falle to hit than it lyfteth vp the eyen to hym cryeth mercy for myspendynge of tyme and promyseth it wyll amende And with grete betynge at the laste hit is brought to the booke and to lerne well the lesson Thus prosperyte closeth the eyen of the soule to god aÌ„d the rodde of aduersyte openeth them and maketh them to knowe hym Wherfore sayth the prophete ¶ CognoscetÌ„ dnÌ„s iudicia faciens ¶ Our lorde shall be knowen in makynge Jugement of punysshement payne aÌ„d thus many a soule to whom he sendeth payne trybulacioÌ„ in this mortall lyfe he preserueth them fro y e JugemeÌ„t oâ— euerlastynge dampnacion Therfore sayth the apostle ¶ Cum iudicamur a deo corripimur ne cuÌ„ hoc muÌ„do daÌ„pnemur ¶ whan the JugemeÌ„t of god is shewed vpon vs by temporal payÌ„e for secrete causes that we knowe not but his wysedome knoweth whiche sendeth payne to no man ne womaÌ„ but for grete cause Whan we are thus punysshed thaÌ„ we are correcte by cause we shall not be dampned with this worlde that is to saye with worldely folke whiche set ther hertes on the felycyte plesures of this worlde so gretely y e in maner they lytell remembre ne desyre the plesure y t is ordeyÌ„ed with god for the holy soules whiche are y e despysers of this worldly felicyte A woo woo many they be whiche haue lytel or none worldely trybulacyon for moche sorowe is ordeyned to them in tyme comynge sorowe perpetual except y e grete mercy of god for ther is none y t lyueth so InnoceÌ„tly in this lyf but they deserue gre te payÌ„e both by coÌ„myssyon of thynges whiche they ought to do do them not And also by coÌ„myssyon of thynges whiche they sholde not do yet they do them Wherfore yf they haue no punysshement in this lyfe grete punysshement is ordeyned for them after this lyfe lacke of punysshement maketh y e soule that it forgeteth hymselfe god as it is sayd byfore lyke as it is rehersed in y e boke of Danyel that Nabugodonosor the kyng of Assyrye was soo ferre drawen by worldely prosperite fro the knowle ge of god that our lorde to the knowlege of Nabu godonosor to y e syght of man chauÌ„ged him in to the symylytude of an oxe vii yere he was amon ge y e bestes But after this grete punysshemen the loked vp to henen with the syght of his soule askin ge mercy of god And after that he was restored to his owne forme dygnyte whiche he hadde afore By goostly vndstaÌ„dynge those folke lyft vp theyr eyen to heuen whiche haue theyr medytacyons to god ordre theyr loue to hym and knowlege hym theyr souerayne lorde of whom desceÌ„deth all their veyle grace to ê“ceuere in vertuous lyuynge For lyke as all flodes come of the see lyke wyse all graces benefyces bodely goostly come of god lyke as they retourne ayen to the see so we ought to referre ordre them all to hym not pryncypally to our plesure as the prophete sayth ¶ Quod de manu tua accepimê° hoc reddimê° tibi ¶ That thynge that we haue taken of thyn honde that we gyue to the. Thus suche gyftes as we receyue of our lorde yf we spende them in the werkes of vertue gyue them to the poore in the name of hym than we gyue hyÌ„ them ayen as he sayth hymselfe ¶ Quicqd fecistis vni ex minimis meis in noiÌ„e meo michi fe cistis ¶ What so euer ye doo to ony of the leste in my name ye do that to me wherfore suche as refer re gyue the goodes that they resceyue of our lorde to hyÌ„ ayen they contynue the floodes of grace For as they gyue to hym he is so lyberal that he caÌ„ not but gyue ayen suche thynges as he knoweth moost expedyent to his louers And yf the flood of his boÌ„tyfulnesse come not to hym ayen than the flood of grace is stopped by our defauâ— For lyke as he is the begynnynge endynge of all goodnesse whiche cometh of him muste be retorned fynally ayen Thus by the dedes of thy lyfe y t confessys shewes y t ther is one god in these y t thankest hym worshypest hym Many ther are whiche do the contrarye as the apostle sayth ad TituÌ„ Ther are many whiche saye they knowe god but they denye hyÌ„ in ther dedes of ther lyuynge for theyr lyfe is abhoiable in the syght of god they lyue wretchedly as folke that had no fayth rather as y e reprobate despysed enemyes of god than lyke vnto his childer frendes ¶ Mul ti fatentÌ„ se nosce dnÌ„m factis auteÌ„ negaÌ„t cuÌ„ sint abhoiÌ„abiles iÌ„credibiles ad oeÌ„ opus reprobi ¶ Thou whiche hast gyuen thy lorde god ayen suche goodes as y u hast receyued of hym at the houre of deth thou shalt be lyghtly delyuered of thy acouÌ„te for in this lyfe y u delyuerest y e of these goodes y t y u hast receyued of hym pute them in his handes ayen And therfore hit shall be sayd to the in that houre lyke as it is wryten in the gospell of Mathew My trusty ser uauÌ„te thou haste ben faythfull true in fewe thynges that I dyd gyue the now I shall make the lorde of many thynges entre into the Joye of thy lorde Than thou that haste myspended the goodes of our lorde to thy plesure contrarye to y e wyll of hym and contrarye to thy profyte thou may be woo for harde acounte shall be layde ayenst the. Wherfore yf thou amende the not thou shalt haue strayt passage to thy saluacyon wherfore yf our lorde sende the trybulacyon for myspeÌ„dynge vaynly the tyme of thy youth of suche goodes as he hath sent the in this he shewed that he wolde haue the saued and that thou sholde amende thy lyfe and ones begynne to loke vpwarde to thy mayster for abuse the he is whiche stryketh the. Our lord whan he seeth that the rebelle hertes wyl not tourne to hym by kyndenesse whiche he sheweth to them in his gyftes than he beteth them to make them come to hym by trybulacyon and sharpenesse and yet ofteÌ„tymes they wyll not come to hym as he sayth in the booke of ysaye ¶ Populus non est reuersus ad percuicenteÌ„ se ¶ The people tourne not to hym that beteth hem For in sekenesse ther mynde renneth more for helpe by man in phesyke than it doth to his helpe and whan wronges and Iniuryes be done to them they are redye to reuenge them aÌ„d to do one shrew de tourne for an other and are not redye mercyfully to forgyue it for his sake that they myght obteyne forgyuenes of hym And so vnderneth y e rodde of trybulacoÌ„u they come not to correccyoÌ„ for they loke not as they are bouÌ„de by the benefyce of their creacyon redempcoÌ„n to kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes
