gladly receythem of thy mouthe to th ende they may be the better so wen planted in my herte Thy wordes of so great pyte full of loue swetnes dileccion greatly excyteth me but lorde my ê“per synes fereth draweth backe my conscience nat pure to receyue so great a mystery The swetnes of thy wordes inciteth ê“uokethe me but the multytude of my synnes charge the sore greueth me Thou coÌ„mauÌ„dest that I shal come vn to the feythfully if I wyll haue parte with the to the ende I may receyue the norysshynge of imortalyte if I desyre to opteyne the Ioy and lyfe eternall Thou sayst lorde come ye to me that labour be charged I shall refresshe you O how swete amyable a worde is that in the Gre of a synner that thou my lorde my god lysleth of thy benygne grace to byd me that am so pore haue so moche nede of the holy coÌ„muny on of thy precyous body O good lorde what am I to presume to desyre yâ— that the heuen erthe may nat coÌ„prehende thou saist com ye all to me who asketh wylleth this right meke worthynesse and amyable byddynge Howe shall I dare come vnto the whiche feele nat that I haue done any good How shall I enterteine yâ— into my how 's whiche so often haue offended before thy glorious ryght benygne face The auÌ„gels arkasâ—gels honour the the holy iuste creatures drede the. thou sayst good lorde yet come ye allvnto me Lorde who shulde byleue thys thynge to be true if thy selfe sayd it nat And who is he that durste approche there vnto If thou dydest not coÌ„maunde it Noe that iust man labored by an hundreth yere to make the arke to the ende be myght be saued with a fewe of his people Howe may I preprayre me than in an howre to receyne the withe due reuerence coÌ„posour and creatour of all thys worlde Moyses thy greate famylier and speciall frende made tharke of tymber nat corruptyble whiche he couered with right pure gold put in the tables of the lawe I a corrupt creature howe shall I nowe dare receyue the that arte conditour of the Lawe and gyuer of grace and lyfe vnto all creatures The right wyse Salamankynge of Israeledifyed a ryche Temple to the praysig of thy name by the space of .vii. yere and by .viii. dayes halowed the feest of the dedicacoÌ„n of the same he offred a thousande hostys to pacifye thy goodnes with and put the arke of alyaunce in the place made redy for the same with the souÌ„ de of claryons and trumpettys Howe dare I than cursed and right pore amonge other creatures receyue the into my howse whiche vnnethe can knowe that I haue well passed and enployed one howre of tyme nouther to my knowelege that I haue deuoutely passed one halfe howre Do my god howe many haue there ben before me that haue studyede to do any thynge that myght please the. Alas howe lytell thing ys that I do albe it the tyme ys shorte Aud yet whan I despose me to receyue thy holy coÌ„munyon I am but losely gadred to gether and full coldly purged from all distraccioÌ„s of mynde And certeinly no cogitacions vnprofitable ought to come into the holy presence of thy deyte Also I ought nat to occupye me with any creature for I shall nat receyue an auÌ„gel but the lorde of aungels in to the secrete of my herte ¶ For there is a greate dyfference betwene the Arke of alyaunce with his relyques and the ryght pure and precious body with hys vertues nat faylynge but euermore duryng ¶ And betwene yâ— sacryfyce of the prefyguratyue lawe that was to come and the true hostye of thy precyous body that ys thaccomplesshement of all the olde sacryfyce ¶ Wherfore than shulde nat I be more inflamed in thy venerable presence and by more solycytude prepayre me to receyue the sacred and holy gyftes and benyfyttes of the. In so moche the holy auncyent patryarkes and prophettes kinges and prynces with all the people hath shewedeso greate affeccion towardes thyne honoure and dyuyne seruyce ityme passed ¶ The ryght deuout kynge Dauid inclyned to the arke of god with all his strengthe knowlegeynge remeÌ„berynge yâ— benefytes don vnto his faders he made orgayns of dyuers maners he composed psalmes instytute that they shulde be songen and he hym selfe sange theym with gladnes of ten tymes with the harpe of the holy goost Thys kynge inspired with the grace of hod hath taught the people of Israel to prayse god with all theyr hertes blessynge
