¶How man by knowlege & vnderstondynge of hymselfe: maye knowe god. And how the soule of man is the ymage of god.

MAny there ben y ^t 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 theyre inwarde & goostly thyn­ges. and seke god amonge outwarde thynges. the whyche is within theym. Therfore I shall torne fro those thynges y ^t 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. y ^e mynde. y ^e 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 [Page] I fynde in hym in my mynde. & fele therin in him swetnesse & plesyre of hym. lyke as he vouchesaufe to gyue me. By y ^e 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 tē ­ple 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 y ^e thynge that is made after an ymage to be accordynge and lyke to the ymage or [Page] 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 to hym presente in euery place lete vs do due reuerence and worshyppe.

¶Our soule sothly is the ymage of god / for asmoche as it is apte and mete to take and receyue hym and maye be partener of hym. It is the ymage of hym. not only that it remembreth itselfe vnderstondyth or loueth itselfe. But by cause it maye remembre / vnderstonde. and loue hym. whiche made it. And whan it soo dooth. thenne it is wyse. For so­thly there is no thynge more lyke to the hyghe wysdome of almyghty god. than is a resonable soule / whyche by mynde vnderstondynge and loue resteth in the blessyd Trynyte. In whiche she maye not reste and abyde. but yf she remembre hym / vnder­stonde and also loue hym. ¶But yf she thynke dylygently on her lorde god. after thymage of whome she is created and made. And vnderstonde / loue honoure. and worshyppe hym. wyth whome she maye eternally abyde and reste in perfyghte Ioye and blysse. Sothly that soule is ryghte happy and blessyd in whome oure lorde fyndeth restynge. And in whoos tabernacle he dwelleth and resteth. [Page] That is an happy soule that maye saye. My lorde & maker hath restyd in my tabernacle. Soothly he shal not deny to suche a soule the euerlastynge reste of heuen. O why then̄e loke we not in our self: but seke our lorde amonge outwarde thynges: the whyche is with vs / yf we wyll be with him. Sothly he is both in vs and in vs. but y ^t as yet is by fayth: vnto suche tyme as we maye deserue to see him clerly We knowe (sayth the apostle) that by fayth Cryste abydeth in our hertes. By fayth I remembre my maker / I worshyp my mercyfull redemer. and abyde my sauyoure. I byleue that he lyueth in all crea­tures / that he dwelleth within me. And also I truste to knowe him in himself: the whiche is moche more blysfull & Ioyfull than all thyse ben. For sothly to knowe perfytely the fader / y ^e sone / & y ^e holy goste is euerlastynge lyfe / perfyte blysse & excedynge ple­syre. For the mortall eye hath not sene / ne eere her­de ne mannys herte vnderstōde clerly and perfytly how moche clernesse. how moche Ioye. how moche swetnes we shall haue in that blessyd syghte whan we shall beholde face to face him y ^t is the lyght of all bryghte thynge. the refuge and reste of trauelers & labourers the receyuer and keper of them y ^t torne to him / the very lyfe to all that lyue. And the crowne of theym that ouercome theyre goostly enmyes. Thus I fynde in my soule the ymage of the hygh & gloryous Trynyte. to the whiche moost hyghe & [Page] gloryous Trynyte: I owe to referre and orther all my lyfe. that I maye remembre hym and putte my playsyre & cōtemplacyon in hym. The soule is the ymage of almyghty god y ^t whiche conteyneth thre thynges. the mynde. y ^e vnderstōdynge: & wyl. To y ^e mynde we attrybute & put all thynge that we lerne or know though we thynke not alway theron. To the vnderstōdynge we attrybute all that we knowe is true. the whiche also we cōmende & putte to our mynde. By the mynde we ben resemblyd & lyke to the fader / by vnderstondynge. to y ^e sone / & by wyll or loue to the holy goost. for there is no thynge in vs more lyke to the holy goost. than is the wyll or true loue. For true loue is the yefte of god more nor so precyous that there is noo yefte of god. and it is ble & excellente than it is. For true loue that cometh of god. and is god himself: is properly called the holy goost: by whome y ^e loue of god is diffused & sprad in our hertes. And by whome all the holy & blessyd trynyte dwelleth and abydeth in vs.

¶Of wretchydnes of the body and of the dredfull Iugemente. ca ^o. secundo

ON the outwarde mannys behalfe I am co­men of my faders. the whyche haue made me the chylde of dampnacyon before they haue made me the chylde of natyuyte. Synners in theyr [Page] synne haue begotten a synnarr. whome they haue norysshed of theyr synne. Wretches haue broughte forth a wretche in to wretchydnesse of thys worlde. I haue not of them but wretchydnesse and synne and this corruptyble and rotlewe body that I carye aboute. And soothly I haste towarde them the whiche by bodely deth be passed oute of this worlde: Whan I beholde theyr sepulcre and graues I fynde not els in them but powder. wormes / stenche & lothsomnesse. Suche as I am now they were but lately and suche as they be I shall be hastely. What am I A man made of lothsom and fylthy matere torned in to flesshe / wepynge & waylynge put in to exyle of this worlde. And loo now I dye full of wyckednes / abhomynacyon & fylthe. And hastly I shal be presented before the streyte Iuge to gyue a counte & rekenynge of my werkes. Woo shall be to me wretche whan the daye of dredfull Iugemente shall co­me. & the bokes shall be opened wherin all my purposes desyres & thoughtes shal be rehersed in y ^e presence of almyghty god. Then̄e shall I stonde qua­kynge & tremblynge in y ^e Iugement before our lorde. castynge downe myne hede as gretly abasshed in my conscyence whan I remembre myne vnkynde­nesse & trespaces. and whan it shall be sayde of me. beholde this man and his werkes. Thenne shall I haue in mynde all my dutyes & synnes. For by the prouydēce & vertue of almyghty god it shall be soo [Page] ordeyned that euery mannis good dedes and euyll. shal be reducyd & called ayene to his mynde & they shall be shewed with a meruelous swyftnesse: that his knowlege maye accuse & excuse his conscyence. And thus shall euery man be Iuged For euery man shal be Iuged of his dedes. & euery man̄ys secretis and preuytees shall be shewed to euery man. Suche as we woll not for shame confesse. shall be shewed to all men. And all y ^t euer we coloure here by dyssymulacyon: shall be brennyd there w ^t the vengable flamme of fyre. For the cruell & wode fyre shal be lete lose & reyne at lyberte. And y ^e longer y ^t our mercyfull lorde abydeth vs. & of his greate gentylnesse yeueth vs space to amende our lyfe. the more strey­ter shall he punysshe vs by ryghtwysnesse / yf we wyl not amende. wherfore loue we thenne somoche & coueyte y ^e lyfe of this worlde. in the whyche lyf y ^• lenger we cōtynue & abyde / the more euyll we do & synne. And y ^e lenger y ^t we lyue. y ^e more blame we deserue. For euyll thynges & shrewdnes encrease & growe dayly. & gode thynges ben withdrawen. Man is in cōtynuall variacion & chaūge / now in prosperite now in aduersyte: & wote not whan by deth he shal be put therfro. For lyke as a sterre with bryght be­mes moueth swyftly / and sodenly vanysshed away & as a spercle of fyre is quenched & torned to asshes Soo dooth this bodyly lyf. as we maye well see yf we take hede: ¶For whan a man lyueth merely [Page] this worlde. And trusteth soo longe to endure. dys­posed & ordeyneth many thynges to be 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. ca ^o. .iij ^o.

