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A03935
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Scala perfecc[i]onis; Scale of perfection. English
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Hilton, Walter, d. 1396.
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1494
(1494)
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STC 14042; ESTC S106485
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198,560
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268
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of orders the distynccoÌ„ns of persones how they lyue all in lyght of sothfastnes endles and how they brenÌ„e all in loue of the holy goost after the worthynes of orders how they see loue prayse IhuÌ„ in blessyd reste wythout ceesinge There is noo syght of body ne no figure in ymaginacoÌ„n in this maner worchinge but all ghostly of ghostly creatures ThenÌ„e begynÌ„eth the soule to haue grete aqueyntauÌ„ce of the blessed spirytes a grete felishyp They are full tend full besye aboute suche a soule to helpe it They are maysters to teche it often thrugh her ghostly presence towchynge of her lyghte dryuen out fantasyes fro the soule they Illumyn the soule graciously thei coÌ„forte the soule by swete wordes sodenly sowned in a clene herte And yf ony dysease falle ghostly they seruen the soule and mynystre to it all that it nedeth Thus saynt poul said of heÌ„ NoÌ„ne oeÌ„s suÌ„t administratorii spÌ„us missi ê“pter eos qui hereditateÌ„ capiuÌ„t salutis wote ye not wel that holy spirytes are minysters sente of IhuÌ„ for hem that taken the herytage of helth Thyse are chosen soules as who sayth yes For wyte y u well that all this ghostly worchyng of wordes of reasons broughte to the minde· suche fair liknes are made bi the mynistery of angels whan the lyght of grace abuÌ„dantly shinyth in a clene soule It maye not be tolde by tonge the felynges the lyghtnynges the graces the coÌ„fortes in specyall that clene sowles perceyue thrugh fauourable selyshyp of blessed angels The soule is well at eace with hem to beholde how they done that it wolde tende to noo thynge elles But thenÌ„e wyth the helpe of the angell yet the soule seeth more for knowinge ryseth aboue all this in a clene sowle And y t is to beholde the blessyd kynde of IhuÌ„ Fyrst of his gloryoê° manhede how it is hyghâ—â— worthily aboue all angels kynde thenne after of his blessâ—â— godhede For by knowyng of creatures is knowen the creatâ—ur thenÌ„e begynÌ„eth the soule to perceyue a lytyll of the prâ—â—â—tees of the blessid trinyte It may wel ynough· for lyght of gâ—ace gooth before therfore she shal not erre asloÌ„ge as she â—â—â—deth her wyth the lighte ThenÌ„e is it opened sothfastly to the eye of y e soule the onÌ„lihede in subuÌ„anÌ„ce distynccoÌ„n of 〈◊〉 in the blessyd tyrnite as it maye be seeÌ„ here moche 〈◊〉 sothfastnes of the blessid trinyte pertynent to this 〈…〉 whiche is openly declared shewed by writyng of holy 〈◊〉 of holy chyrche And wyte y u well that y e same the 〈◊〉 â—â—thfastnes of the blessyd trinyte y â— thise holy doctours 〈…〉 thrugh grace writen in her bokes in streÌ„gthing of ou◠〈…〉 a clene soule may see in knowyng thrugh y â— self lygh◠〈…〉 I woll not expresse tomoche of this materÌ„ here 〈…〉 for it nedeth not Wond grete loue felith the soule 〈…〉 delyte in felyng of this sothfastnes whaÌ„ it is 〈…〉 specyall