done in prosesse of longe tyme. sodenly he is rauysshed with dethe vnware without prouisyon he is take fro the body ¶ How a synfull soule is vexed and trowbled after her departynge fro the body cao. .iijo. WHan the soule with greate fere moche sorowe is departed fro the body angels come to take her to presente her tofore the ferdfull Iuge And thenÌ„e she remembrynge her euyll wicked werkes the whiche she dyde by nyght or day trembleth quaketh loketh how she myght escape or flee desyreth truesse sayenge O yeue me space though it be but an houre Thenne shal the werkes as in maner of spekyng say Thou hast wroughte vs. we ben thy werkis We shall not lese the. but abyde styll with the go with the to the Iugemente And they shal accuse her of many synnes trespaces and sholl fynde many fals wytnesse ayenste her al though true wytnes were suffycyent to her dampnacion The euyll fendes with ferdfull loke and terryble countenaunce shalle feere her and purswe her wyth grete cruelte and woodnesse and shall catche her with greate drede and feere and holde her styll yf she be not delyuered frome theym by the helpe socoure of oure lorde ThenÌ„e the soule beholdynge the eyen the mouth other bodely wyttes closed and spered by whom she was wont to passe forth to take her sportes playsyre in worldly thynges shall retorne to herselfe And whan she seeth herself alone lefte naked without body smytten with grete fere and drede she shall fayle in herself by dyspeyre And by cause she folysshly lefte the loue of god for the loue of the worlde and flesshly plesyre she shall be forsake of oure lorde lyke a wretche in that tyme of so grete nede of helpe And shall be delyuered to the deuylles to be punysshed and tormented cruelly for her mysdedes ¶ On this wyse is the soule of a synner not knowynge the daye ne the hour of his passynge rauysshed w e deth spared departed fro the body tremblynge quakynge she passeth of her Iourneye full of sorowe wretchydnesse And hauynge none excuse to alledge and shewe for her synnes she trembleth for drede to appere before almyghty god She is smyten with grete and wonderful fere vexed with many troublous thoughtes whan at her departynge fro the body all other thynges sette a syde she coÌ„sydereth only herselfe hym to whom the tyme draweth nyghe that she muste gyue accomptes rekenyng And knoweth that he may neuer be declyned ne chauÌ„ged frome ryghtwysnes she consydereth well how streyght a Iuge shall sytte on her what reasons she shall alledge and put for her dyscharge in couÌ„tynge of her lyf at soo streyghte a Iugement of soo precyouse Iustyce And though it be so that she remembre no thynge ne fynde in her self ony offence wherof she sholde be ferde dredfull Yet whan she shall come before that streyghte Iuge she fereth there be somwhat that is not in her remembraunce Her fere drede encreaseth wexeth the more whan she thynketh that she coude not escape that tyme of this lyfe withoute synne And also suche werkis as she thynketh be good coÌ„mendable that she hath done in her lyfe yet they be not all fawtles yf they sholde be streyghtly Iugyd pyte mercy set a syde who can coÌ„sydre call to mynde how many euyll werkys we do by processe of lytyll tyme. And what good thynges we by our neclygence leue vndo Sothely lyke as iâ— is synne trespaas to do euyll soo it is a mysse defawte to leue good thynges vndo And soo it is greate hurte peryll to vs whan we nother do wel ne thyÌ„ke wel But suffre our mynde to be occupyed abowte tryfles thynges that ben varyaunt vnprouffytable Sothly is is full harde to kepe oure mynde surly frome euyll thoughtes it is also very harde to be moche occupyed in worldely thynges without synne And therfore there can no man Iuge rebuke hymself perfytly· For he is soo moche occupyed troubly with soo many thoughtes that he in maner knoweth not himself soo that he knoweth not well what he doth or suffreth Wherfore he is smyte with sodeyne fere drede in his coÌ„scyence at his passage out of this world For though he fynde no thynge to his knowelege that greueth his conscyence yet he dredyth suche thynges as he knoweth not ne hath in his remembraunce ¶ Of the dygnyte noblesse of mannys soule Of the wretchydnesse of the body And how wretchyd the soule is made by the body cao. .iiijo. O Thou soule of man aourned with thymage of god made fayre bewteuous with his symylytude spoused and wedded to hym by fayth endoured wyth his holy spyryte redemed with his precyous blood deputed and putte to be kepte with his blessyd angellys pertener of his Ioye blysse the Inherytoure of his goodnes induyd with reason vnderstondynge What plesyre hast thou to be so coÌ„uersaunte with the vyle body wherby thou suffrest so moche greuauÌ„ce tribulacion payne By the body thou arte punysshed for the synnes of other thou arte broughte to nought repute a thyng in vayne of lytyll valour That carcas that thou louest cheryseste so moche with whome thou art so coÌ„uersauÌ„t is fowle lothsom matere torned in to flesshe couered wyth freyll vnsure bewte and hastely shall be stynkynge roten caryon and meete to wormes For though man exalte and magnefye himselfe neuer so moche yet he abydeth styll a foule vnclene carcas