sayde in the lawe be ye holy for I your lorde god am holy O god omnipotent thy grace be vn to vs helpynge so that we whiche haue taken the office of pÌ„st hode may reuerently deuoutly serue the with all puryte good ê¯scieÌ„ce if we may not lyue iÌ„ so great innocency of life as we ought to do giue vs grace at the leest that we may we pe sorowe the euylles that we haue commytted and don so that in spirituall mekenes purpose of good wyll we maye from hensforth strongly serue the with feruent corage ¶ With howe great diligence he ought to prepayre hym selfe that shulde receiue the sacrameÌ„t of iesu crist Ca .xii. OVre lorde sayth I the louer of puryte the liberal gyuer of all holynes I serche the pure clene herte there wyll I rest Make redy than for me thy herte I shal be with the than as I was with my discyples At Ester I shall come dwell with the if thou wylte but thanne it behouethe the to muÌ„difye clense the habitacoÌ„n of thy herte fro all synnes leue all brute noyse of the worlde with all thy vyces inclose and shet the in thy chambre as dooth a solytary byrde vnder the euesynges of an hous remembre all the excesses all thi defauttes commytted with all thy soule bitternes of herte For a good frende wyll make redy to his welbeloued frende a good and a plesauÌ„t place to dwell in in that doynge is well knowen with what good affeccion he receyuethe his sayde frende It is for trouthe that thou oughteste to vnderstande that thou mayste nat satyfye by any meryte or labour of thy selfe nat and thou dydest labour with the beste of thy power by a hole yere thought thou hadest none other thynge to do But thou shalt vnderstande that by my only power and grace is ê‘mytted grauÌ„ted vnto the to come vnto my table if a pore man were called vnto the table of a ryche lorde and the pore man had none other thynge to gyue ageyne for the benefytes of that ryche man but swetely mekely to thanke hym he wolde do it so oughtest thou to do diligently as moche as is in the nat by custome or necestite But wyth all drede reuerence affeccyon Thou oughtest to take the blessyd body of our lorde god sythe that it lyste the hym to come vnto the. Certeynly I am he that callethe the I haue commauÌ„ded it so to be done I shall supplye that faylethe in the wherfore come and receyue me whan in that doiÌ„ge I giue vnto the the grace of deuocoÌ„n yeld thou thankes vnto me thiÌ„god Nat thynkynge that thou art worthy therof of thyselfe but that I haue had mercy of the. and yf thou haue nat that grace whan thou woldest but fele thy selfe drye vnlusty yet contynue thy orysou with sorowfull wepynge and smyte at my dore wythoute ceasynge vnto the tyme thou maye receyue alytell crome or drope of helthefull grace know it of trouth thou hast moche nede of me and I haue none of the. Thou comest nat to sanctifye me but I am he that shall santyfye the make the better to the ende that thou mayste be vnight with me to receyue newe grace purpose ameÌ„demeÌ„t Be nat in wyll to deferre me grace but with all dilygence pÌ„prayre thy herte to receyue withiÌ„ the thy louynge lorde nat only thys prepayre the before thy coÌ„munyon but also maynteyne kepe the after the receyuynge of thy said holy sacrament iÌ„ that same deuocioÌ„ iÌ„ as moche as thou maist For thou oughtest to haue no lesse dylygeÌ„ce than thou haddest afore For the good dilygent kepynge of thy soule after the receiuynge of the blessed sacrameÌ„t is a good pÌ„paracoÌ„n to obteine the more great grace And they that so donat shewe theÌ„ selfe greatly euyll disposed whan they habandowne them selfe so soone so largely to outwarde solace in warde pleasures