grace for loue light goth bothe togyd in 〈…〉 There is noo loue y t riseth of knowyng of 〈…〉 dyng y t may towche sooner our lorde as this loue 〈…〉 why this knowyng is worthiest hyeste in itself 〈…〉 god man yf it be specyally shewed bi the lyght of 〈…〉 therforÌ„ is the fyre of loue flamÌ„ynge of this more 〈…〉 than it is of knowyng of ony creature bodily or ghostly 〈◊〉 thise gracyoê° knowynges felid in a soule of y e vnyuersitee of al creatures in manerÌ„ before said of our lorde IhuÌ„ makâ—â—â— keper of al this fayr vnyuersitee I calle heÌ„ fayr wordes 〈◊〉 spekynges of our lorde IhuÌ„ to a soule y â— whiche he wol make his true spouse He shewith preuytees profereth riche â—â—â—tes of his tresour arayeth y e soule with heÌ„ ful honestly She nede not be ashamed wyth the coÌ„panye of her felawes to apere afterwarde to the face of Ihesu her spouse All this louely dalyauÌ„ce of preuy speche bitixe thuÌ„ a soule may be called an hidde worde of the whiche holy wrytt sayth thê° Porro ad me dcmÌ„ est vbuÌ„ abscondituÌ„ et venas susurrii ê‘cepit auris mea Sothli to me is said an hidde worde the veynes of his rowuynges myn eere hath perceyued The InspyracoÌ„n of IhuÌ„ is an hidde worde for it is preuily hidde fro al louers of the worlde shewed to his louers â–ª thrugh whiche a clene sowle perceyueth redily the veynes of his rownyng y t are specyally shewenges of his sothfastnes For eueryche gracyoê° knowynge of sothfastnes felt wyth Inly sauour ghostly delyte is a preuy â—ownyng of IhuÌ„ in the ere of a clene soule Him behoueth to 〈◊〉 moche clenÌ„es mekenes all other vertues to be halfe 〈◊〉 to noys of wordly Ianglyng y t shold wysely perceyue 〈…〉 ghostly rownynges y t is the voys of IhuÌ„ Of y â— why 〈…〉 sayth thê° Vox dnÌ„i pÌ„parantis ceruos reuelabit 〈…〉 The voys of our lord â—huÌ„ arayeng hertes he shal shew 〈◊〉 That is â–ª the InspiracoÌ„n of IhuÌ„ makyth soules lyghte 〈◊〉 y t sterten fro therthe ouer busshes breres of al 〈…〉 he sheweth to hem the thicke y t are his preuitees 〈◊〉 not be perceyued but bi sharpe eye Thise beholdinges 〈◊〉 grouÌ„ded in grace in mekenes maketh a soule 〈…〉 in desyre to y â— face of IhuÌ„ Thise are y e ghostly 〈…〉 I spake of beforÌ„ they beÌ„ called newe gracioê° felinges 〈◊〉 â—oo but touche heÌ„ a litill for wyssing of y e soule For a souâ—e that is clene stired by grace to vse of this werkyng may see more in an hour of suche ghostly matere thaÌ„ myÈte be wryteÌ„ in a grete boke ¶ Thus finysshith this present boke whiche expowneth many notable doctrynes in contemplacyon whiche as me semyth right exspedyeÌ„t to those that setten theyr felicyte in ocupyenge theimself specyally for theyr soule helthe Greg. Cor i3 Greg. P· xxxiii EphÌ„e v. i· cor i3 Psalm̄· C. xviii HebrÌ„ v. Eph̄· iii. Phil. iii MathÌ„ v. Iob. v. TrenÌ„ iiii IohÌ„ iiii Luc· xiiii Greg â–ª Ecc xvâ— Isay· 66 1 cor â—0 P· xiiii P· c. iâ—â— P· xl P· Tren̄· Cor xiiii Leuit. 6. M· xxii P· l. BernÌ„ p̄· cor 6 â–ª Gal. 9 â–ª p̄· cor â— â–ª Ioh̄· 16. P· 9â— Isa. liiii Iob xi 〈◊〉 iiii â–ª Aug· pÌ„ cor vii Eph. iiii pÌ„ cor ir Luc. xiii· M· xvi Col. iii. Psalmâ— IohÌ„is â— IohÌ„ IohÌ„ Cant Deut· ii P· lxxii P· ê“uer xx 〈…〉 â—s Psalm cxviii Luc. 10. P· xxiiii M· 13. IohÌ„ xiiii M. ii Cor 〈◊〉 Ro. 〈◊〉 ê“â—â— xiiii Iob. 20â— Gal. â— â—say· â— Ro â–ª â— pÌ„ cor i3 P. M. vâ— Greg â–ª Augê° Phil iiii Augê° Cant· 1. Cant â–ª â— Luc. xiiii 〈◊〉 12 â–ª GenÌ„ 3. Eccâ—â— Phil 3. SapÌ„ 2. ê“u â— P· 3viii IohÌ„ 1â— Gal. â— Epâ— iiii Isay· 3. Gal. iiii IohÌ„ iiii Heâ—â— â–ª Ro· viii 〈◊〉 x. Ro· v. E· xxviii Ro. vii â—say vii M. v. Act· xv Cant. i. EphÌ„ 6. Apoc. â— IohÌ„is 1. P. xlii GenÌ„ 3. Iob 3. MalÌ„ iiii Gal. v Col. â— P â–ª JohÌ„ x. Ioâ— Col. 3. pÌ„ â—â— iiii S. cor iiii â–ª 〈◊〉 vii pÌ„ IohÌ„ Ro· viii P· â— xxxviii Isay â— â–ª P· xiiii P· x. P. x. Apoc· P. lxiii Oseerii Cant. v Cant. 3 Cant 6 Cant. i. HebÌ„ x. 〈◊〉 3 â—uc· xiiii Ro. xv Hebâ—â— Iob. iiii