Certeynly yf thou consyder wel what fylth auoydeth by thy mouth thy nose other partes of thy body thou sawest neuer a fowler dounghyll Yf thou woll nombre couÌ„te all his wretchydnes howe greuous it is oppressyd with the heuy burden of synne bounde fretyd with vyces moued styâ—ed with concupicence trauayled and troubled with dyuers passyons affeccions defowled with Illusions euer pâ—â—oe redy to euyl hasty to euery vyce thou shalte fynde it full of shame confusyon Thorugh the flesshe man is made lyke vnto vanyte For thorugh it he is enfecte wyth the vyce of concupycsence vnleful desyre Wherby he is kept as thral in bondage and made so crockyd that he loueth vanyte and werked wyckydnesse ¶ Of the myserye and wretchydnes of man in his conceyuynge his byrth his lyfe and his deth Of the noblesse of the soule And of the sodayne myschyef of wycked men cao. .vo. MAn takehede what thou were before thy natyuyte What thou arte fro the begynnynge vnto thyne endynge And what thou thalte be after this lyf O man fyrste fylth lothsom matere Afterwarde a stynkynge sackefull of dounge And at the last mete to wormes to gnawe on in the grouÌ„de How sholdest thou be proude Sothly thou was fyrste as nought thenÌ„e thou made brought forth of vyse and fylthy matere wrapped in vnclene clothynge garmentes in thy moders
wombe where thou was fedde nuorysshed with a fowle lothsome matere And thy cote was not very honest ne pleasauÌ„t thus cladde nourysshed came thou to vs And yet thou haste not in mynde how vyle and wretched thy begynnynge was For bewty fauour of people youth ryches make the that thou knowest not what man is The whiche is not els but fowle and stynkynge matere A sacke of douÌ„ge fynally wormes meete Wherof thenne is man prowde that is conceyued in synne broughte forth with payne lyuynge in moche laboure vexacion finably must nedes deye Thus is man torned in to vermyn stenche abhominacion And euery man is torned in to no man Wherfore thenne arte thou proude man consyderynge that thou was somtyme vyle foule sede blood coagulate in thy moders wombe Afterwarde broughte forth Ieoparded putte to wretchydnesse of this lyfe to synne and fynally shall become wormes and mete to wormes in thy graue O thou duste powdre wherfore arte thou prowde that arte conceyued in synne broughte forth with wretchydnes lyuest in payne trybulacion shalt deye with angwysshe vexacyon Wherto fedeste that thy carcas soo delycyously with precyous meetes· adurnest it with soo gaye precyous garmentes that whyche wythin fewe dayes shall fede wormes in the sepulcre and leuest thy soule naked bare of vertues gode werkes that is to be presented tofore almyghty god his blessyd angellys in heuen O why settest thou soo lytyll pryce by thy soule cheryssheste more thy body than it Sothly it is grete abusion that maystresse lady to serue to be kepte in subieccyon the hondmen to rule haue domynacyon For sothely all the worlde maye not be estemed reputed ryghtfully to the value pryce of one soule For our lorde wolde not gyue his lyfe for all the worlde the whiche he gaue for mannis soule therfore the pryce of the soule is grete what coÌ„mutacyon chaunge thenne shall thou gyue for thy soule that gyuest it for noughte Dyde not the sone of god restyng in the bosom of his fader desceÌ„de frome his regall sete to delyuer her fro the power of the deuyll the whiche whan he sawe teyed fettred with snares of synne in poynt to be lost deuoured with fendes and damned to perpetuell deth he had pety on her wepte for her that coude not wepe for her selfe And not oonly wepte but suffred hymselfe to be slayne to redeme her with the raunson of his precyous blood ¶ O thou man mortall beholde how precyouse an oblacion was yeuen for the. Take hede man vnderstonde how moche noble thy soule is And how greuous her wouÌ„des were for whoo 's helth it behouyd Cryste that was god man to be so greuously wouÌ„ded Yf they had not ben mortall wouÌ„des of dethe euerlastyyge the sone of god sholde neuer haue suffred deth to hele them Beware therfore that thou vylupende not sette at lytyll the hurte payne of thy soule of whome thou seeste that hyghe mageste of god haue so greate compassyon He morned wepte for the. Wepe thou wasshe thy bedde euery nyghte with coÌ„punccion of herte plente of teerys He shed his precyous blood for the shed thou thyne for hym by dayly punysshemente of thy body Whiche syth thou mayste not spende at ones by martyrdom or deth for loue of hym At the leest wyse spende it by more ease but by more lenger mardyrdome Take no hede ne regarde to that vnleefull concupyscence of thy flesshe but by the goostly desyre of thy soule O how gloryouse shall the soule be whan it shal torne to his lorde yf it be not defoyled with the flesshe but hath wasshed away all fylthe and is made pure and clene Perauenture thou wylte saye that this is an harde thynge I can not despyse the worlde hate myne owne body I praye the tell me where be the louers of the worlde that somtyme dwelled amonge vs. of whome there remayneth not but powdre wormes Take good hede what they be now and what they were somtyme They were men as thou arte ete drynke and made mery And spended theyr dayes in playsyre