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 then̄e she remembrynge her euyll & wicked werkes y ^e 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 w ^t the & go w ^t 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 [Page] yf she be not delyuered frome theym by y ^e helpe & socoure of oure lorde. Then̄e the soule beholdynge the eyen y ^e 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 y ^e daye ne y ^e hour of his passynge. rauysshed w ^e deth: & spared & departed fro y ^e 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 w ^t many troublous thoughtes whan at her departynge fro the body (all other thynges sette a syde) she cōsyde­reth only herselfe: & hym to whom the tyme draw­eth nyghe y ^t she muste gyue accomptes & rekenyng And knoweth y ^t he may neuer be declyned ne chaū ged frome ryghtwysnes. she consydereth well how [Page] streyght a Iuge shall sytte on her. & what reasons she shall alledge and put for her dyscharge in coū ­tynge of her lyf at soo streyghte a Iugement. & of soo precyouse Iustyce. And though it be so y ^t 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 y ^e more. whan she thynketh that she coude not escape y ^t tyme of this lyfe withoute synne. And also suche werkis as she thynketh be good & cōmendable 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 cōsydre & 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 i [...] 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 thȳke wel. But suffre our mynde to be occupyed abowte tryfles & thynges y ^t 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 [Page] y ^t 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 cō scyence at his passage out of this world. For though he fynde no thynge to his knowelege y ^t 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. ca ^o. .iiij ^o.

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 / y ^e Inherytoure of his goodnes / induyd with reason & vnderstondynge. What plesyre hast thou to be so cō uersaunte with the vyle body. wherby thou suffrest so moche greuaūce. tribulacion & payne. By y ^e body y ^u arte punysshed for y ^e 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 cōuersaūt is fowle & lothsom matere torned in to flesshe couered wyth freyll & vnsure bewte / and hastely shall [Page] 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 & coūte all his wretchydnes howe greuous it is oppressyd with the heuy burden of synne bounde & fretyd with vyces. moued & sty­ [...]ed with concupicence. trauayled and troubled with dyuers passyons & affeccions / defowled with Illu­sions. euer p [...]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 y ^e noblesse of the soule. And of the sodayne myschyef of wycked men. ca ^o. .v ^o.

MAn takehede what y ^u 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 / [Page] Afterwarde a stynkynge sackefull of dounge / And at y ^e last mete to wormes to gnawe on in the groū ­de. How sholdest thou be proude / Sothly thou was fyrste as nought. then̄e thou made & brought forth of vyse and fylthy matere / wrapped in vnclene clo­thynge & garmentes in thy moders wombe / where thou was fedde & nuorysshed w ^t a fowle lothsome matere. And thy cote was not very honest ne plea­saūt. thus cladde & nourysshed came y ^u to vs / And yet thou haste not in mynde. how vyle and wretched thy begynnynge was. For bewty / fauour of people youth. & ryches / make y ^e y ^t thou knowest not what man is. The whiche is not els but fowle and styn­kynge matere / A sacke of doūge. & 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 y ^t 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 [Page] deye with angwysshe & vexacyon. Wherto fedeste y ^t thy carcas soo delycyously with precyous meetes· & adurnest it with soo gaye & precyous garmentes. y ^t whyche wythin fewe dayes shall fede wormes in y ^e sepulcre / and leuest thy soule naked & bare of vertues & gode werkes. y ^t 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 y ^t 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 y ^e 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 y ^e soule is grete. what cōmutacyon & chaunge thenne shall thou gyue for thy soule. y ^t gyuest it for noughte. Dyde not the sone of god restyng in y ^e bosom of his fader descēde frome his regall sete to delyuer her fro y ^e power of y ^e 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 [Page] how moche noble thy soule is. And how greuous her woūdes were / for whoos helth it behouyd Cryste that was god & man to be so greuously woūded. Yf they had not ben mortall woūdes & 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 y ^t hyghe ma­geste of god haue so greate compassyon. He morned & wepte for the. Wepe thou. & wasshe thy bedde euery nyghte w ^t cōpunccion of herte & plente of teerys He shed his precyous blood for the / shed y ^u thyne for hym by dayly punysshemente of thy body. Whiche syth y ^u 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 y ^t vnleefull concupyscence of thy flesshe. but by the goostly desyre of thy soule. O how gloryouse shall y ^e 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 [Page] 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 concu­pys [...]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 [...]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 [...]orne to erthe / How or whe­re of maye we be prowde.

¶Of the dethe. and also of the paynes of wycked men after deth. ca ^o. vi ^o.

CErtayn it is that thou shalte deye / but it is vncerten / whan / how or. where. For deth makyth hym redy ayenste y ^e in euery place. and yf thou be wyse thou wylte alwaye make the redy agaynst hym whersoeuer thou be. Of all thynges y ^t 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 y ^e houre of dethe is preuy and vnknowen. Yf thou lyue after y ^e flesshe. thou shalte be punysshed in the flesshe Yf y ^u desyre precyous clothynge. vermyn shall be strewed vnder y ^e for fresshnes of thyn araye. & thy coueryng shalbe wormes. He y ^t 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 y ^u 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▪ withoute ende in sorowe & waylynge. Sothly they banysshed & outlawed ferre fro the blessyd coūtrey of paradyse. shall be tormented in perpetuell paynes of helle They shall neuer see lyghte. Neuer haue socoure / [Page] ne refresshyng: but by thousandes thousandes yeres they shall be crucyat & cruelly tormented in hell / & shall neuer be delyuerd fro thens. Where y ^e tormentour is neuer wery. & he y ^t is tormentyd shall neuer deye. The fyre wastyth & punysshyth there on su­che manere. y ^t it euer reserueth dāpnyd people. The tormentynges ben done on suche wyse: that they a­re euer renued / For euery man y ^t is dampned shall suffer payne in hell accordynge to his synnes. And those synnes y ^t be lyke: shall be punysshyd wyth lyke payne. No thynge shalbe 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 cō fusion wondre & huge feere. & wretches shall brēne in euerlastynge fyre alwaye wythoute ende. They shalbe crucyat & tormentyd in body with fyre: & in soule with the worme of conscyence. There shalbe sorowe intollerable: incōparable 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 y ^t 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 then̄ one of [Page] thyse tweyne▪ other to be tormented euermore wyth wycked people / or euer to Ioye & make mery w ^t holy sayntes. Sothly both good & euyll. lyf & deth be put before vs. y ^t 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. ca ^o. .vij ^o.