in me sayth oure lorde I shall delyuer hym Than y u that haste almyghty goddes helpe in thy trybulacoÌ„n abydynge with y e to helpe the whan the trybulacoÌ„n doth assoyle the resorte than with harty desyre to the presence of thy lorde god besechynge hym for grace to take hit soo that he may be pleased with the thou to haue specyall helpe ayenst thyn aduersaryes by y e good takynge of trybulacyoÌ„ sythen our lorde cometh to the tribulacoÌ„n the more thy trybulacion groweth theby more nygh he draweth to ye. But peraueÌ„tu re y u wylt saye here Syr the preseÌ„ce of trybulacyoÌ„ I fele but the presence of my lorde god whiche as the ê“phete sayth bereth me felyshyp in trybulacioÌ„ I fele not for yf he made me fele ioyfulnesse of herte by his preseÌ„ce lyke as trybulacioÌ„ maketh me to fele bytternesse of herte I sholde be wel coÌ„tent to suffre trybulacioÌ„ gladly I wolde resceyue hit Also an other thynge stoneth me gretly for byfore y e trybulacoÌ„n came thynges contrarye to my wyll I had more felynge in god more plesure as it semeth me than in y e tyme of trybulacoÌ„n How is it thaÌ„ that in tribulacoÌ„n he is more nygh to me I lesse fele hym for a solucyon of this doubte y u shalt vnderstande that y u haste y e presence of god where euer thou be for y e preseÌ„ce of god his dyuynyte fulfylleth heuen erthe as he sayth by y e prophete Jeremye ¶ Celum terraÌ„ ego impleo ¶ Wherfore thou ought to be ryght well auysed in euery corner what thou doost or what thou sayest for thou haste thy â–ª Juge present that shall dampne the or saue y e but specyally he is preseÌ„te with the whan thou art in his grace and growest in vertue As whaÌ„ thou feleste that by grete temptacyon and trybulacyoÌ„ thou settest lesse by the worldely vanyte and by thy life and gyuest the more to prayers fastynge watchynge almesse dede doynge pylgremage goynge to redyÌ„ge of good bokes of vertue of holy medytacyons to haue thy mynde more conteyned to god with wyl to serue hym better whaÌ„ thou felest these profytes growe in the than thou felest our lorde gostely These profytes our lorde maketh by teÌ„ptacyon and trybulacyon as saynt Poule sayth ¶ Be nâ—dictus deus qui facit cuÌ„ temptacione prouentuÌ„ ¶ Blessyd be god that werketh by temptacoÌ„n profyte Thou wylt saye peraduenture that thou haste hurte somtyme by trybulacyoÌ„s for somtyme thou fallest by temptacyon and louest vertue I answe to this that yf thou haue a wyll fynally to do well or wolde haue a wyll to do wel whiche is one of y e grete tokens thou shalt be the childe of saluacyon than standynge thou be y e electe and chosen childe of god what someuer happen to the thou shalt haue wele therby not withstandynge that thou doost dedely synne yet our lorde shall worke a weyle the vpon As the apostle sayth ¶ Diligentibê° dnÌ„m oia coopantÌ„ in bonuÌ„ hus qui scâ—m ê“posituÌ„ vocati sunt sancti ¶ To suche as loue god all thynge retorneth to theyr weyle and specyally to suche as are the electe childern of god or for suche as be the chosen chyldern of god after they haue falleÌ„ in to dedely synne they fele in themselfe rumours and bytternesse of consyence they wyll be coÌ„fessed therof thei sette lesse by themselfe seynge they are but wretched synnérs They set lesse by dygnytees and worshyppes of this worlde for they thynke theÌ„selfe be worthy to haue no worshypes but rather to haue grete shame rebuke they set lesse by ryche reparell and clothynge They set lesse by costely and delycate fedyÌ„nge of the bodye for they thyÌ„ke they haue deserued rather bodely payne than plesure Also seynge how they were brought to synne they are more wyse to auoyde suche occasyons herafter Also they loue god more that after theyr falle taketh them to grace ayen and of very loue they drede more to offende hym And thus many that falle tosynne come to more grace than some y t haue not suche falle lyke as Mary magdaleyn in heuen aboue is maÌ„y that keped in this lyfe coÌ„tynually theyr virgynyte I saye not this to gyue coÌ„forte to ony soule for tosynne in hope that they shall come to more grace For who cometh to suche grace who not it is not in themselfe but in god And not withstandynge many come to suche grace after grete synne Yet those that contynue in Innocencye maye haue this grace and moche more in that that they are vel occupyed the tyme that the other were wretchedly occupyed by synne And soo that tyme they wynne vpon theym that falle Also our lorde is feled by consolacyon and by comforte whiche he sendeth y e tyme of trybulacyon Many a soule is loste without caunseyll and conforte of man whiche our lorde of his grete mercy sodaynly doth coÌ„forte that they thynke for the tyme the trouble is cléne gone fro them The apostle sayth ¶ Sicut passioÌ„es xpÌ„i habundant in nobis sic ê“ xpÌ„m habundat consolacio nostra ¶ Lyke as the paynes of cryste haboÌ„de in vs so habondeth in vs consolacyon by hym aÌ„d suche as haue synned