And in a momente they be descended to the pytte of helll And here theyr bodyes ben deputed to wormes and thyer soules to hote fyre vnto suche tyme as they felsshypped and Ioyned togyder ayene in an vnhappy company be put to euerlastynge fyre The whyche were felowes in synne wyckydnesse for lyke as they were knytte togyder in one wyll playsyre in synne Soo shall they be punysshed wyth lyke payne ¶ What hath prouffyted theym vayn glory shorte myrth worldly power or domynacyon flesshely pleasyre false vnsure rychesse greate housholde wycked concupysâ—â—nce Where is theyr myrth where is theyr play and sportes where is theyr boste where is theyr pryde Beholde what sorowe wretchydnesse cometh of soo greate myrth and gladnesse What payne foloweth â—o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They ben fallen frome Ioye myrth in to greate myschyef and hyghe tormentynges And lyke as it befell to theym soo it maye befall to the. For thou arte a man erthe made of erth Man cometh of erthe of erth thou arte Of erthe thou lyuest and in to erthe thou shalte be torned whan thy laste daye cometh The whyche shall come hastely And perauenture it shall come this daye O syth we ben but fylth and dunge and erthe the whiche shall â—orne to erthe How or where of maye we be prowde ¶ Of the dethe and also of the paynes of wycked men after deth cao. vio. CErtayn it is that thou shalte deye but it is vncerten whan how or where For deth makyth hym redy ayenste the in euery place and yf thou be wyse thou wylte alwaye make the redy agaynst hym whersoeuer thou be Of all thynges that ben vncerten there is no more vncerten than is the hour of deth And there is none thynge more certen than dethe is For deth is sure vndowted but the houre of dethe is preuy and vnknowen Yf thou lyue after the flesshe thou shalte be punysshed in the flesshe Yf thou desyre precyous clothynge vermyn shall be strewed vnder the for fresshnes of thyn araye thy coueryng shal be wormes He that loueth better worldly thynges than god gloteny beter than abstynence foloweth the deuyll shall goo with hym in to euerlastynge payne but yf he amende What mornynge trowest thou what sorowe heuynesse shall be whan wycked people shall be departed fro the blessyd company of sayntes fro the syghte of god shall be taken in to the hondes of deuylles goo with them in to euerlastynge fyre where they shall abyde euer â–ª withoute ende in sorowe waylynge Sothly they banysshed outlawed ferre fro the blessyd couÌ„trey of paradyse shall be tormented in perpetuell paynes of helle They shall neuer see lyghte Neuer haue socoure ne refresshyng but by thousandes thousandes yeres
they shall be crucyat cruelly tormented in hell shall neuer be delyuerd fro thens Where the tormentour is neuer wery he that is tormentyd shall neuer deye The fyre wastyth punysshyth there on suche manere that it euer reserueth daÌ„pnyd people The tormentynges ben done on suche wyse that they are euer renued For euery man that is dampned shall suffer payne in hell accordynge to his synnes And those synnes that be lyke shall be punysshyd wyth lyke payne No thynge shal be herd there but wepyng syghyng sorowynge wayllynge mornynge gnasshynge of teeth There shall nought be seen but vermyn lothely feerfull facys of tormentours the fowlest moost vgly felyshypp of fendes Cruell wormes shall gnawe within the herte There is excedynge sorowe abhomynable stenche waylyng coÌ„fusion wondre huge feere wretches shall breÌ„ne in euerlastynge fyre alwaye wythoute ende They shal be crucyat tormentyd in body with fyre in soule with the worme of conscyence There shal be sorowe intollerable incoÌ„parable stenche horryble drede Deth both of body soule wythout hope of meecy forgeuenes But they shall soo deye that they maye euer lyue they shall so lyue that they may euer deye Thus mannys soule is tormented euermore in hell for his synnes or elles put in paradys for his merytys good dedes Chese we thenÌ„ one of thyse tweyne â–ª other to be tormented euermore wyth wycked people or euer to Ioye make mery with holy sayntes Sothly both good euyll lyf deth be put before vs. that we maye extende put forth oure hondes whether we woll And yf it be soo that that dredful tormentynges make vs not ferde At the leyst waye lete the grete rewardes of Ioye excyte and styre vs to goodnes ¶ Of the rewardes of blessyd soules And of the Ioyes of heuen cao. .vijo. THe rewardes of blessyd men ben to behold god to lyue with god to lyue of god To be wyth god to be in god and to haue god that is moost noble and souerayne goodnes There is perfyte felycyte perfyte myrth Ioye very lyberte perfyte charyte perpetuell suretee and sure perpetuyte There is very and true gladnesse of cunnynge plenteuousnes all bewte fayrnes all beatitude blisfulnes There is contynuall peas truthe charyte euerlastynge lyght vertue honeste Inestimable Ioye myrthe excedynge swetnesse lyf wythout ende etnall glory lawde quyete rest loue swete coÌ„cord vnyte In this blysse shall he abyde euermore wyth our lord in whose conscyence shal be founde no synne He shal beholde hym at his owne lyberte He shall haue hym to his grete playsure and swetnesse And he shall be knytte to hym in