THe rewardes of blessyd men ben to behold god: to lyue w ^t 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 cō ­cord. & vnyte. In this blysse shall he abyde euermore wyth our lord: in whose conscyence shalbe founde no synne. He shal beholde hym at his owne ly­berte. He shall haue hym to his grete playsure and [Page] 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 y ^e 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 [Page] 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 y ^e solemnyte & feest of heuenly gladnesse / and to y ^e Ioye & swetnes of cōtemplatyf lyf. y ^t we maye entre in to the kyngnome of our lorde. & see thabū ­daūt ryhces of his goodnesse. There we shall reste in ase. & we shall see how swete our lorde is / & ho [...] 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 y ^e fader y ^e wys­dome of y ^e sone / & the moost benyngne goodnes of the holy good. And soo we shall haue knowlege of y ^u holy trynyte. We see now bodely thynges by y ^e body / Also we knowe the symylytude of bodely thynges by our soule. But thenne we shall se y ^t 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 y ^t euer we [Page] 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 shalbe whan the clere god hede shalbe knowen in his pure beynge. and then̄e shalbe comprehendyd & knowen clerly the blessyd trynyte. y ^t is incomprehensyble. The preuytees of y ^e godhede shalbe shewed openly. very god shalbe seen & loue. And y ^t syghte & loue fulfyllynge al the hert of man: shalbe the hole perfeccyon of y ^e felycyte & blysse. One tonge shalbe comyn to all. myrth with oute werynesse / one desyre & eurlastynge loue. Truthe shalbe shewed clerly / Charyte shall replenysshe & bothe y ^e body & the soule shalbe fully sacyat. man hede glorefyed shall shyne as the son̄e. 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 shalbe 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 y ^t they desyre. His power. y ^t is almiȝty. wisdom. peas. ryght wysnesse / & vnderstondyng· shalbe comyn to al. In that perpetuell peas shalbe no dyuersyte of tonges or langage. but a peasyble & a greable concorde of maners & desyres. In the flood of that playsure the [Page] appetyte heepyd & sacyat wyth plenteuousnes shal desyre noo more. There shall be soo moche felycy­te and blysse. For there shalbe the hepe or mough of felycyte and blysse: excedynge Ioye and myrthe / & plenteuouse gladnesse.

¶Who is able to haue y ^e Ioyes of heuen. viij ^o.

BVt who is he that is apt and conuenyent to thyse Ioyes / sothely he that is a true penytent: A good obedyent: a louely felow and a faythfull seruaunt. A true and perfyte penytent is euer in sorowe and laboure. He sorowith for his synnes that ben presente & also that ben paste. And labouryth dylygently that he maye beware & shone syn­nes to come. For very true & parfyte penaunce: is to sorowe for synnes wythoute sessynge. He sorowyth for his synnes that he hath done: that he doo ne cō myse nomore suche synnes as he ought to sorowe and bewayle fore. For he is not very penytent ne sorowfull: whyche dooth and cōmysyth contynual­ly suche offences as he ought to be penytent & so­rowfull fore. Therfore yf thou wolt be veryly and perfytly penytent: ceasse of synne. And be in wyll & purpoos no more for to synne.

¶A good obedyent submyttyth his wyll: and is refusynge for leyff or for lothe. And geuyth hym holy ly to oure lorde god. That he maye saye: Myne [Page] herte is redy good lorde▪ myne herte is redy / It is redy to do what so euer thou cōmaūdest it. It is redy wyth a beckenynge to obeye redely at thy byddynge And so it is redy good lorde to serue the to mynys­tre & helpe myn neyghbours / to kepe well myselfe and to reste in contemplacyon of heuenly thynges. ¶A good & an amyable or a louely felowe is dylygent & seruysable to all. & noyous or greuous to none. He is dylygent & seruesable / For he is deuoute to god. benygne & gentyll to his neyghbour / and sobre to y ^e worlde. He is the seruaunt of our lorde god / fe­lowe of his neyghbour. and lorde of the worlde. He hath heuenly thynges that ben aboute him to Ioye in. thynges y ^t ben equall to hym to felysshyp & company with. And thynges vnderneth hym to serue hym. He is noyous or greuous to none. but he dres­syth and ordenyth lowe thynges to the prouffyte of mydwarde thynges. & to the honour & worshyp of thynges aboue / subdued & folowynge heuenly thynges. subduynge and rulynge erthly thynges.

¶A faythfull seruaūt is besy in contemplacion of god. & kepynge of himself. Therfore put all thy dylygence to kepe thyselfe well / Then̄e knowynge y ^t thyne owne dylygence maye neuer be suffycyent to kepe the withoute the helpe of god. call for the helpe of oure lorde. Thenne aske with deuoute pray­er the defence & kepynge of holy angelles to behol­de in the y ^e good. the plesaunte and perfyte wyll of [Page] thy maker. Purchace also wyth deuoute prayer the helpe of all that reyneth with Cryste. ¶Renne by eche one syngulerly. Make thy supplicacion to them euery one syngulerly. And crye to them & saye· Ha­ue mercy on me / haue mercy on me. Specyally ye that ben my frendes haue ruth & pyte on me. Re­ceyue a banysshed creature▪ Neuertheles I wolde fayne be your seruaunte· Receyue your brother and seruaunte that fleeth to you for socour / Your broder & kynnesman in the blood of our mercyfull redemer Beholde a begger stondynge at the dore cryenge & knockynge Open ye. and lede hym to the kynge / that I protestate & cowchyng lowe at his fete may shewe to hym all my wretchydnesse and necessytees that I suffre. ¶At the last shewe thy herte with all the progenye & kynred therof to thy prelate / And lete no synne abyde in the that is not put awaye by pure and clene confessyon. Also put Ihesu Chryste vpon thy herte as a seale. and the locke & keper of thy lyfe. whome cryste kepeth the dore of the herte and is the porter therof. that all the housmenye of the herte go in and forth by hym / consequently there shall be thousandes vpon thousandes of angels watchynge and kepynge at the gates of thyne out­warde wyttes. And there is noo alyante & stranger soo bolde to breke those terryble and ferdful hostes for reuerence of the keper and vssher / and for dyf­fence and kepynge of angellys.