whan they haue grace of tee res wepynge for theyr synnes with the same ryseth a spyrytuell Joye in god y t whiche gyueth theÌ„ suche grace to be sory for theyr syÌ„nes As sayÌ„t Austen sayth the synner soroweth for synne of his sorowe he doth Joye Euery soule that conteyneth in vertuous lyuynge ought to be coÌ„tent though he fele no grete goostly swetnesse for comoÌ„ly our lorde sendeth hit to suche as he seeth are wek to bere grete labour and temptacyons and by hit he comforteth them as by mylke the childe is nourysshed But suche as be myghtely growen in grace and in vertue he sendeth them fedynge by bytter teÌ„ptacyons and trybularyoÌ„s as saint Poule sayth ¶ Perfectoâ— est solidus cibus qui habeÌ„t sensus exercitatos ad discrecioneÌ„ bom et mali ¶ And the more a soule hath of goostly swetnesse in this lyfe so moche lesser hit shallhaue in the lyfe to come As he that taketh parte of his wageafore his terme daye the lesse he shall receyue whan his terme daye cometh Suche ofteÌ„tyme as our lorde loueth best he sendeth leste goostly delectacyon but leueth theÌ„ only to theyr myghty fayth and by that to good werker of lyuynge For in this lyfehe kepeth pÌ„uy his loue bycause he wylle kepe them lowe y t they shall not make to moche of themselfe And yet to some whiche he loueth specyally he sendeth grete swetenesse in goostly felynge of hym and by wondre reuelacyons And oftentyme more to the profyte to quyckeÌ„ other to his seruyce fayth whiche knowen not suche wondre workynges than to the profyte of themselfe But after this lyfe he wyl make openly knowen to all the worlde euery dede of vertue And what
¶ Precurre prior in domuÌ„ tuaÌ„ ¶ That is to saye Whan thou seest the worldely vanytees renne in to thyn herte renne thou byfore and stoppeth them and shyt y e dore of thyn herte that they haue no lodgynge ther by remembrauÌ„ce of the hurtes that they do ther. For they kepe the herte fro y e loue of god fro the loue of themselfe in ordre to god fro the loue of vertue from holy medytacoÌ„ns from holy desyres fro deuoute prayers from dedes of pe naunce And comonly whan the vanytees occupye it is dysposed to no vertue or to lytell Suche men wymen as moost labour to gete to kepe the plesures goodes of this worlde labour lytell to kepe ther herte but let it renne where it wyll these are grete foles for fynally these shall lese All these tran sytorye vanytees they labour moost to gete aÌ„d kepe and also themselfe from the eternyte of Joye be brought to perpetual payne in defaute y t they keped norther herte as they sholde haue done the tyme of this lyfe And those whiche gyueth lytel kepe to the wordely vanytees prosperyte but moost they applye theyr mynde how they may theyr hertes kepe wel accupyed These after the passynge of all worldely pleasures shall haue theyr hertes replenysshed with the moost delycate plesauÌ„tes hertely delytes of the glorye of god of the Inestymable blysse and Joy of the felycyte of angelles sayntes in heuen These whiche ordeyne them moost specyally to kepe ther hertes lytell sett by those thynges whiche worldely folke moost desyre are called foles in this worlde but they are called wyse of god theyr wysedom shall be coÌ„mended of all the heuenly multytude in the kyngdome of god For this cause sayth Salomon in his prouerbis ¶ Omni custodia serua cor tuuÌ„ quia ex ipÌ„o vita ê“cedit ¶ With all thy dyly gence kepe well thyn herte for therof cometh lyfe dampnable deth cometh yf it be not well keped This hert is the longynge of thy lorde god whiche hath grete plesure to abyde in it whan it is clenly keped fro fylthy mocyons of synne as he sayth in the boke of Prouerbes ¶ Delicite mee esse cuÌ„ filiis hoim ¶ My delyte is to be with the childern of men For theyr loue he becam a childe hymselfe borne of the virgyne Marye wherfore lyke as y u desyrest to be welcome to his house see that y u kepe well thyne house of thyn herte and oftentymes tourne therto dresse it y t he w t no thynge ther be offended but y t he may haue a plesure for to beholde it as he sayth in Canticê ¶ Reuertere vt intueamur te ¶ Torne ayen y t we may beholde the. He sayth not y t I may be holde the but y t we may beholde the that is to saye yf y u see well to thy selfe than I shall haue a grete plesure to see the for than I shall garnysshe thy sou le with my grace to thy moost profyte my plesure Than I exhorte the whiche retorneth not to thy selfe as y u sholde take pacyently the trybulacyon whiche our lorde sendeth the to the entente that y u shalt gyue good attendauÌ„ce to the kepynge of thyn herte forsake the loue of those wretched or vayne plesures whiche let thyn herte fro the loue of hym Thou thynkest y t thy trouble payne gretely hurteth the â–ª but it is the gretest profyte helpe that y u mayst haue in this lyfe the gretest token y t our lorde loueth the of this y u sholde be moost glad for his loue y u shalt fynde fynally to thy moost Joye comforte after this transytorye payne trouble This trybulacyon bryngeth the bothe to god to thy selfe lyke as thy vayne plesures in prosperyte had dryuen the fro bothe And for this cause payne trybulacy on is called the bande of god for it tyeth the to god lyke as prosperyte louseth the from-hym and byndeth to suche wretched peryllous liberte of y e worlde and in these bandes thou shalt lerne to knowe god and thy selfe and to chaunge thy lyfe in to an other maner of lyuynge And whan thou by holy customes of this lyfe art tyed to hym than he wyll tye the by payne to kepe the at home with hymselfe And thus he sendeth trybulacyon not only to brynge the herte home to themselfe