loue to his grete myrthe gladnes He shall lyue in eternyte shyne in truthe Ioye in gladnesse And lyke as he shal haue in abydynge perpetuyte so he shall haue cunnynge knowlege without diffyculte or hardens in perpetuell reste euerlastyng felycyte Sothely he shall be the cytezyn of that holy cyte where angels ben cyteyzins where almyghty god the fader is the temple and his sone the lyghte and the holy goost is the loue charyte· O heuenly cyte a sure mansyon a countrey conteynyng eury thynge playsaunt delectable Wherof the people lyue without stryf or grutchynge the dwellers lyue in quyetnesse reste where men suffre none Indygence ne scarsnesse O thou cyte of god how gloryous thynges are spoken of the. All that euer dwell in the. dwell in perpetuell Ioye felycyte All ben Ioyfull of oure lorde whose countenaunce and chere is meke whose face is fayre bewteuous speche very swete delycyous He is pleasaunt to see swete to haue and kepe and delycyous to loue He is ynough of hymselfe fully to please contente vs. And also of him self is a suffycyent rewarde for our merytes There is no thynge desyred besyde hym For what som euer is desyred is founde in him It is grete lykynge and pleasyre euermore to beholde him euer more to haue hym And euermore to delyte in hym And to be Ioyned and knytte to hym euer more in perfyte loue The vnderstondyng is made clere in him And the desyre is purefyed to knowe and loue truthe And is all the good and welth of man That is to knowe and loue his maker ¶ What greate foly thenne madnesse causeth vs to desyre the bytternesse of vyces to folowe perylles of this worlde to suffre the vnfortunes of this vnstable lyfe And to be subgette of the wycked tyrannye of the deuyll coueyte not rather to flee to the blessyd company of sayntes felycyte of angellis to the solemnyte feest of heuenly gladnesse and to the Ioye swetnes of coÌ„templatyf lyf that we maye entre in to the kyngnome of our lorde see thabuÌ„dauÌ„t ryhces of his goodnesse There we shall reste in ase we shall see how swete our lorde is hoâ— plenteuous the multytude of his swetnesse is We shall see the bewte of eternall glorye the bryghtnes of sayntes the honoure worshyp of the regall mageste we shall knowe the power of the fader the wysdome of the sone the moost benyngne goodnes of the holy good And soo we shall haue knowlege of thou holy trynyte We see now bodely thynges by the body Also we knowe the symylytude of bodely thynges by our soule But thenne we shall se that soth fast truthe with clere syghte of our soule O blessyd and happy syght to see almyghty god verely in himself to see him in vs. And to see vs in him in blessydful Ioye Ioyefull blysse We shall haue all that euer we shall desyre so that we shall not lyste to desyre ony more We shall be blessyd with swetnesse loue of hym delyciousnes of beholdinge him The noblenesse of the hygh felycyte shal be whan the clere god hede shal be knowen in his pure beynge and thenÌ„e shal be comprehendyd knowen clerly the blessyd trynyte that is incomprehensyble The preuytees of the godhede shal be shewed openly very god shal be seen loue And that syghte loue fulfyllynge al the hert of man shal be the hole perfeccyon of the felycyte blysse One tonge shal be comyn to all myrth with oute werynesse one desyre eurlastynge loue Truthe shal be shewed clerly Charyte shall replenysshe bothe the body the soule shal be fully sacyat man hede glorefyed shall shyne as the sonÌ„e There shall be restfull helthe concorde of body soule Angels men shal Ioye to gyder in one Ioye speke togyder one speche And be fested all in one feest The loue shall not fayle ne be made lesse There shal be noo sorowe ne payne for dyfferryng of thynges desyred but all good thynges be present for the blessyd presence of the mageste of almyghty god is al thynges to them all conteyneth theym fully in all that they desyre His power that is almiÈty wisdom
sorowe not that is a sygne of deth token of dampnacion For a membre or lymeÌ„ that felyth no payne is deed And an vnsensyble soore that is without felynge is vncurable I am lyghte wanton and I correcte not myselfe but I torne ayene dayly to synnes that I haue confessed and be shryuen of And I kepte me not fro the dyche where in to other I myselfe haue falle or els I haue seene other falle in And whan I sholde wepe and praye for euyll that I haue done and for good dedes that I haue be neglygent to doo Alas for sorowe it torneth me contrary For I haue be slacke and colde from the feruoure of prayer Ane now I abyde â—olde withoute helynge And therfore I maye not wepe myself for the grace of teeres is gone fro me I may not layne my synnes For where someuer I goo my coÌ„cyence gooth with me berynge with it what someuer I haue put ther in wheter it be good or euyll It kepeth her whyle I lyue And whan I am dede it shall yelde ayene that that it toke to kepe Yf I do well it is redy at the honde And yf me thynke I doo well exalte myself therof it is not absent but present It is presente to the lyuynge it foloweth the dede And where as my Ioye is there is cofusyon vnseparable after the qualyte of that that is put and betaken to the coÌ„scyence Thus in myne owne hous and in myne