¶A pasynge good lesson for to encrease in vertue and goodnesse. And of charytable loue of thy neghboure. ca ^o.: ix ^o.

SE that y ^u be a curyous & a dylygent tetcher of thy helth & dysposycyon Dyscusse and examyne well thy lyfe euery daye. Take good hede how moche thou profytest. & how moche thou lac­keste / & how ferre thou arte frome pure perfeccyon How thou arte in maners & cōdycyons. How in dedes in thy desyres / And how lyke thou arte to god. or how vnlyke. How nygh or how ferre y ^u arte fro him. Not in longe dystaūce of places. but in maners & dysposycyon. Studye besely to knowe thyself. for yf y ^u knowe thyselfe well. thou art better and more cōmendable / than yf thyself vnknowen y ^u knewe y ^e course of the sterres / the vertues of herbes. the complexyons of men. y ^e nature of bestys / & had know­lege of all thynges in heuen. in erthe / and in hell. And therfore rendre the to thyself / and yf it be not alwaye. at the leest wyse somtyme amonge. Rule & gouerne wysely thyn affeccions & desyres. Dresse well thy dedes. And correcte thyne excesse & mysde­des Lete no thynge abyde within the vntamed & vntaughte. Put all thy transgressyons & mysdedes before thyne eyen. and ordeyne thyselfe before thyself as thou were a nother. And soo wayle and sorowe thyselfe: Wepe for thy wyckydnesse and syn̄e wher­in [Page] thou haste offended almighty god. and shewe to hym thy wretchydnesse. Shew to hym also the ma­lyce of thy aduersaryes & enmyes. And whan thou offrest and presentest thyself tofore hym in teeres I pray the remembre me / For sothely syth I had knowlege of the in Cryste. I loue the / and desyre and beere wyth me the mencyon and remembraunce of the thyther were vnlefull thoughtes deserue tour­mentynge / and holy and honest thoughtes deser­ue rewarde and mede. Whan I praye. I stonde as a preest at the awter of god. & there haue mynde on the. Sothely thou quytest me yf thou loue me. & make me partener of thy prayers & deuoute orysons / I praye the lete me be present with the in remem­braūce. there as that thou byddeste deuoute prayers before oure lorde for the and thy famylyer and ho­mely frendes. ¶Merueyle not though I sayde. lete me be present / For yf thou loue me by cause I am y ^e ymage of god. I am as presente to the as thyne owne persone / For the same thynge y ^t thou arte. I am: Sothely euery resonable soule is the ymage of god Therfore he that seketh the ymage of god in him­self. sekyth aswell his neyghbour as his owne self And he that fyndethe it in sekynge in hymself. perceyueth and knoweth it in euery man /

¶Sothely the syghte and perseueraunce of the soule is the vnderstondynge and knowlege. Therfore yf that thou see thyne owne persone. Thenne thou [Page] seest me that am the same thynge that thou arte. And yf y ^u loue god. thou lonest me / y ^t am the ymage of god. And I in louynge god. loue the. And so whyle we seke oo thynge and goo towarde oo thynge. Lete vs alwaye be present togyder in our self. that is to saye. in god in whome we loue to gyder.

¶How we sholde praye loue / & whrshyp god. and thynke on hym. ca ^o. .x ^o.