but also to kepe it at home that it go not fro themselfe Thy lorde god deleth gracyousely with the whan he called the fro plente to pouerte I mene not that he make the to lose all thy good but whan he maketh the to sette lytell by thy good so that thyn herte is poore and naked without them that is to saye without grete affeccyon and loue of home Soo sayth Salomon ¶ Est pauper in diuicus ¶ Ther are some whiche are poore in rychesses that is to saye whiche that sette theyr herte in maner noo more on them than yf they hadde no rychesses To this goostly pouerte the whiche in the syght of almyghty god is moost habondaunt rychesse are the soules brought to hym whan that they are sore hunted by grete aduersyte and trouble and tyed to our lorde with the bande of trybulacyons And not withstandynge that our lorde kepeth the thus tyed that thou mayst not renne at thy wyll at large as y u haste ben acustomed afore tyme thynke not that thou loses therby ony lyberte but rather our lorde putteth the in more lyber te Ther is noo very perfyte lyberte of the soule but only in thynges of vertue This lyberte to renne w t thyn herte loue to vanytees or to synfull werkes of this lyfe this lyberte is thraldom not rmenda ble more than it is to suffre a seke man as he that is in an hote axes to ete drynke what he wyll desyre for his appetyte is so dysordred w t corrupt humours that comonly he desyreth those thynges whi che be mooste contrarye to his helth lyke wyse that soule is in a peryllous lyberte whiche at his owne plesure hath power to synne But whan our lorde by trybulacyon called it to hym to be the louer of vertue at lyberte this is the perfyte lyberte And y e other lyberte to synne is rather seruage for it maketh the soule seruauÌ„t to the deuyll fynally bryngeth to the bouÌ„dshyp of hym in helle And the lyber te of vertue bryngeth to the moost perfyte freedom of heuen Whan the phesycyan suffreth the pacyent to take what mete drynk y t his appetyte is moost to it is a sygne that he dyspeyreth of his helth co monly they wyll saye he is but a deed man wherfor let hym take what he wyll lyke wyse whan our lorde the grete phesycyan letteth the lyue after thy fles shely plesure maketh no restraynth by trybulacioÌ„ it is a
daye payne well taken shall stande for the payne of a yere in the which is conteyned CCC dayes as our lorde sayth by the ê“phete Ezechyell ¶ Diem ê“ aÌ„no dedâ— tibi ¶ I haue gyuen the a daye for a yere O how glad sholde y u be than of one dayes payne whiche delyuereth the fro the mo re bytter payne of a yere O how gentyll sholde y u take this payne whiche maketh to the suche a quytaunce sythen thy lorde whom thou art detter to of his grete mercy gentylnesse with this lytell delyuereth the fro the more therfore I couÌ„seyll the what payue that so euer thou suffre sette it in thy compet and beseche god that it may stande for thysy nne to acquyte the fro the grete paynes that thou haste de serued by synne Thus the theef whiche dyd haÌ„ge on the ryght hande of our lorde he tourned his her te to hym and by that payne well taken he was delyuered from all paynes and hadde the clere syght and fruycyon for euer of the moost gloryous trynyte Wo may that man or woman be y t whiche dayly multeplyeth dette bysynne and lytell or nought he payed by payne For nother he suffreth the payne mekely to his profyte as a verry penytent the whiche god sendeth vnto hym ne taketh to hym wylful ly ony paynefull thynge for to delyuer hym out of his dette and so he shall come afore the Juge at y e houre of deth charged with the hole counte in maner of his lyfe whiche shall be strayte to hym for and he laboure not for mercy whan the soule is in the bodye he shall neuer haue mercy after that it be departed ne be rebated of his deutees In helle shal noo deute be rebated neyther by longe ne by bytter sufferynge There shall lordes and ladyes wepe for theyr apareyll and the vayne beaute of her bodyes the whiche they hadde ordeyned to pryde to lechery and to vayne honours of the worlde There shall also euery craftes man wepe for the mysusynge of his crafte And also clerkes the whiche haue not well vsed theyr connynge to the auayle of the soules And marchauÌ„tes for theyr false peny worthes And synfull men and wymen whiche prouyde not here for theyr soules whiche are called marchauÌ„tes of the erthe for theyr labour is for to gete erthely solace and there they shall see that they haue but smale penyworthes for the labour of theyr lyfe for all the grete solace and hertely Joye shall be gone from them for euer But the heuenly marchauntes the whiche ordeyne theyr labours of this lyfe to bye the heuenly Joyes and than they shall see the grete penyworthes passynge all the estymacyons of all the erthely creatures the whiche they shall receyue of the handes of almyghty god in those grete Joyes of endelesse blysse as it is wryten in the booke of Sapyence ¶ Justâ— autem imperpetuum viuent et apud dominum est merces corum ¶ The ryghtwysse men shall lyue euerlastyngly and with our lorde is reserued the rewarde of theyr grete labours Than thou the whiche knowest thy selfe a synner without grete payne thou mayste not comethyder for none shall entre in to the kyngdome of heuen a fore that they haue payed all theyr dettes of payne for there is noo place to paye deute of payne For the grete and the perfyte felycyte of that kyngdom may suffre there noo mysery to be neyther of synne ne payne Wherfore all you the whiche are faythfull soules and byleue the promysse of god to haue Joye after this lyfe yf that ye wyll be ruled after his wyll I