maÌ„nes soule whiche maye be called a made trinyte was fulfylled in mynde syght loue of the vnmade moost blessyd trynite whyche is our lorde This is the dignyte the state the worshyp of a mannes soule by kynde of the fyrst makyng This state thou had in adam before the first synne of man But whan adam sinÌ„ed chesyng loue delyte in hymselfe and in creatures he lost all his worshyp his dignyte and thou also in him and fell fro that blessyd trinyte in to a fowle derke wretchyd trinyte that is in to foryetyng of god and vnknowyng of hym and in to a bestly likynge of hymself And that skilfully For as dauid sayth in the sawter Homo cuÌ„ in honore esset noÌ„ intellerit coÌ„peratus est iumentis insipientibus silis factus est illis A man whan he was in worshyp he knewe it not And therfore he lost it and was made lyke a best See now thenÌ„e the wretchydnes of thy soule For as the mynde was somtyme stablyd in god ryght soo now it hath forgoten hym and sekyth hys reste in creatures now from one to an nother and neuer maye fynde full reste For he hath loste hym in whom is full reste And ryght soo it is of reason and the loue also whyche was clene in ghostly sauour swetnes now it is tornyd in to a fowle bestly lust likyng in it self in creatures and in flesshly sauours both in the wyttes as in gloteny lechery and in ymagynyng as in pryde vaynglory couetyse In somoche that thou mayst vnnethes doo ony good dede but yf thou be defoyled wyth vaynglory Ne thou maye not well vse none of thy v. wyttes clenly in noo creature delectable but yf thy herte be taken engleymed wyth a veyne luste likyng of it whiche putteth out the loue of god fro the herte as in felyng and the ghostly sauour that it may not come therin Euery man that lyueth in spirite knowith wel al this This is the wretchidnes of the soule and the mischeif for y e fyrst synÌ„e of man without al other wretchydnes synÌ„es whiche thou hast wylfully put therto And wyte thou wel thouÈ thou had neuer done synÌ„e wyth thy body dedely ne venyal but oonly this that is called origynall for it is the fyrst synÌ„e and that is not elles but lesyng of thy rightfulnes whiche y u was made in shold thou neuer haue ben saued yf our lord IhuÌ„ cryste by his precious passion had not delyuerde the and restored the ayen ¶ How euery man may be saued by the passion of cryst be he neuer soo wretched Caplm xliiii ANd therfore yf thou thinke that I haue here before spoken to hye to the. for thou mayst not take it ne fulfylle it as I haue sayd or shall saye I wyll now fall downe to the as lowe as thou wyll for my profyte as well as for thyn ThenÌ„e say I thus though thou be neuer somoche a wretche haue thou doo neuer somoche synne forsake thyself all thy werkes good bad crye mercy and aske onÌ„ly saluacoÌ„n bi vertue of this precious passion mekely trustly and wythoute dowte thou shal haue it And fro this origynal