WHan thou entrest in to the chyrche to praye & to worshyp god / leue withoute the heepe of flowynge thoughtes. and forgete vtterly cure & charge of all outward thynges. y ^t thou may take hede to god only. For it maye not be y ^t a man speke ony tyme with god. y ^t talketh or chatteth softly with all the worlde. Therfore gyue attendaū ­ce and take hede to hym that gyueth attendaūce & taketh hede to the. Heere whan he speketh to y ^•. that he may gracyously here whan thou spekeste to him Thus it shall be yf thou applye thy selfe besely to the louynge of our lorde with due reuerence & dylygence. Yf thou attende and take hede dylygently to euery worde of holy scrypture / I saye not that I do thyse thynges myself. but I wolde feyne do them. & I am sory y ^t I haue not done theym in tymes past / And it greueth me y ^t I doo theym not now. But y ^u to whome is graunted more grace. be y ^e meke eeres [Page] of our lorde to the with deuoute prayers: Praye to hȳ lowely and deuoutly with teeres and syghyn­ges for remyssyon & foryeuenes of thy synnes. And looue & glorefye hym in all his werkes wyth spyry­tuall and goostly songes. For there is no presente or gyfte more lykynge and plesaūte to the hyghe cytezyns of heuen. Also there is noo gyft more acceptable & Ioyfull to the hyghe kynge of heuen. as hym­self bereth wytnesse sayenge: The sacrefyce of lau­de and praysynge shall honoure & worshyp me. O how happy sholdest thou be yf thou myght ones se wyth thy goostly eyen the plesaunte ordre of the heuenly company▪ how prynces Ioyned wyth the ho­ly felyshyp of blessyd vyrgynes: come the praysyng and worshyppynge of almyghty god wyth moost swete melodye. Thou sholdest se withoute doubte with how moche dylygence / and wyth how moche myrth they abyde amonge vs. whan we looue god Assyste and helpe vs· whan we praye be nyghe to vs in our meditacion watche & kepe vs whan we reste Defende & helpe vs in our prouysyons & good la­bours Sothly the heuenly potestates loue theyr brederen & neyghbours. They Ioye besely togyder for theym that receyue the herytage of helth. & comforte theym: teche theym / & defende theym. And they prouyde to euerychone in all thynges. Sothly they desyre our comȳge to theym: For they loke after to haue the hurte & losse of the countree restored of vs [Page] And they serche dylygently & ben very glad to here good of vs. They renne besely betwene god & vs / faythfully & truly berynge our cōtrycyon & sorowe to him. They dysdeyne not to be our felawes. For they ben now made mynystres to vs. we make them Ioyfull & glad whan we ben conuerted to penaunce. Therfore late vs haste vs to fulfyll theym with Ioye of vs. Woo to y ^• who someuer thou arte: that desyrest to torne ayene to thy stynkȳge synes & fyl­ty lyuynge. wenest y ^u to haue theyr frendshyp at y ^e dredfull Iugemete fro whome thou wylte reeue so moche & soo veryly trusted Ioye. They made mo­che Ioye whan we came to relygyon. as of theym whom they sawe drawen & reuoked fro the gate of hell. How shal it be now yf they see them depart oute of y ^e gate of paradys & go bacwarde y ^t haue the one fote in heuen. for though our bodyes ben byne­the. yet lete vs haue our hertes aboue: Therfore le­te vs renne / not with bodely steppes. but wyth hert­ly affeccions & desyres: For not only angels. but al­so y ^e maker of angels abydeth vs: Almyghty god y ^e fader abydeth vs & his children & heyre to gyue vs possessyon of all his goodes. The sone of god abydeth vs as his brede [...]en & Inherytours to gyder. y ^t he maye offre vp to almyghty god his fader y ^e frute of his natyuyte. & the pryce of his precyous blode The holy goost abydeth vs / Sothly he is charyte wherin we ben predestynat & ordeyned to perpetuell [Page] blysse fro the begynnynge. And no doubte but he wyll that his predestynacion & ordenauce be fulfylled. Thenne sythe al the hole courte of heuen aby­deth & desyreth vs. lete vs desyre with as feruente desyre as we maye. For who someuer desyreth not gretly to see it. shal come therto with greate cōfusyon & shamfastnes. Therfore who someuer is con­uersaunt dwelleth & abydeth in it wyth besy pray­er & besy medytacion & thought. shal go from hens in surete And shall be receyued in it w ^t greate gladnes. Therfore where someuer thou be. praye wyth in thyself. yf thou be ferre from an Oratory trouble the not to seke a place / for y ^u thyfelf arte a place cō uenyent. of y ^u be in thy besynesse or in ony other place / pray. & there is a temple. Sothly the mynde oweth oft tymes to be lyfte vp to god with besy pray­er & bodely obeysaunce. For lyke as there is no moment of tyme wherin man occupyeth not & nideth the goodnesse & mercy of our lorde. soo there oweth to be no moment wherin he hath not hym presente in his mynde. But perauenture y ^u woll saye. I pray dayly. but I see no fruyte of my prayer / but euyn as I go to it. so I go frome it. For there is none y ^t an­swereth me / none y ^t speketh to me. none that giueth me oughe. but me semeth y ^t I haue laboured in vayne. O this is y ^e folysshe spekynge of man: takynge no hede what very sothfastnes promyseth for prayer. sayenge on this wyse. Sothly I say to you what [Page] someuer ye desyre by prayer. belyue ye stedfastly y ^t ye shall haue it. & it shalbe done to you. Therfore set not at lytyll thy prayer. for he y ^t thou prayest to setteth it not at lytell but he cōmaūded it to be wreten in the boke of lyf before it go forth of thy mou­the. And we ought to truste without doubte one of ij: thynges. for he shall yeue vs y ^t we desyre. or elles y ^t he knoweth more prouffytable to vs. thynke therfore of god the beste y ^t thou mayste. & of thyself the worste. & yet y ^u sholde hope worse of thyself than y ^u mayste thynke. Al y ^e tyme that y ^u thynke not on god counte it as loste fro the. Other thynges belonge to other than vs▪ but tyme is ours only: therfore wat­che wel & whersomeuer y ^u be / be thyne owne. & spende tyme well. and thou shalt be there in surete. Geue not thyself to worldly thynges but vse theym to the prouffyte of the soule. What place someuer y ^u be in dresse well thy thoughtes / & reuolue some hol­some thynges in thy soule. For sothly euery place is apte & cōuenient to gode thoughtes & medytacions Therfore gadre togider thy soule with an hole felycyte & Ioye. & abyde at lyberte in thin inwarde ha­bitacyon. & walkynge in y ^e largesse of thyne herte. Make redy therin to Cryste a restynge place and a large chambre. For the mynde of a wyse man is al­waye to god. We shold alway haue hym before our eyen. by whom we haue our beyenge. our lyf & vnderstondynge. For lyke as we in our beynge haue him [Page] as auctour & maker. so yf we shal profyte in wysdome. we muste haue him a doctour & a techer· and so we shalbe blessyd. we muste haue him y ^e yeuer of e­uerlastynge blysse And in y ^t we knowe y ^t the yma­ge of him (y ^t is to saye that hyghe & gloryous trynyte) is in vs. For lyke as he is. & is both wyse & go­de. so we in our maner haue a beyenge / & knowe y ^t we haue a beynge. & are glad that we haue y ^t knowlege. Therfore vse thyselfe as the temple of god. for that y ^t is in the lyke to god / Sothly cheyef honoure & worshyp to god: is to worsyp & folowe hym. Yf y ^u be meke. thou folowest hym. For sothly the myn­de of a meke man is an holy temple to our lorde. & his herte is a chyef awter to hym. Thou worshyp peste him yf y ^u be mercyfull lyke as he is mercyfull to al. Sothly it is an acceptable hoste & oblacyon to god to do well to all men for the loue of Cryste. do all thynges euyn as the chylde of god. that y ^u maye be acceptable to him y ^t hathe vouchesauf to call the his chylde. In all thynge y ^t thou doost knowe well & haue in mynde. y ^t almyghty god is presente / ther­fore beware y ^t nother thy syghte ne thy thought a­byde or tary in vnleful delectacyon or plesyre or· & be wel ware y ^t thou nother saye ne doo thynge y ^t is vnlefull for noo maner of plesyre or lykynge / leest thou offende god in ony dede or in ony token ther­to. The whiche is presente in euery place. & behol­deth what someuer thou doost Sothly thou haste nede [Page] to be kepte well. For thou arte alwaye before the eyen of a Iuge that seeth all thynges: Thou arte alwaye with hym in surete yf thou rule thy self / so y ^t he vouchesauf to be with the. Yf he be not with y ^e by grace he is nyghe to the by vengaunce / but woo to the yf it be so with the. Ye but woo to the yf it he be not so wyth the. For almyghty god is wroth w ^t hym y ^t he chastyseth not whan he synneth. For hym that he amendeth not by correccion. he suffreth pe­rysh in euerlastynge dampnacyon.

¶Of mannes herte. And of prouffyte in redynge holy thynges. ca ^o. ix ^o.