exhorte you praye you to receyue wyth a good herte these present trybulacyons and paynes that ye fele in this lyfe the whiche trybulacyoÌ„s delyuer you of grete paynes without coÌ„paryson whiche ye sholde suffre loÌ„ge tyme be retrayed fro your Joye after this lyfe And now yf ye take these lytell paynes Joyfully ye shall go lyghtly awaye hastly to y t Joyfull InherytauÌ„ce moost blyssed felouship there it shal not be possyble to suffre ony payne thy payne shall be lesser in comparyson to these Joyes than the leden couÌ„ters are whiche lye in the couÌ„te in comparyson to the grete soÌ„mes y t they lye fore as Ecclesyastes sayth ¶ Est q i multa redimit modico precio ¶ Some are whiche acquyte hem of grete dette by lytell payment And yf y u be of suche perfeccoÌ„n y t by the merytes of thyn holy lyuynge blyssed laboures taken for god y t y u haste deserued remyssyon of thy fynne art acquyted of thy payne yet yf trybulacoÌ„n come receyue it gentylly for it is not sende to the without grete cause other to the Incresse of thy merytes or to saue the fro synne whiche thou sholde falle in except by trybulacyon payne y t our lorde preserued the from hit For many whiche are Innocentes full perfyte sholde lose theyr InnoceÌ„cy aÌ„dvertue except they were keped by trybulacoÌ„n ThaÌ„ all ye whiche wolde go quyte out of this worlde froÌ„ all deute of paynes make your payment whyles y t this moneye of trybulacoÌ„n temporall is of so grete a valoure that a lytell of it more maye redeme you fro that InfeÌ„yte payne trybulacyon whiche shal neuer haue ende after this lyf and purchesse to you eternyte of Joye THe seuenth consolacoÌ„n is to remembre that trybulacyon strengthed the herte maketh it able to receyue the precyous gyftes ot grace For lyke as the hamer of the goldsmythe aÌ„d the betinge therof maketh the metall to streche on longe vnder his hande accordynge to his wyll of the whiche he maketh his vesseyll Soo almyghty god he maketh by trybulacoÌ„n the herte to streche on brode to be a vesseyll to receyue retene the bekefyces of his graces ther afore it was a hole masse as a lumpe of metall without abylyte ony thynge to receyue of our lorde wherfore in tribulacyon thanke thy lorde god whiche maketh of thyn hert a chalys to receyue grete habondauÌ„ce of his grace Of this dryuyng on brode of y e hert w t strokes of tribulacoÌ„n speketh the prophete there he sayth ¶ In tribulecione dilatasti micht ¶ Lorde y u haste dylated enlarged myn herte by trybulacyon wherfore I counseyll the whiche desyres to be y e electe vesseyll of grace a whyle pacyently to suffre the stroke of y e hamer of trybulacoÌ„n in the forge smythe of this worlde This lorde neuer wyll stryke the aboue y t y u may be re yf y u ordre the to suffre as he sayth in the gospell ¶ Dedit vnicuique scdm ê“priaÌ„ virtuteÌ„ ¶ He hath gyuen to euery man after his power And the more he beteth the the more large he entendeth to make the vesseyll of thyn herte with the more quantyte of his grace to replenysshe it with all And lyke wyse as the more precyous metall is more obedyent vnd the
grete teÌ„ptacyons they haue resysted for the loue of hym He letteth not the troubled soule alway neyther oftentyme fele his presence by goostly swetnesse by cause he wyll kepe it lowe aÌ„d in fere for the more lowe that a soule maketh himselfe and the lesse that hit setteth by hymselfe and thynketh that it is so wretched y t it is not worthy to haue ony goostly comforte of god the more our lorde maketh of hym and y e more glorye aÌ„d Joye theris ordeyÌ„ed to hym For as he sayth ¶ Omnis qui se humiliat exaltabitur ¶ Euery persone that meketh hymselfe he shall be exalted And thus many a soule groweth in vertue and lytell perceyued it as by ony goostly swetnesse But who so myght haue a lytell taste of the parfyte delectacyon to the whiche he shall be brought by trybulacyon yf he take it well He sholde not complayne but Joye of tribulacyon As saynt Poule sayth ¶ Gloriamur in spe filioâ— dei et non solum in hoc sed in tribulacione scientes qmÌ„ tribulacio pacienciaÌ„ operatÌ„ pacientia probacioneÌ„ probacio spem spes autem non confundit quia caritas dei diffusa est in cordibê° nostris ¶ We Joye sayth he not only that we hope to be the childe of god and Inherytours of his Joye but we Joye also in trybulacyon knowynge that tribulacyon maketh a pacyent herteyf it be well taken and pacyence of herte is the grete profe that a persone is the very chosen childe of eleccyon and after that profe cometh hope of saluacyon not as of our merytes but by the grace of god whiche is yelded in to our hertes by the holy goost whiche is gyueÌ„ to vs. The grete comforte cometh not fro god to suche a tyme as the place be made redy for hit in the soule and the herberers whiche take aÌ„d dresse this lodgynge are trybulacyons as it is wryten in the booke of Thobye ¶ Post lacrimacionem et fletuÌ„ exultacioneÌ„ infundis ¶ After trybulacyon and we pynge thou sendest comforte and Joye Than yf thou haue grete labours and besynesse with these herberers thynke hit well spente for they wyll quy te hit one of these dayes And grete trybulacyon maketh rome and place for grette Joyes hit is decreed and determined as alawe by the grete wysedome of god that fyrste he shall come to his dere beloued children with trybulacyon to delyuer them fro the false Joyes of this worlde aÌ„d after he shal dwelle with them by true Joye where as they shal haue no nede of trybulacyoÌ„ for to exclude the false Joye s. But afore that he come with very true Joye he wyll make the herte by trybulacyon and temptacyon to sette nought by