owne housholde I haue accusers Iuges and tourmentours My conscyence accuseth me Mynde is wytnesse Reason the Iuge Playsyre the pryson Drede the tormentour The frowarde delyte the tourmentynge Soothly as many euyll pleysyres as there ben there shal be as many tormentynges For the rewyth we be punyssheth wherof we haue plesyre ¶ Of thre goostly enmyes the flesshe the worlde and the deuyll And also of theyr temptacyon resystence ayenste theym cao. xvo. HElpe me my lorde god for myne enmyes that is to saye the body the worlde the deuyll haue byseged and vnbylapped my soule I maye not flee fro my body ne chace it frome me I must nedes cary it abowte for it is tyed to me It is not lefull to dystroye it I am constreyned to systeyne it Whan I fede it I nourysshe myne enmye ayenste me Yf I ete ynough it be stronge the helthe of it is aduersarye to me Sothly the worlde hath vmbylapped besyeged me on euery syde and woundyth me wyth his arowes by .v. gates that is to saye v. bodely wyttes The eye beholdeth torneth the wytte of the mynde the eere hereth boweth therto the intente of the herte Smellynge letteth cogytacion thought the mouth speketh oft tyme disceyueth Thardoure hete of luste for a lytyll occasyon is excyted styred And but it be soone lefte ouercomen anone it occupyeth heteth brenneth kyndleth all the body For fyrste it prycketh tyckleth the flesshe a lytyll wyth thoughte Thenne it defoyleth the mynde wyth fowle deletacyon And at the laste it subdueth the mynde to it by consentynge to shrewdnes The deuyll also whome I maye not se and therfore I sholde rather be the more ware of hym for he hath bended his bowe wyttely preuely hath put therin his arowes to shote at me Hath thret to hyde gylders and snares for me And hath sayde who shall espye them He hath put a gylder in golde syluer in all thynges that we mysuse whan we ben delyted euyll in them we ben snared And he hath not only layed a snare but also lyme Lyme is loue of possessyon desyre of cogytacion thought coueytynge of worshyp playsyre of the flesshe with the whyche the soule is snared lymed tyed that it maye not flee by the wayes of heuenly Syon with the fethers af contemplacyon The arowes of the deuyll ben Ire wrathe enuye lechery other wherwyth the soule is wounded who is he that may quenche his fyry dartes Alas for sorowe A faythfull man is oft tymes ouercome with thyse dartes Woo is me For bataylles ben on euery syde Dartes flee on euery syde On eury syde ben temptacions perylles What waye someuer I torne there is noo surete to me And I drede bothe those thynges that ben plesaunt that ben dysplesaunt Bothe hungre refeccion slepe watche laboure reste fyghte ayenst me Bowrde is no lesse suspect to me than wrathe For I haue sclaundred many in bourdynge And I drede noo lesse prosperyte than aduersyte for prosperous thynges deceyue me vnware with theyr swetnesse But thynges that ben vnprosperous by cause they haue some bytternes as bytter pocion and drynke make me suspecte and feryd I feere more euyll that I doo preuely than that I do openly For that euyll that no man seeth noo man repreueth And where there is noo drede of a rebuke the tempter the deuyl is moche bolde and wyckydnesse is lyghtlyer done Noo merueyle for there is batayle on eueryche parte and peryll drede on euery syde And lyke as they done that dwelle where warre is Soo muste we loke hether thether and torne the hede aboute to loke at euery cragge or stronde The flesshe tempteth me with thinges of luste pleysyre The worlde with vayne thynges And the deuyll with bytter thynges As ofte as flesshly cogytacyon mouyth my mynde vnportunely with mete drynke or slepe other carnall thynges perteynynge to the body the flesshe speketh to me And whan the herte is occupyed wyth vayne thoughtes as with ambucyon desyre of worldly worshyppes with bostynge pryde it cometh of the worlde And whan I am prouoked vnportunely to Ire to wrath bytternesse of the soule it is suggestyon of the deuyll the whyche behoueth to be resysteth withstonde as it were the deuyll hymselfe and to shon flee as fro the paynes of helle It is the properte of deuylles fendes to offre to vs euyl suggestyons And oure dewty is not to consente to theym Sothely as oft as we resyste we ouercome yâ— deuyll we glad angellys and honoure god Our lorde hymself exhortyth vs to fyght and helpyth vs to gete the vyctory He beholdyth how we fyght helpyth whan we faylle And crownyth vs whan we gete the vyctory ¶ Of the deuyll And how he temptyth man by the flesshe cao. xvio. MY carcas made of claye holdyth the condicyons therof and therfore I haue of it thoughtes of vnclennesse and foule playsures Of the worlde thoughtes of curyosyte and vanyte And of the deuyll of bytternesse and malyce Thyse thre enmyes fyght ayenst me and pursue me somtyme pryuely and somtyme openly but alwaye malycyously Sothely the deuyll trustyth cheyfly in helpe of the flesshe For an enmy of housholde noyeth moost And it hath made couenaunt with hym to distroye me For it was brought forth of synne nourisshyd in synne Corrupte gretly at his begynnynge but moche more corrupte by euyll custome And that is the cause that it