CErteyne it is that deth tretyth the in euery place. the deuyll layeth watche to take thy soule whan it is departed fro the body. but for all that be thou not aferde. For almyghty god yf thou be his seruaunte shall delyuer the bothe fro deth & fro the deuyll God is a true & a faythfull felowe. He forsaketh not them y ^t truste in him. but yf he be forsaken before. Sothly he is lefte and forsaken whan the herte renneth with a wauerynge & vnstable mynde by shrewde & vnprouffytable thoughtes Therfore we oughte to kepe it well. to holde it & rule it well with grete besynesse & dylygence. that al­myghty god maye reste therin. For amonge all cre­atures vnder heuen that ben occupyed with worldly vanytees there is noo thynge founde more hyghe / [Page] and noble / & more lyke to god than is the herte of man. Wherfore our lorde seketh or desyreth none other thynge of the but a clene herte. Therfore make it pure / and clene by pure & clene confessyon and besy prayer / that thou mayste see god with a clene herte. by contynuell beholdynge of hym. Soo that thou be subget cyrcumspecte. & attendaunt to hym in euery place. Dresse well thy maners & condycy­ons that thou maye be quyete and restfull in thyself Loue all men And behaue the amyable and good­ly to all men. that thou maye be pesyble & restfull and the chylde of god: Thus thou shalte be a good & a holy. meke and a true monke. And whan y ^u arte suche one / I praye y ^e remembre me. Woo is me / for I saye thyse thynge. & I do them not And yf I do them somtyme. I perceuer not & abyde in them. I haue thyse in mynde. & kepe them not in my lyf. I haue them in wordes and sermons. but in maners I shewe y ^e lawe of god alday in my herte & mouth but I do contrary therto. I rede in it both of relygyon & prayer. & I loue more redynge than prayer. neuer y ^e lesse y ^e scrypture of god techeth no thynge but to kepe relygyon. to loue vnyte / & to haue charyte: but I wretche renne rather to redynge than to pray [...] . I haue more plesyre to rede than to here masse. ¶Some tyme some man taryeth for me desyryn­ge to speke with me for his necessytees. and I take a boke that he or he wolde haue & rede theron. and [Page] in redynge therin lefte y ^e fruyte of charyte. the affeccyon of pety / the teeres of cōpuncyon. the prouffyte of masses / & the cōtemplacyon of heuenly thynges Neuerthelesse there is noo thynge in this lyfe that sauoureth swetter / Noo thynge is more gredyly ta­ken. Noo thynge spareth soo the mynde frome the worlde. Noo thynge strengtheth the soule so agaynste themptacyons. Noo thynge exyteth and helpeth a man soo to good werke and good laboure: as re­dynge and prayer.

¶Of wauerynge and vnstablenesse of the mynde and thoughtes. ca ^o. .xij ^o.

Good lorde haue mercy of me / for I synne there moost were I sholde make amendys for my synnes. Ofte tymes whan I praye in the chyr­che: I take not hede what I saye. Sothly I praye with my mouth. but whyle my mynde is wauerynge withoute I lese the fruyte of my prayer. My bo­dy is within. but my herte is withoute: And ther­fore I lese that I saye. For it prouffyteth lytyll to synge oonly wyth voys. wythoute thentencyon of herte. And therfore it is grete peruersyte & frowardnesse / Ye and moche foly. and greatly to be lothed. whan we presume to speke with the lorde of mageste in prayer. And lyke as we had no wytte or vnderstondynge we torne awaye our ceres / and torne our [Page] herte and mynde to vncouenable fables & tryfles / For it is outrageous foly & greuously to be punys­shed. whan moost vyle & fylthy duste disdeyneth to here the maker of heuen & erthe spekynge to hym / Sothly there can noo tonge expresse the suffraunce & gentylnes of our maker & mercyfull lorde▪ y ^t day­ly beholdeth vs wretches tornynge awaye our eres closynge our harde hertes: And yet for all y ^t he cryeth to vs sayenge. O ye syn̄ers torne ayen & remembre yourself. take hede & see. for I am god. God speketh to me in psalmody & I to him. And yet whan I saye the psalme I take none hede of whome the psalme is. Therfore I doo grete Iniury & wronge to god. whan I pray him to here thy prayer / y ^t whyche I myself y ^t byd it here not. I praye hym to take hede to me. & sothly I myselfe take nother hede to myselfe ne to hym. But I do that that is moche worse / for I lay tofore his syght abhomynable stenche & fylth. whyle I reuolue in my herte foule thynges & vnprouffytable. There is noo thynge in me more vnstable & more fleynge than is myn herte. y ^t whiche as ofte as it leuyth me & rennyth fro me by euyll thoughte. soo oft it offendeth god. Myn herte is a vayne herte an vnstable & vnserchable whan it is layed by his owne abytrement & lacketh y ^e helpe of god. it maye not be stedfaste in itselfe. but of all mouable thynges is moost mouable. of all vyo­lable thynges moost vyolable. It is destracte & with [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] drawen by Infynyte thynges. And rennyth hyther & thyther by innumerable wayes. And whan it se­keth reste amonge dyuers thynges it fyndeth none but bydyth styll lyke a wretche in laboure. voyde of reste. It concordyth not with it selfe. but discordeth frome itself. It skyppeth from itself. it altereth and chaungeth the wyll: It chaungeth coūseylle. it edy­fyeth & buylded newe thynges / distroyed olde thynges. buylded ayen that it hath dystroyed And yet it chaūgeth ayene & eftsoone / & ordreth afterwarde y ^e same thynges ofte tymes on other faccyons. For it woll & woll not. & soo it taryeth neuer in one astate But lyke as a mylle renneth aboute swyftly & forsaketh noo thynge but gryndeth what someuer is put therin. And yf there be noughte put therin. it cō sumeth & wasteth itselfe. So is myne herte alway meuynge & neuer resteth. but wether I slepe or wa­ke it is alwaye dremynge & thynkynge what som­euer cometh therto. And lyke as grauell or sonde yf it be put in to a mylle. hurteth & wasteth it / & pyt­ [...]he maketh it fowle. & chaffe occupyeth in vayne. soo bytter thoughtes trouble myne herte. maketh it foule & vnclene. chaūge it. inquyete it / & make it wery. Thus myne herte whyles it hydeth not Ioye to come & seketh not the helpe of our lorde. it is dra­wen ferre fro the loue of heuenly thynges. & is occupyed with the loue of erthly thynges. whan it slyp­peth fro them & is wrapped in thyse. vanyte recey­ueth [Page] it. curyosyte ledeth it / couetyse tyllyth it. pleyly [...]e dysceyueth it. flesshly luste defoyleth it / enuy vexeth it. wrath trowbleth it. heuynes tormenteth it. & thus by vnhappy falles it is drowned in all vyces / For it hath leest on god▪ y ^t whiche myght haue suffysed it. It wandreth in many thynges. & seketh he­re & there where it maye rest. but it findeth no thynge y ^t may suffyse it tyll it torne ayene to hȳ. it is cō duyted fro thought in to thought. & chaūged by dyuers desyres / y ^t at the leest way it maye be fulfylled wyth y ^e varyacion & chaunge of thynges by whose qualyte it maye not be suffysed. Thus vnstable is y ^e wretchydnesse of mannys herte whan y ^e grace of god is withdrawen. And whā it torned ayene to it selfe. & discusseth al that it hath thought. it fyndeth noughte: For it was no werke but thoughte. y ^t ma­keth many thynges of noughte.