all y e false Joyes of this worlde Whan as trybulacyon is passed and hath made an holy place by pacyence and by mekenesse than cometh in Joye But peraduenture thou complaynest and sayest Syr it is longe or this consolacyon cometh A this is the complaynte of louers what thinge soo euer hit is that is gretely beloued the deferrynge therof is paynfull And not withstandynge that yf hit be neuer soo sharpely hasted yet hit is thought very longe in comynge As Salomon sayth ¶ Spes que differtur affligit animaÌ„ ¶ Whan as a man hath hope for to haue a thynge that he loueth the deferrynge of hit is bytter to the soule Also peraduenture thou wyll reson to me thys Syr I meruayll not that wretched meÌ„ and wymen whiche set all theyr herte plesure in wretched lyuynge and spende ther tyme not profytabli but occupye all about synnes and vanytees of this worlde thoughe these haue trybulacyon see y e try bulacoÌ„n is profytable to them whiche are fallen in the hondes of theyr enemyes as these be to drawe them fro ther hondes and make them flee synne wretched lyuynge But to suche as lyue holyly and do no grete synne I meruayll why these haue grete trybulacyoÌ„ for they falle not so in the hondes of theyrenemyes as the other do To this I answere that our lorde delyuered from the false Joyes of this worlde bothe synners and also the Innocentes whiche sholde be taken with them except his grace preuoked them by trybulacyon and temptacyon preserued them fro these false synfull Joyes also an other wyse our lorde rescues his enemyes and other wyse his frendes For he rescues his enemyes fro trybulacyon delyuerynge them whan they are taken of theyr enemyes But his frendes he delyuereth sendynge them helpe by trybulacyons that they come not in to the handes of theyr enemyes And soo bothe are holden to laude and to thanke god bothe the synfull whiche by pacyence and grete trybulacyon is drawen fro synne to vertuously uynge and lytell settynge by all the false worldely Joye And also the vertuous Innocente whiche is preserued by temptacyon and trybulacion that hit is neuer blynded and desceyued by that Joye Thê° no man neyther woman may thynke that they be out of the loue of our lorde by trybulacyan but rather thynke that they are specyally beloued of hym the whiche sendeth them trybulacyon to kepe or to delyuer them fro false desceyuable plesures of this worlde aÌ„d from the Inordynate and foule delytes of the flesshe These pleasures are called false for they are ful swete in the begynnynge but they ende with grete bytternesse and sorowe As Salomon sayth ¶ Extrema gauditluctus occupat ¶ The ende of wordely Joye is occupyed with wepynge and sorowe A thou wyse gracyous man and womanbeware of this false worldely Joye y t thou be not brought to grete sorowe therby Thou seest hit is butlytell and after hit shall folowe sorowe of Inestymable gretnesse hit is but shorte but it hath a longe tayle of sorowe that neuershall haue ende Hit is no hole Joye for hit is medled with sorowe As Salomon sayth ¶ Risus dolore miscebytur ¶ The laughynge Joye of this worlde is medled with many maters of sorynes Those whiche thou thynkest haue moost of worldely Joyes they haue moche sorowe trouble and labour with them They are soo bytter to a parfyte herte that felynge them ones vit wolde neuer haue them yf it myght haue them per petually They go faste awaye but the sorowe that foloweth vpoÌ„ them shal euer abyde A this is a false Joye where is so lytel plesure and so grete payne and goth soo swyftly awaye and neuer shall come ayen wherfore I exhorte you all whiche wolde haue y e loue of our lorde and contynue a vertuous ly fe that ye thankefully welcome trybulacyons as your defenders fro your grete enemyes whiche tri bulacyons are sende from our lorde as his knyght to defende you And thynke that your expeÌ„ses made in them shall stande you in grete seruyce And yf ye can not welcoÌ„e hertely these soudyoures of our lorde yet chyde not with them nor malynge not ayenst them for yf ye fyght with them ye fyght with your freÌ„des and that is a peryllous
speketh our sauyour where he sayth ¶ OmneÌ„ palmiteÌ„ in menon ferentem fructum purgabit eum ¶ My fader shall purge euery braunche whiche is planted in me by fayth bryngeth forth no fruyte of vertuous lyfe By this vyne is vnderstande the herte of man whiche is fulfylled with the humours of holy loue of god and of vertue and bryngeth forth grete fruyte to the comforte of many lyke as the humour in the vyne maketh it to brynge forth fruyte And lyke as the humour whan it is superfluous and more than nede it is spedeth to moche in braunches without fruyte Lyke wyse whan the superflous loue habondeth in mannes herte of worldely vanitees and of flesshely plesures hit withdraweth the fruyte of goostly lyuynge than meruayle thou not sythen the wyse gardener wyll cutte awaye the superfluous braunches whiche let the tree of theyr fruyte yf thy lorde god whiche hath taken the cure of thyn herte cutte fro the with the sharpe knyfe of trybulacyon all those thynges whiche y u loues vaynely or shrewdly whiche let in y t y e gostly fruyte of vertue make y e humours of loue to contynue in his ê“pre bouÌ„des of thyn hert and of suche thynges as are profitable to thy salua cyon for he wyll not that thyn herte be to ferre dra wen fro hym ne y t it sprede by forayne vnprofytable brauÌ„ches of vayÌ„ne worldly thyÌ„ge ¶ An other maner of purgacyon is lyke as the corne is purged fro the strawe the chafe by the stroke of the fleyle And as the stroke of the fleyle purgeth the corne ly ke wyse the stroke of trybulacyon purgeth