wherfore kepe the from great brute spekinge abyde in the secrete graces frutes of thy god for thou hast hym that all the worlde may nat take awey I am he to whome thou oughtest to gyue the by suche maner that from hensforth thou liue nomore in thy selfe but in me only ¶ Howe the deuout soule ought effectuously with al his herte to be vnight vnto Iesu crist Ca .xiii. O Lorde who shall yelde vnto me that I may fynde the sole that I may open to the all my hert ioy with yâ— as my pore soule desyreth that here be no creature to beholde me but thou alone to speke to me I to the goode lord as of custome one frende speketh to a nother secretly here of I desire praie yâ— lorde iesu to th ende that I may fully be vnyght vnto yâ— withdraw my hert fro all other creat thiÌ„ges that I may the soner lerne the etÌ„nall heueÌ„ly thiÌ„ges by yâ— meane of the receiuiÌ„ge of this holy sacrameÌ„t Alas my good lord whaÌ„ shal I be vnight gadred all hole iÌ„ yâ— vtterly forgete my selfe thou art iÌ„ me I with the. thus assembled make vs dwell togeder I prai the truly thou arte my chosen beloued lorde and it hath pleased thy benygne grace to be inhabited in my soule all the dayes of my lyfe Thou arte my peseable well in whome ys souereyne peas and true rest without the there ys no thinge but labour sorow infinyte mysery Thou my god art closed hyd in councel of thy famyliars whiche be nat comune to the euyll folkes ¶ But thy familiar speakynge is with the meke symple folkes O lorde howe goode benygne swete ys thy spirite whiche to the ende thou maiste she we vnto yâ— sonnes chyldren thy swetnes hast vouchedsaue to refressh theym agayne gyues to theym refeccion of thy ryght swete brede descended from heuen Certeynly there ys none other so great a nacion lackynge cristis feithe that hath their goddis so nere vnto them as thou arte our god lorde to all thy feithfull crysten people to whome thou gyuest thy blesed body to ete for theyr dayly coÌ„forte and to reyse theyr hertes to hyghe celestiall thynges O what other folkes be there so noble as be the cristen people or what creature is there so stroÌ„gly beloued vnder heuen as is the deuoute soule iÌ„ whom god entreth and gyueth fedynge with his owne glorious flesshe and blode O grace inestymable merueylous worthynesse O loue without mesure syngulerly shewede vnto man But what shall I yelde vnto god wherwith shall I recoÌ„pence thys so great grace charite Truely there is no thiÌ„ge I mai gyue more agreable to his mercy than to ioyne my hert perfytely vnto hym And whan my soule shal be perfitely vnight with hym Thanshall my inwarde parties ioy And thanne my lorde wyll say vnto me If thou wylt be with me I
loue pryuate Ioye They do away and put to as they fauoure nat after the pleasure of the hye truthe of our Lorde cryste iesu In many folke is IgnorauÌ„ce but moost in theym that haue but lytell vnderstandynge and therfore they but seldome loue any persone perfytly or ghostly many men be drawen by naturell affeccion loue nowe to this saynt or man nowe to that some to this some to that and as they behaue them in these erthely thynges here so they Imagen to be of heuenly thynges But great dyffereÌ„ce is betwyxt the thynges that Imperfyte folke do Imagyn or coÌ„syder and these thyngê that deuout and illumynyd persones seeth by heueÌ„ly illustracyon therfore sone be ware to treate vpon suche thynges curiously that excedeth thy knowlege but labour thou rather and indeuour thy selfe that thou may be sorted with the leest or lowest that is in heuen thorowe the merytes of good lyfe what auayleth it a maÌ„ to knowe which Saynt is more worthye in heuen than other but if he wolde humble hym selfe the more or wolde gyue more laude and praysynge vnto God therefore He pleasyth god more that thynketh busyly with repentaunce of the greatnesse and grefe of his synnes of the want of vertue that he hath wherby he dyffereth from the holynesse of sayntes than he that dysputeth