¶The cause. & also the remedy of wauerynge of y ^e mynde. And of confessyon.

IN this wyse sothly dysceyueth the ymagynacyon causyd by dysceytes of deuylles. Almy­ghty god byddeth me gyue him myne herte. and by cause I am not obedyente to him whan he cōmaū ­deth. I am rebell to myselfe / and therfore I maye not subdue me to myself. tyl I be subget to hȳ & serue myself ayenst my wyll. the whyche wyll not ser­ue him w ^t my wyll. My herte maketh more in one [Page] momente than all men in the worlde maye make perfyte in one yere. I am not vnyed & onyd with god. & therfore I am deuyded in myself. I may not be vnyed & made one with hym but by charyte / ne subdued to hym but by humylyte. Ne I can not be very meke but be truthe. Thenne it is expedyente y ^t I dyscusse & examyn my selfe in truthe. y ^t I maye knowe how vyle. how freyle: & how slypper & vn­stable I am. And whan I knowe all my wretchyd­nes. it is necessarye y ^t I cleue to hym that hath ma­de me / withoute whome I maye nought / & without whome I maye do noughte. And by cause I wente fro god by synnynge. I may not torne ayene to him but by true confessyon: Therfore it behoueth to cō ­fesse that y ^t is to be confessyd. For I neuer confessid my synnes by the same manere & the same entente y ^t I synned. Ne I remembre not all. what for oldenes / & what for multytude of them. And those y ^t I cōfessyd. I confessyd not clene for fowlnes of them Also I haue deuyded my confessyon that I myghte shewe dyuerse synnes to dyuerse preestys. And soo I lacked soryeuenesse y ^t I hoped to haue comen to by partyes. For it is a cursed feynynge to deuyde syn­nes. & pare them aboue / & pulle them not vp by the rotes. Sothly confessyon is not prouffytable but yf it be in truthe of mouth & clennesse of herte. And y ^t there maye be thre to bere vs wytnesse in heuen. the fader y ^e sone / & y ^e holy goost. Lete vs make preestys [Page] wytnes of our hertes and mouthes that euery wor­de maye stonde in the mouthe of two or thre wytnes Yf y ^u saye it is ynough to me to confesse my synnes to god only. For the preest maye not absolue me fro my synnes. To this / not I. but saynt Iames answereth sayenge. Confesse your synnes one to a nother For it is accordynge y ^t we whiche by synne haue be sturdy & frowarde to god. meke ourself by confessyon to his prestys & mynystres. And man y ^t was made after thymage of god nedyd noo medyatoure & meane to kepe him in grace. now he may not recouer it whan it is loste but by a man a medyatour & meane. Therfore euery synner sorowe & syghe & take feere & drede for his synnes. Lete hym laboure besyly & seke helpers. intercessours / meanes to pray for hym. Lete hym fall downe lowe & mekely to man y ^t wolde not stonde mekely nyghe to his maker. for y ^t is moost helthfull. that he be penytente & sory in his herte / and confesse his synnes & trespace w ^t his mouthe y ^t god the whiche before is nyghe him by grace to prycke his herte to penaunce. then̄e be nye by mercy y ^t he may yeue the cōfessyon man foryeuenes of his synne. And yf it be so y ^t perauenture the synner be penytente / & in the artycle of nede maye not haue cōfessyon. we oughte to byleue faythfully y ^t the hyghe preest fulsfylleth in hym y ^t the mortall myghte not. And in this caas it is done & fulfylled without doubte agaynst god y ^t that the man truely [Page] wolde haue fulfylled but he myght not. for compē ­ce or dyspysynge lettyd and wythdrewe not his confessyon. but necessyte.

¶Accusynge by cōfessyon of dyuers syn̄es. xiiij ^o.