y e herte And lyke as y e corne is made to departe fro y e stra we lyke wyse the herte is made to departe fro the grete loue of this worlde whiche sholde stele the her te fro god were not the fleyle of trybulacyon And this maketh them to loue god gretly desyre to be with hyÌ„ seynge these worlde so vnstable and ful of trybulacyon payne And for this consideracyon sayth the prophete ¶ Ecce ego in flagella paratus sum ¶ Beholde I am redy to the fleyle To this holy prophete purposed with a glad herte to bere the stroke with the fleyle of god Than thou that wyll haue the grayne corne of thyn herte purged playne ye not of the stroke of trybulacyoÌ„ for y u can not be put in the garner of heuen ther none shal be put but suche corne as is purged with the fleyle of our lorde And lyke as whaÌ„ the corne is grene not wel dryed than it brasteth vnder the fleyle cleueth faster to the chafe also the hertes wiche are full of moysture of flesshely plesure carnall affeccyons they braste by vnpacyence vnder the fleyle than the chare of synne cleueth faster to theÌ„ ¶ An other wyse trybulacoÌ„n purgeth the herte lyke as the pres sure purged the wyne for lyke as the pressure whiche streyneth the resyns maketh the wyne departe fro the foule grosse mater of the dregges lyke wyse teÌ„ptacyons persecucoÌ„ns trybulacoÌ„ns of this lyf purgeth thyn hert fro y e foule lustes Inordynate affeccyons of this lyfe wherfore refuse not the pres sure yf y u wyll be layde in to the seler Thus the holy martyrs lefte theyr bodyes in y e pressure tourmentes the soule as precyous wyne was tonned in to the seler of perdurable lyfe THe fourth consolacyon in tyme of trybulacoÌ„n is to remembre the profyte of coÌ„nynge to y e whiche a man or a womaÌ„ is brought therby for of all connynges the moost necessary coÌ„ nynge is a man to knowe hymselfe his lorde god for yf he knowe hymselfe wel he shal knowe a wret che a synfull soule whiche hath grete nede of y e helpe of our lorde yf euer he shall be y e childe of sal uacyon And yf he knowe hymselfe well he shal ther by come to the knowlege of our lorde For his myn de shall than be so moche vpon hym that he shall souke moche knowlege out of hym To this know lege a man is brought by trybulacyoÌ„ for therby he shall be made to setlytell by the worlde lytell by hymselfe the lesse he setteth by hymselfe the more clerely he shall see his owne defautes and the more parfytly knowe the goodnesse of god after y t the more he shall loue hym For as saynt Austen sayth The cyte of god that is is to sayé an holy soule in whom our lorde dwelieth by grace it begynneth at the contempt despysyng of hymselfe endeth at the loue of god And the cyte of the deuyll begynneth at the endeth at the Wherfore saynt AusteÌ„ seynge the connynge that cometh by trybulacoÌ„n he begynneth his prayer in this wyse ¶ Nouerim me nouerim te ¶ Lorde teche me to knowe myselfe to knowe the. And lyke as the stroke of the rodde maketh the scoler to bowe his necke loke wel on his boke to can wel his lesson to come ayen to suche knowlege as he hath forgeten lyke wyse grete trybulacyon maketh a soule to belowe to our lorde whiche is the grette mayster techer therof And maketh it to loke well on the bo ke of contemplacyon that is to saye to remembre his goodnesse ther owne wretchednesse to remembre the gyftes whiche it hath receyued of hym the grete vnkyndenesse that it hath sheweth to hym aÌ„d the grete paynes whiche be ordeyned to hit for vnkyndenesse And the grete Joye for the loue that it hath to god kyndenesse Also this rodde of trybulacyon maketh it can his lesson well of vertuous ly uyÌ„ge as to praye to faste to watche to gyue almes to applye hit to all suche thynges wherby it trusteth to gete specyall helpe of our lorde And to good customes condycyons whiche hit hath forgeten it maketh hit to put them in exercyse ayen And thus it maketh them to letne well the lesson of ther saluacyon And therfore sayth Salomon ¶ Uirga et correctio tribuit sapieÌ„ciaÌ„ ¶ The rodde correccoÌ„n bryngeth the soule to wysedom The yonge childe whan it is put fyrste to lernynge by the freyle vnstable dysposycoÌ„n of the bodye that is meued to haue the eyen fro the booke want only to loke about the walles rather to pycke strawes to clatter to his felawes than to lerne the lesson to his grete pro fyte but whan the mayster lyfteth the rodde to stryke hym than he loketh vp to hym sayd he wyl amende is sory y t he laboured not better his lesson Lyke wyse the frayle soule loketh downe to erthely thynges vanytees of this lyfe as to rychesses ho nours beaute of bodye good appareyle in clothes the spekynge of suche thynges moost delyteth hit But whan the grete mayster almyghty god lyfteth the rodde of trybulacyon that it seeth grete trouble is lyke to