¶ The meditatōns of saint Bernard ▪ FVll prouffytable ben to vs trauaylynge pylgrymes and freyll synners the fruytfull werkes and treatyses of holy faders The whyche cal vs fro the waye of derkenesse of syn̄e to the waye of ryghtwysnesse And teche vs the streyghte waye to the ende of our pylgremage theuerlastynge blysse of heuen Wherfore amonge those sayd werkes treatyses I haue to thonoure of god prouffyte of his people chose to translate fro latyn in to englys the one swete deuoute treatyse moche prouffytable both to the louers of this trowblous shorte vnsure lyfe And also to the louers of the euerlastynge blessydfull lyfe in the kyngdome of heuen Called the Meditacions of saynt Bernarde ▪ wherof I forbede to vnlerned presumptuous correccion And mekely submytte me my werke to charytable correccyon Besechynge the reders to vouchesauf pray for me the enprynter or wryter herof to do theyr deuour dylygently And by cause I wolde haue so gode so prouffytable a thynge comyn to many and also by cause that hastly after the translacyon herof before it was duely correcte ordred it was by deuoute persones transūpte copyed I wote not how ofte aeynste my wyll Therfore haue I now the yere of of our lord Iesu Cryst M. CCCC.lxxxxv the .xij. daye of the moneth of September for to auoyde eschewe the Ieopardye hurte that maye come by that that was not duely corrected putte it more dylygently corrected ordred to the enprynter In lettyng dystruccyon of all other copyed after the forsayde vncorrected trāslacion And I coūsell exhorte all that haue those same to leue them as doutfull Ieoperdous And take this more dylygently ordred corrected It is not harde to knowe the one fro the other For they dyfferre both in nombre of chapytrees in rubrysshes of the same The vncorrected was dyuyded in to .xxv. chapytres Wherof the fyrste had no specyall rubryshes The seconde chapytre of the same began thus ¶ Oure mynde sothly is the ymage of god or elles thus ¶ The mynde sothly is the ymage of god And his rubryshe was this ¶ That the mynde of god is called the ymage of god But this that is corrected more dylygently is dyuyded parted in to .xviij. chapytres only wherof the rubryches folow her in order ¶ How man by knowlege vnderstōdynge of him selfe maye knowe god And how the soule of man is the ymage of god cao. primo ¶ Of wretchydnesse of body ▪ and of the dredful Iugemente cao. secundo ¶ How a synfull soule is vexed and troubled after her departynge fro the body cao. .iijo. ¶ Of the dygnyte noblesse of mannys soule Of the wretchydnesse of the body And how wretchyd the soule is made by the body cao. .iiijo. ¶ Of the myserye wredchydnesse of man in his conceyuynge his byrth his lyf his deth Of the nobles of the soule And of the sodayne myschyef of wycked men cao. vo. ¶ Of deth and also of the paynes of wycked men after theyr deth cao. .vio. ¶ Of the rewarde of blessyd soules And of the Ioyes of heuen cao. .vijo. ¶ Who is able to haue the Ioyes of heuen viijo. ¶ Of charytable loue of thy neghboure cao. .ixo. ¶ How we sholde pery loue and worshyp god and thynke on him cao. .xo. ¶ Of mannys herte And of prouffyte in redynge holy thynges cao. xio. ¶ Of wauerynge vnstablenesse of the mynde and thoughtes cao. .xijo. ¶ The cause and the remedye also of wauerynge of the mynde And of confessyon cao. .xiijo. ¶ Accusynge by cōfessyon of dyuerse syn̄es xiiij ¶ Of thre goostly enmyes the flesshe the world the deuyll And also of theyr temptacyons resystence agaynst theym cao. .xvo. ¶ Of the malyce of the deuyll And how he temptyd man by the flesshe cao. .xvio. ¶ Of the blysse of heuen cao. .xvijo. ¶ Of dyspysynge of worldly thynges· Of the olde man And of the pyte gentylnesse and mercy of god Capytulo .xviijo. ¶ The medytacyens of saynt Bernarde ¶ How man by knowlege vnderstondynge of hymselfe maye knowe god And how the soule of man is the ymage of god MAny there ben that know vnderstonde many other thynges yet they knowe not theyr owne selfe They take moche hede to other but they loke not well to themselfe They leue they re inwarde goostly thynges and seke god amonge outwarde thynges the whyche is within theym Therfore I shall torne fro those thynges that ben outwarde to inwarde thynges from inwarde thynges I shall lyft my mynde to thynges aboue that I maye knowe wherof I came and whether I go what I am and wherof I am And so by knowlege of myselfe I maye ascende come to the knowlege of god For the more I proyffyte in knowlege of my self the more nygh I drawe to the knowlege of of god ¶ On the inward mannys behalfe I fynde thre thynges in my soule wherby I remembre beholde desyre my lorde god The whiche ben the mynde the vnderstōdynge wyl or loue By the mynde I remembre him By the vnderstōdynge I beholde him goostly And by wyll or loue I loue and desyre him Whan I remembre god I fynde in hym in my mynde fele therin in him swetnesse plesyre of hym lyke as he vouchesaufe to gyue me By the vnderstōdynge I beholde in hym what he is in hymself what in holy angellys and what in his blessyd sayntes what in his creatures what in mankynde In hymselfe he is incomprehensyble for he is both begynnynge ende Begynnynge without begynnynge ende wythout ende By myselfe I vnderstōde how he is comprehensyble