of theyr degre in heuen more or lesse Better it is a man with deuoute prayers and wepynges to praye to sayntes and with humylyte of soule to adquyre and purchas theyr helpe than to enquyre by vayne inquysycyon theyr secretes They be well coÌ„tent euery chone with hys ioy If men here lyuynge were content and wolde refrayne theyr vayne spekynge and conteucyon a boute theym They haue no glorye or exaltacyon in theyr owne merytes for they assygne no maner of goodnesse vnto theyr owne selfe but to God all onely the whiche hath gyuen theym all thynges of his infynyte grace and charyte they be replenysshed with so great loue of God and with so abundaunt and folowynge Ioye there vpon that no glorye norfelycyte maye decreace or fayle them All the Sayntes in heuen the hyer they be in glorye the more humble and lowe they be in theyr owne syght and more nere and dere to me in loue It is wryten in the apocalyps that the Sayntys in heueÌ„ of humblenes dyd submytte theyr crownes before God and they fell on theyr faces before the humble lambe Cryste Ihesu adhowrynge and worshyppynge hym as theyr lorde God euermore lyuynge withouten ende Many folke enquyre busylye whiche Saynt is more preferred in the kyngedome of almyghtye God that knowe nat yf theyr selfe shall be worthye to be accompted with the leest Saynt in that kyngedome It is not a lytell but a great thynge and grace to be in the leest sorte in heuen where all that be there are greatlye magnyfyed of God For all that be there be called and are the chyldren of god almyghtye whan the apostellys of God questyoned amonge theym whiche of theym shulde be more preferryd in the kyngedome of Heuen They herde agayne the answere of our Lorde But if ye be conuertyd and made meke pure and withoute malyce as chyldren be ye shall nat enter the kyngedome of euerlastynge lyfe and he that huÌ„ bleth hym as this chylde he is more worthy iÌ„ yâ— kyngedome of heueÌ„ wo be to them that dysdayne to huÌ„ble themselfe with chyldreÌ„ for they for theyr presuÌ„pcioÌ„ pryde shall nat be suffred to enter the humble yate of heueÌ„ the which admyttyth none but humble and meke folke wo also be to ryche folke the which be ouercomen by Inordynate loue of theyr ryches For suche ryche folke haue here theyr consolacyons and Ioye And therfore at the last poore folke that be here humble of herte and content with theyr poore degre shall enter into the glorye of God for suche penury and hardenes wronges and other ylles as they haue suffred here lyuynge in this vale of myserye where ryche folke lyuynge here in welthe and pleasoure shal be shyt out with great sorowe and lamencion for that they haue loste so Inestymable a Ioy for a short worldly delectacyon that they had here lyuynge ioy therefore ye humble folke and also poore for ye shall enheryte the euerlastynge ioy and kyng dome of God if ye lyue well here in this mortall lyfe with perseueraunce ¶ The .lxiiii. chapiter All hope and truste that maÌ„ hath is to be fyxed in God all onely LOrde god what is my truste yâ— I haue iÌ„ this lyfe and what is my moost solace coÌ„forte of all thynges vysyble yâ— I se vnder heueÌ„ Is it nat thou whose mercy is iÌ„numerable yes sothely whaÌ„ hath it be well with me at any tyme without the or whan myght any yll happe or come to me thou beynge present Sothely neuer I had leuer be poore with the than to be ryche without thy presens I had leuer be a pylgryme here in erth with thy presens thaÌ„ to possesse heuen without the For where thou arte there is heueÌ„ and where thou arte nat there is dethe and also hell Thou arte all my desyre and therfore I haue nede to lament to pray and crye contynually after the I may trust fully in none but in the for there may be no helpe in cases of nede but in the only my lorde god thou arte my hope my trust my moost faythfull conforte and helpe in all thyngâ— all other persones seke theyr owne profyte and auayle but thou alonly pÌ„tendest and sekest my