IN the chapytre where I ought to haue amended my synnes. I haue addyd and put synnes to synnes. Whan I accused or complayned of for them haue other excused them by some meane. or ellys I haue al togyder denyed them. Or ellys I haue defended them. and answered vnpacyently and withoute reson & that is worste of all. Syth there is noo synne wherwyth I am not somwhat fylyd. or myght be fylyd / it is ryghte y ^t all occasyon remened & put awaye I promyse mekely tamende how someuer and of whome someuer I be accused or cō playned of y ^t I maye therby be delyuered fro synne done & to come. ¶Take hede here in aswell to the order as to the nombre / for we go comynly fro lesse euyll to the more. I ferynge the multytude of myne owne synnes. haue drade to repreue transgressyons & trespasses of other. And therfore I haue be an auctoure of deth. for I haue not expelled & thruste out venym. y ^t I by due callynge on myghte haue putte oute. I haue had indygnacion ayenste them y ^t repreuyd me of vyces. & I haue hated those y ^t I ought to haue loued. Those thynges y ^t noyed me or dyspley­sed [Page] I haue desyred theyr distruccion. & yet I knewe that they were good in theyr nature & kynde. & made of a gode maker. but they were noysom to me by cause I was euyll & vsed them euyll. For there is noo thynge contrary to me but I myself It is myne what someuer maye noye me. and I am a bur­then to myselfe. Also I haue desyred y ^t god sholde not knowe my synnes.: or y ^t he wolde not. or that he myghte not punysshe them. And so I wolde god to haue be vnwyse. vnryghtwys / & impotent y ^t why­che yf we were he sholde not be god. There is noo pryde aboue my pryde. Therfore the wordes of my trespasses ben ferre fro my helth. Sothly my pryde is suspecte to god / and it may not be y ^t I with it be torned ayene to grace. For theyr lodgynge is dyuers And they may not dwelle both togyder in one sou­le the whiche wolde not dwelle to gyder in heuen. Sothly pryde began in heuen. but it is as vnmyndfull of y ^e waye y ^t it fell by. myght not torne thyther afterwarde. Whan thayr was trowbled with reyne or grete colde. of grete heete I grutchyd wyckedly ayenste god. For soth all thynges that we receyue to the vse of lyfe. we torne to the vse of syn̄e. And therfore ryght is y ^t we the whiche synne in all thynges be smyten & punysshed in all thynges. I haue often tymes at diuyne seruyce broken my voys that I myghte synge the swetter. Ofte tymes I had more playsyre in mesurynge of the voyce. thenne in com­punccion [Page] of y ^e herte. Sothly almyghty god fro whome none vnlefull dede is hyd. desyreth no clernesse of voys. but clennes of herte. For whan the synger is aboute to please the people w ^t his voys. he prouoketh our Lorde to wrath with his shrewde maners I haue ofte tyme by grete importunyte & subtylte or wylnes of mynde gooth lycence of my prelate to speke or to do some other thynge lyke a wretche. takynge no hede that he dysceyueth & begyleth hym­self / that other openly or preuely is aboutwarde y ^t his goostly fader maye enioyne hym that y ^t he desyreth. I haue ofte tymes desyred to gretly an edle or a knyfe. or some suche thynge of lytyl valour / & haue not confessed it. for I hoped not it had be synne by cause of the lytell valoure. But sothly it is lytel dyffrence whether a vyle or a precyous thynge be desyred whan thaffeccion or desyre is ylyke corrupt For the knyfe is not vyce. but the vnlefull appetyte of y ^e knyfe. Ne golde is not vyce▪ but the vnlefull desyre of golde. I haue not trauayled in labour somoche as I myghte or sholde haue done. I haue be so ydle in scylence that in that ydelnesse I thought no prouffyte of myne neyghboure. I soughte not y ^e cō templacion of god. Sothly he prouffyteth lytyll to hymselfe that prouffyteth not other whan he maye I haue bosted me of ryghtwysnesse / wenynge there hadde ben a ryghte grete vertue where was a grete falle of synne. Also I made vyces of vertues. For [Page] ryghtwysnesse whan he excedyth & passeth hys du­te & manere or mesure engendreth the vyce of cru­elte. And ouer moche pety & pacyence bryngeth for the brekynge of dyscyplyne & wantonnes. And soo oft tymes y ^t is vyce. the whiche some men wene is vertue. As a remysse. vnquyknesse / some men wene be mekenes. And y ^e vyce of slougth. falsely feyneth to be the vertue of quyetnesse & reste. I feyned me to be that y ^t I was not. I sayd y ^t I wolde y ^t I wold not. I sayd one thynge with my mouth. & I thou­ghte a nother with my herte. And soo I helde my wulffysshe cōscyence vnder a shepys skynne. For a wulffyshe conscyence is a slake & slowe conuersacyon. beestly cogytacyon / feyned cōfessyon. short & sel­dom compūccion. obedience without deuocion / prayer withoute intencion. redynge without edyfyeng. & prouffyte / A seruaūte withoute cyrcūspeccion & ta­kynge hede. O how harde ben thyse to me y ^t I spe­ke. for in spekynge of them I stryke myn owne sel­fe· Neuertheles by cause I denye not myself to be a synner. but knowe my synne. perauenture agaynste god y ^t meke Iuge. this knowlege of synne shal purchaas me foryeuenes. I shall tell therfore. I shall tell my wretchydnes. yf perauēture his greate pety meue him. I shall tell the my synne: for y ^e cōfessyon of synne is the begynnynge of helth. I haue a grea­te crowne & rounde clothynge. I kepe the rule of fastynge. I kepe y ^e houre of seruyce. but myne hert [Page] is ferre fro my god. I beholdȳge y ^t outwarde thynges. deme y ^t all thynges ben sauf & well in me / not felynge the inwarde worme that gnaweth within. Straungers haue eten & wasted my strengthe. & I haue not knowen. and therfore I walkynge altogyder in those thynges y ^t ben outwarde. & vnknowynge myne inwarde thynges. am effused & spylte as water / & am brought to nought. forgetyng thynges paste. Neglygent of thynges present / not preuydȳg thynges to come. I am vnkynde to benefyces & go­de dedes. Prone & redy to euyll thynges / & slowe to gode thȳges. Yf I beholde myself inly I see y ^t I am vnclene. And yf I beholde not myselfe inly. I know not my selfe. And whan I beholde myself. I maye not suffre myself / I fynde soo moche in me that is worthy rebuke & confusyon. And the ofter & more suptylly y ^t I dyscusse my selfe. the more abhomynacion I fynde in corners of myne hert. For syth I began to synne. I coude neuer escape one daye wyth oute synne. but I adde & put to synnes to synnes. & I haue them before myne eyen / & yet I sorowe not I see thynges y ^t I sholde be ashamed of. & yet I am not ashamed. I beholde thynges to be sorowed. but I sorowe not y ^t is a sygne of deth & token of dampnacion. For a membre or lymē y ^t felyth no payne is deed. And an vnsensyble soore y ^t is without felynge is vncurable. I am lyghte & wanton, and I correcte not myselfe: but I torne ayene dayly to synnes y ^t I [Page] 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 [...]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 cōcyence 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 y ^t 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 cōscyence. 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 y ^e tourmentynge / Soothly as many euyll pleysyres as there ben. there shalbe 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. ca ^o. xv ^o.

HElpe me my lorde god for myne enmyes / y ^t 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 / y ^t 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 y ^e 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 [Page] 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 y ^e soule is snared lymed / & tyed y ^t 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 y ^t 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. [Page] 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 y ^e body: the flesshe speketh to me. And whan the herte is occupyed wyth vayne thoughtes / as w ^t 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 y ^e 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 y ^• deuyll. we glad angellys. and honoure god. Our lorde [Page] 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 / ca ^o. xvi ^o.

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 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 y ^t [Page] 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. ca ^o. .xvij ^o.

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 [Page] we sholde lyue. soo that whan the body begynneth to be deuoured w ^t wormes. the soule maye make mery w ^t sayntes in heuen. The spyryte sholde be dressyd toward y ^e 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 y ^t 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 shalbe in gladnesse & Ioye. And men fe­lyshypt to angels shal flouryshe euermore without infyrmyte of body. There shall be inyfnyte myrth [Page] euerlastyng blysse / wherin that y ^t 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 y ^t 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 y ^t 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 ca ^o. xviij ^o.

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 y ^t 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. [Page] 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 [Page] 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 y ^t 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 y ^e 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 / [Page] ¶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 y ^e letters of [Page] dethe fro the conscyence. what prouffyte thyse thȳ ­ges 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 y ^e 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.