whan I may not atteyne to vnderstōdynge and knowlege of my self whome he hath made In holy angellys he is plesaunt and desyderable For theyr desyre is alwaye to beholde hym In sayntes he is delectable For they happy blessyd delyte them in hym contynually In creatures he is meruelous For by his myghte power he createth all thynges the whiche he gouerneth moost wysely dystrybutyth moost benyngnely In mankynde he is amyable louely For he is theyr god· they ben his people And he dwelleth with theym as in his owne tēple and they ben the temple of hym Who someuer hath mynde and thynketh on him vnderstondeth him and loueth hym he is with hym Sothely we owe to loue hym moche syth he hath loued vs soo moche made vs after his owne ymage lyknes soo hath he done to none erthly creature Sothly it behoueth that the thynge that is made after an ymage to be accordynge and lyke to the ymage or symylytude that it is fourmed after and not to haue vnworthely the name of an ymage in vayne Therfore lete vs shewe in vs thymage of hym in desyrynge of peas and regardynge of trouth Lete vs holde and kepe hym by perfyte loue and charyte in our mynde Lete vs bere him in our conscyence and
is so contrary to the soule That it grutchyth somoche and is soo vnpacyente to be taughte And entycyth vnlefull thynges obeyeth not to reason wyll not be refreyned wyth ony drede That crokyd serpent enmy of mankynde helpyth it vsyth it For he hath no other desyre labour ne study but to lese our soules This is he that besyly werketh euyl speketh subtylly entyseth craftely deceyueth wylyly excyteth vnlefull meuynges And setteth on fyre venemous cogitacions moueth batayle and stryfe nourysshed hatred incyteth and styreth to gloteny moueth to letchery Excyteh the desyre of the flesshe maketh redy occasyon of synne And cessyth not to tempte the hertes of men wyth a thousande craftes of hurte and noyenge This is he that smyteth vs wyth our staffe byndeth oure hondes wyth our owne gyrdell that our body the whyche is yeuen to vs to our helpe maye be to our hurte and sclaunder It is a greuous stryffe grete peryll to fyghte ayenste an enmye of houshold namely syth we be strangers he a cytezyn He dwelleth in his regyon and we ben outlawes pylgrymes It is also grete Ieopardye to sustene so ofte so contynuall dayly conflyctes and batayles ayenst the watches and subtyltees of dysceyte of the deuyll the whiche is very subtyll both by nature and also by longe excersye vse of his malyce ¶ Of the blysse of heuen cao. .xvijo. MY lorde god delyuer me frome myne enmyes and frome theym that haue hatyd me For they haue ben comforted agaynste me Forsoch I that haue lyued ayenst myself vnto this houre shall begyn now by thy grace to lyue to myselfe we sholde lyue soo that whan the body begynneth to be deuoured with wormes the soule maye make mery with sayntes in heuen The spyryte sholde be dressyd toward the place that he sholde go to We sholde haste thyther where we sholde alwaye lyue where we shall neuer drede to deye ayene Wherfore loue we so moche this slyppy faylynge lyfe where we lyue with somoche laboure Where we vneth content satysfye our body of that that is necessary in etȳge drynkynge slepynge We ought moche more to loue euerlastynge lyfe where we shall suffre noo labour where is chyef myrth chyef felicyte blysse Happy lyberte happy blysse Where men shall be lyke to the angels of god And ryghtwys men shal shyne as the sonne in the kyngdome of theyr fader Of what manere trowest thou shall be thenne the bryghtnes of soules whan the lyght of bodyes shal haue the bryghtnesse of the sonne There is no heuynesse no trowble no sorowe ne drede no labour noo dethe But perpetuell helthe alwaye perseruaraunt abydynge There shall be noo malyce ne mysery of the flesshe There is no sekenesse· no necessyte noo hunger noo thurste noo colde noo hete noo fayntnesse of faste ne other temptacyon of the enmye No wyll to synne no leysyre to trespace but all thynge shal be in gladnesse Ioye And men felyshypt to angels shal flouryshe euermore without infyrmyte of body There shall be inyfnyte myrth euerlastyng blysse wherin that that is ones purchaced shall alwaye be possessyd There is rest fro labour peas of enmyes myrth of noueltees sykernesse of eternyte swetnesse delectacion of the euerlastynge vysyon syghte of god And who is he that desyreth not gretly to dwell there both for reste peas and myrth eternyte and the blessyd syghte of god There is no pylgrym but who someuer maye deserue to come thyther shall dwell sekerly in that perpetuell countre alwaye glad alwaye sacyate of the gloryous syghte of god And the more that one is obedyent to a nother for god the more rewarde shal he receyue there And the more that he loued god the more clerly he shall se hym For the ende of man is to beholde god ¶ Of the dyspysynge of worldly thynges Of the olde man And of the pyte gentylnesse and mercy of god cao. xviijo. THe dayes ben of man as a shadowe vppon the erthe and he hath none abydynge but whan he weneth that he stondeth surly he is nyghe noughte Wherfore thenne gaderest thou the trsoures in erthe syth bothe that that is gadered and the gaderer passe awaye without loue And