lyfe to come for the grete sufferers are the grete cqonuerours And with the betynge y t they suffre of payne trybulacyon theyr crowne is forged on the flethy of ther herte Than thou whiche desyrest to haue the crowne forsake not the strokes of the hamers for by these our lorde hath ordeyÌ„ed that thy crowne shall be made and at suche tymes y t the strokes are moost profytable to the whan thou with very fayth remembrynge the profytes of a pacyent charytable herte kepe his perfyte obedyence to our lorde aÌ„d loue to thyn enemyes that thou canst fynde in thyn herte to forgyue them hertely to praye for them y t they may haue forgyuenesse of our lorde This fyre of charyte maketh thy werke to go forth spedefully lyke as the hote metall dylateth goth abrode vndernethe the hamer yet w t this charyte y u mayst defende thy ryght oppresse the malyce of thyn enemye by menes acordynge to Justyce equyte yf thy power be therto and specyally whan of lykelyhode by grete suffrauÌ„ce theyr malyce shold Incresse Also thou shalt sustene that god susteneth with the for he susteneth with the bereth the vp in suffrynge auersyte by his sustenyng of the y u arte borne vp that thou falle not vnder the grete strokes of aduersyte other by bodely deth or grete vnpacyence or rancour of herte many soules sholde haue grete falles by false worldely ê“speryte they were not keped vnder the strokes of aduersyte and also these strokes they myght not abyde except they had supportacyon of the hande of almyghty god with these trybulacyons thou art also sustened and fede made stronge lyke as the bodye is made myghty to bere grete burthens by materyall mete This trybulacyons are bytter but they purge the soule make it to growe in perfeccyon of goostly lyfe wherfore I counseyll the as the goostly phesycyan of thy soule to refuse not this dysshe of our lorde sette it before the for he hathe not only tasted this dysshe to the but he hath plentefully taken hymselfe of hit as the prophete Jeremye prophecyed vpon hym ¶ Saturabitur ob probriis ¶ He shall be sacyate sayd he with rebukes Thus y u shalt not thynke thy selfe rebuked in that thou haste trybulacyons grete wronge done to y e in this worlde but rather y u art worshyped in y e that thou art called to the dysshe of our lorde Of this dysshe was fede that holy man Job as he sayth in his boke ¶ Non leuabo caput saturatê° afflictione ¶ I shal not lyft vp myn hede with payne and woo Than as y u hast grete trybulacoÌ„n moche to suffre thanke thy lorde god whiche so largely ê“uydeth for the for after the quantyte of trybulacyon shal be the quantyte mesure of thy glorye consolacoÌ„n And therfore as y u wyll haue the swete receyue the sowre for thy grete swetnesse muste come of bytternesse Also thou shall sustene that god susteneth in the for he within the so reteneth the mocyons of trybulacyons that yf he sustened heÌ„ not they sholde oppresse the downe and therfore foloweth ¶ Comungere deo et sustine ¶ As who sayd drawe thou nyghe cleue to god for he is felowe to the in this sufferynge berynge of trybulacyon wherfore be not astonysshed in berynge thynkynge that the burthen pas seth thy power For he bereth with the whiche wyll suffre the no more to bere but acordynge to thy power the resydue of the burthen he bereth it with the. He is so mercyfull so gentyll that he wyll suffre noo soule to bere aboue his power in weyght of temptacoÌ„n trybulacoÌ„n as the apostle sayth ¶ Fidelis deus q noÌ„ pacietÌ„ nos teÌ„ptari vltra quam potestis ¶ Wherfore complayne not of thy burthen for he leyeth vpon the whiche beste knoweth thy power no more chargeth the withall but that thou may be re the resydue he bereth hymselfe and that is the greter parte yet in that parte thou berest thy selfe he helpeth the and comforteth the for without hym thou mayst no thynge do as he sayth in the gospell of saynt Johan ¶ Sine me nichil potestis facere ¶ Wherfore all ye whiche desyre to haue the lyfe of Joye I counseyll you pacyently to take this lyfe of trybulacoÌ„n for by the storkes of trybulacyon ye are made able to receyue stronge to retene y e grace of our lorde wherby ye shall shortly be delyuered from all trybulacyon come to the plentefulnesse of the flood of delectacoÌ„n which shal flowe vpon you tro the grete essencyall mageste of god soo replenysshe you that all your power shall be sacyate eternally after this lytell and short payne of this traÌ„sytorye lyfe THe eyght consolacoÌ„n is to remembre y e payne trybulacyon maketh the to seche labour for the solace aboue in heuen For naturally euery man woman hath apetyte to solace delectacyon wherfore whan they are put therfro in this lyte by bytter trybulacyon than theyr mynde renneth for to haue it in the other worlde For in this lyfe there both no man may fulfylle his appe tyte after his plesure for after the ordynauÌ„ce of god grete plesure in this lyfe he hath ordeyned grete pai ne for it in that lyfe for this plesure is not without myserye of synne and grete payne here he hath ordeyned grete plesure for it there Wherfore trybulacyon in as moche as it excludeth fro the and Interdyâ—eth erthely plesure solace soo moche it prouydeth and openeth to the the heuenly solace Lyke wyse as the lorde of the towne where as grete plente of wyne is for to be solde as in the contre there it groweth he wyll make the taueners of the towne to be shette vp to suche a tyme that he haue vttered his owne wyne Soo our lorde maketh the tauerne of this worlde to be shette vp to the by trybulacyon to suche a tyme that thou haue bought his wyne of consolacyon by merytes of this lyfe Soo yf y u wylt haue wyne of consolacoÌ„n thou muste go to hym as the prophete Johell sayth ¶ Bestie agri quasi area sciciens inspexeruÌ„t ad te quomaÌ„ excecati sunt fontes aquarum ¶ He calleth the bestes of the felde flesshely affeccyons and desyres of our herte and the welles of the waters he calleth the plesures of sensuall delectacyon Whiche whan they are dryed with aduersytees they coustreyne the herte to loke vpwarde to heuen for drynke for than it can fynde none in erth and fayne it wolde drynke And so moche the glory of god the plesure of the perfyte Joye is more desyred of y e herte And in this also he sheweth to the his specyall goodenesse whiche maketh all thynges so bytter to the that no thynge thou haste plesure to thynke on but only of hym Wherfore sayth saynt Austen in his confessyons ¶ Paciebar in