profyte and helthe eternall also thou turnest all thynges to my well ye whan thou sendest me troubles afflyccioÌ„s and temptacyoÌ„s all such thou good lorde ordeynest for my wele and profyte that by a thousande wayes arte wont to proue thy chosen and beloued seruauntes in which probacioÌ„s thou art nat lesse to be pray sed than if thou had replenysshed vs with heueÌ„ly coÌ„solacions In the good lorde I put all my hope so cour I sette all my trybulacyons and anguysshe in the for all that I beholde se without the I haue ê“ued it infyrme and vnstable The multytude of carnall frendys auayleth nat nor stronge helpers shall nat may helpe ne wyse couÌ„ceylers may gyue any ê“fytable answer or counceyll ne the bokes of doctoures may confort ne any pÌ„cyous substauÌ„ce may delyuer fro thy hande ne any secrete place may defende man but if thou lorde god wyll assyst helpe coÌ„forte couÌ„ceyl instructe kepe hym all thynges that â—eme for to be ordeyned to mannes pease and felycyte If thou be absent they be nat worthye ne they haue or gyue any true felycyte to any crature thou my lorde god therfore arte the ende of all goodnes the hye lyfe of all the profouÌ„de spekyng of all eloqueÌ„ce the moost stronge hope solace of thy seruauÌ„tes Myniyen intendynge into the I truste fullye in the my lorde god father of mercyes Blesse and saÌ„ctyfy my soule with heuenlye blessynge that it may be made
that thou my Lorde god very god and man art holy conteyned vnder a lytell lykenesse of bred and wyne and thou art hole receyued withoute consumynge of hym that so receyueth the. ¶ Thou Lorde of all that haste no nede of any thynge yet thou haste wyllede to inhabyte within vs by thys thy hooly sacrament Lorde kepe my herte and my body vndefyled to the ende that with a pure and a Ioyous conscience I may often receyue the to my euerlastynge helthe ¶ Thise holy mysteryes whiche be institute and ordeyned chyefly vnto thy honour and perpetuall remembraunce ¶ O my soule reioyse the and gyue thankynges vnto thy god for his noble gyfte and synguler comforth that it lyste hym here in thys vale of teres thus to cōforte the. For as often tymes as thou remembrest thys mystery and receyueste thys blessed body of our lorde so often thou receiuest the werke of thy redempcyon and arte made partener of all the merytes of our lorde Iesu cryst For his charyte is neuer mynisshed the greatnesse of his mercy is neuer consumed wherfore thou oughtest to dispose the alwaye with a newe reuoluynge of thy thought oughtest to consider this great mysterye of thy helthe by attentyue reysynge of thy soule ¶ And this werke ought to be vnto the as greatly newe and ioyous whan thou receyuest it as if that same day our lorde had first descended in to the wombe of the virgyn mari to be made man orelles he that daye had suffred dethe for the helthe of man vpon the crosse ¶ What greate profyte it is often to receyue the body of our lorde Iesu cryst C iii.a LOrde I come vnto the to th ende that welthe may come vnto me of thy gyfte and that I may Ioye at the holy feest that thou hast made redy vnto me pore wretche by thy swete benygnyte in the whiche my sauyoure is all that I may or ought to desyre for thou art my helthe my redempcion my strength honour and ioy Alas my lorde god make me thy dayly seruaunt Ioyous For my lorde Iesus I haue reysed my soule vnto the and nowe desyrethe deuowtly reuerently to receyue the in to my how 's to th ende I may deserue with zachee to be blessid of the and to be accompted amonge the children af Abraham ¶ My soule desireth thy body my herte desyrethe to be vnyght wyth the. Gyue thy selfe vnto me good lorde than I suffised for withoute the no consolacyon nor comforte ys good withoute the I may nat be and withoute thy vysytacyon I may nat lyue wherfore it be houeth me often tymes to come and approch to thy hyghe p̄sence to receyue the for the remedy of my helth to the entente I fayle nat in the waye of this mortall