thou man what frute lokest after to haue of the worlde whose frute is hurte loste the ende of whome is deth Wolde god thou woldeste sauour vnderstonde prouyde for thy laste endynge I knowe one that hath lyued with the homely many yeres sytten att thy table And taken mete of thy honde slepte in thy bosome and spoken with the whan he wolde He sholde be thy seruaunte by ryght herytage But by cause thou hast nourysshed hym dylycatly from his chyldhode and spared the rodde he is made obstynate And hath lyfte his fote aboue thyne hede And hath broughte the to seruytude and bondage and ruleth the cruelly But perauenture thou wolte aske who this is It is thyn olde man that tredeth downe maketh fowle thy soule that sytteth atte noughte the countre that we sholde desyre For he sauoureth not but seketh thynges only that be flesshely This man is blynde deef dombe from his natyuyte Wycked in his aege rebell to vertue and trouth And enmye to the crosse of Cryste He mocketh an Innocente a symple man He walketh in hyghe thynges meruyllous· that ben aboue hys degre His boste his pryde is more than his strengthe He dredeth none He worsshyppeth none He sayth in his folysshnes that there is noo god He wexyth wery and slacke in good thynges And is glad wyth other mennys euylles He is nourysshed wyth vnclene thoughtes and perseuertth in theym withoute werynesse He scattereth and wasteth hys owne godes as a reuelar and a waster He coueytyth and reuyth other mennys as a neg on He gadreth to hym shame sclaundre Feynynge dysceytfull and prouokynge the wrath of god This man is borne all in synne And so he is nourysshed the frende of wyckydnesse the sone of deth the vessell of wrath and rebuke and redy to perysshe And yet he presumeth to tell shewe the ryghtwysnesse and lawes of god And speketh the Testamente of god He hateth dyscyplyne He casteth our lorde behynde his backe Whan he seeth a theef he renneth with hym and putteth his porcion and parte with aduoulterers He putteth sclaundre ayenste the chyldren of his moder and tresoreth the yre of god vp on hym And wyll take thyne herytage frome that in the daye of yre and reue it frome the vpon the erth And thou vengest not so greate Iniurye but dyssymylynge spekeste not one harde ne greuouse worde to hym Ne sheweste noo wrath ne angry countenaunce of hym but fauoureste hym that flatereth the. Thou playest wyth a mocker Knoweste thou not that it is Ismael that aplyeth with the This is noo playe of chyldhode ne of symplenes or Innocency But it is the mockynge the hurte and dethe of the soule Now hath he throwen the downe hedlynge in to the dyche that he hath made Now arte thou wounded now arte thou effemynate now art thou oppressyd with the yocke of wretchydnesse and thraldom thou arte troden fowle vnder his fete ¶ O thou wretchyd myserable man who shall delyuer the fro the bondes of this rebuke Ryse vp god And fall downe this armyd man fall he downe be he all to broken Also he is a wycked man the dyspyser of god the inordynat louer of hymself The frende of the worlde and seruaunt of the deuyll How semeth the Yf thou vnderstonde ryghte thou wolte saye with me he is worthy deth Putte hym on the crosse Dyfferre no lenger Dyfferre no lenger Spare noo lenger But hastely instantly boldly Crucefye this man But lete it be vpon the crosse of Cryst in whome is helth lyfe to whome yf thy man crucefyed crye he shall here hym benygnely answerynge sayenge Thou shalte be with me this daye in paradyce O how grete is the pyte of Cryste The wretche was withoute hope of helthe But the loue of god is so greate and so tendre and free His gentylnesse so redy his mekenesse soo merueylous his suffraunce soo pacyent that he heryth hym gracyously that cryeth to hym For he is mercyfull O how grete is the mercy of god How ineffable vnspekable is the ryghte honde of almyghty god Yesterdaye he was in derkenesse to daye in shynynge of lyght Yesterdaye in the mouthe of the lyon And to daye in the hondes of our sauyour Yesterday in the gates of hell and to day in the delyces of Paradyce But what prouffyten thyse letters of monycion but yf thou put the letters of dethe fro the conscyence what prouffyte thyse thȳges wryten vnderstonde but yf thou rede and vnderstonde thyselfe Therfore gyue dylygence to Inwarde redynge And rede vnderstonde thyn owne selfe that thou maye rede loue god That thou maye fyght and ouercome the worlde and all thy enmyes That thy laboure maye be tournyd in to reste and sorowe in to Ioye And after the derknes of this lyfe thou maye se the spryngynge of the bryghte mornynge And after thyse thou maye se the myddaye and heyghte of the sonne of ryghtwysnesse In whom thou shalt beholde the spouse with his spouses one lorde of euerlastynge glory that lyuyth and regneth euer more Amen ¶ Here we make an ende of this ryght prouffytable treatyse the Medytacyons of saynt Barnard Whyche for very fauour and charytable loue of all suche persones as haue not vnderstondynge in lattyn hath be translatyd fro latyn in to englysshe b◠a deuoute student of the Vnyuersyte of Cambrydge And hath put it to be Enprȳted at Westmester by Wynkyn the Worde the .ix. daye of Marche the yere of our lorde M. CCCC.lxxxxvi