synÌ„e al other thou shalt be saaf ye and thou shal be saaf as an anker incluse And not oonly thou but all crysten soules whiche trusten vpon this passion and meken hemself knowlegynge her wretchidnes asking mercy foryeuenes and the fruyt of this precyous passoÌ„n oonly lowenge hemself to the sacramentes of holy chyrche though it be so that thei haue ben encombred wyth synne all her lyf tyme and neuer had felyng of ghostly sauour or swetnes or ghostly knowynge of god they shallen in this faythe in her good wyll by vertue of this precyous passyon of our lorde IhuÌ„ cryst be saaf come to the blysse of heuen All this knowest thou well· but yet it liketh me for to saye it See here the endles mercy of our lord how low he falleth to the to me and to al synfull caytyfs ThenÌ„e aske mercy and haue it Thus sayd the prophete in the persone of oure lorde Ois enim quicuÌ„que inuocauerit nomen dnÌ„i saluê° erit Euery man what y â— he be that calleth the name of god that is to saye askith saluacoÌ„n by IhuÌ„ his passion he shall be saaf This certefye of our lorde some men takeÌ„ well and beÌ„ saued therby and some men in truste of this mercy this curtesye lyÌ„en styll in her synne and wene for to haue it whan hem lust and thenne mow they not for they are taken or they were and soo they dampne hemself But thenne sayst thou yf this be soth thenne wonder I gretly for that I fynde in some holy mennes bokes Some sayeÌ„ as I vndstonde that he that can not loue this blessyd name IhuÌ„ ne fynde ne fele in it ghostly Ioye delectable wyth ghostly swetnes in the blysse of heuen he shall be alyene and neuer shall he come therto Sothly thyse wordes whan I hem red stonyed me and made me gretly aferde For I hope as thou sayst that by the mercy of oure lorde shall be saaf by kepyng of the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes and by very repentauÌ„ce for her euyll liuyng before doon whyche felt neuer ghostly swetnes ne inly sauour in the name of Ihesu And therfore I merueyle me the more that they saye contrari herto as it semyth And vnto this I may say as me thynketh that her sayeng yf it be well vndstonde is soth and is not coÌ„trary to that y t I haue sayd For this name IhuÌ„ is nouÈt elles for to saye vpon englisshe but heler or he le Now euery man that lyueth in this wretchyd lyfe is ghostly seke For there is noo man that lyueth wythoute synne whiche is ghostly syknes as saynt IohÌ„n sayth of hym selfe of other perfyte men thus Si dixerimus qr pccmÌ„ non habemê° ipÌ„i nos seducimus et veritas in nobis noÌ„ est If we saye that we haue noo synÌ„e we begyle ourself and there is no sothfastnes in vs. And therfore he maye neuer come to the Ioye of heuen vnto he be fyrste made hole of this ghostly syckenes But this ghostly hele maye noo man haue that hath vse of reason but yf he desyre it loue it and haue delyte therin· in asmoche as he hopith for to gete it Now the name of IhuÌ„ is noo thyng elles but thys ghostly he le wherfore it is soth that they say that there may noo man be saaf but yf he loue lyke in the name of Ihesu For there maye noo man be ghostly hole but yf he loue desyre ghostly helth For right as yf a maÌ„ were bodily seke there were noo erthly thyng soo dere ne soo nedful to hym ne so moche sholde be desired of hym as bodily helth for though y u woldest yeue hym all the rychesse worshyppes of this worlde and not make