lyfe if I were defrauded from thy sprytuall noryshynge ¶ Also my ryght mercy full lorde Iesu whan thou hast preched vnto the people and heled them of diuers sykenes thou hast sayde I wyll nat leue theym fastynge and without refeccion lest peranenture they myght fayle in theyr way Do wyth me than good lorde in that maner syth thou hast lefte thys holy sacrament for the comforte offeythfull people for thou arte the swete refeccion of the sowles of theym that haworthely receyued and eten the and they shall be perteners and inherytours of the eternall ioye Certeyne ytys vnto me necessary that so often synnes and so sone keles and at euery houre fayles to come vnto the to th ende that by contynuall orysons and confessions and by the receyuynge of thy holy body I may puryfye and renewe the heete of my refeccyon For perauenture in absteynonge me to longe to receyue the I may leue forgete and renne from my good purpos For the wytte of man and woman from theyr chyldhod be inclyned vnto euyll And if thys dyuyne and godly medycyne helpe vs nat incontynent we fall vnto worse Than thys holy cōmunyon draweth men from euyll and comforteth theym ageyne in goodnesse for I am many tymes neclygent and often keled whanne I commune or worshyp my god what shulde I thanne do if I toke nat that medecyne and aske of hym grace and helpe And albe it I am nat alwaye well disposed to receyue my creature yet shall I put me vnto peyne to receyue these sacrede mysteryes in tyme conuenable so y◠I maye be made a partener of so greate grace ¶ For ytys one of the mooste pryncypall consolacyons vnto a feythefull sowle for the tyme they shall make theyr pylgrimage towardes in this mortall body and to the entent we may haue the more mynde of thy benefytes ¶ My lorde god I shall more often receyue y◠my louige Lorde wyth a deuout thought O merueylous gentylnesse of thyne vnspekeable pytye towardys vs that thou lorde god creatour and gyuer of lyfe vnto all spirytes hathe wylled to come to one so pore asoule with the deite and humanyte and my pore lene dryesoule hath lysted to be made fatte with thy grace and thy holy vnccyon of thy swete spiryte O happy thought and well happy soule that deserueth deuoutely to receyue hys god hys lorde and creature and in that receyuynge to be fulfylled with ioy and spirytuall gladnesse O what great lorde receyuest thou O what and howe great and host enterteynest thou into thy lodgynge Howe ioyous a felowe takest thou into thy how 's Howe feythefull a frende thou admyttest vnto the. O howe good noble and swete espouse enbraceste thou which ought to be byloued and desyred aboue all thynges O ryght swete beloued lorde the heuen and erthe and all the ornamentis of theym holdeth scylence in the presence of thy face For what praysynge honour and beautye they haue it ys of thy mercy and largenes and can not be lyke vnto thonour and beaute of thy holy name of thy sapience wherof there ys no noumbre nother ende ¶ Howe many cōmodities be gyuen vnto them that deuoutly receyueth this holy sacrament C iiii ◠I lorde god I humbly beseche the to preuent me thy seruaunt in the blessynges of thy swete mekenes So that I may deserue to cum worthely deuoutly to the holy sacrament mooste to be magnyfied Stere my herte lose it frome the dull heuynes of my mortall body Uysite me wyth the messāger of helth and gyue me to tast thy swetnes spirituall whiche is hydde fully in the sacrament as in a foūtayne of all swetnesse Illmyne myne iyen to beholde thys greate mysterye strongly conferme me to beleue the feithe vndoutable for it ys thy werke nat the power of man it ys thy holy ordynaunce and not by mannys deuyse For there is no mā foundeable of hym selfe to conceyue vnderstande these holy mysteryes whiche passeth the subtylte of aungels ¶ Than Howe may I pore vnworthy synner which am but erthe and asshes serche conceyue so hygh holy secrysye lorde I come vnto the in symplenes of herte in ferme feythe and by