glorye of god to the crowne of vyctorye O how gladde mayst thou be to seke thy lorde god and fynally to fynde hym by sekenesse whoo 's gloryous syght is of soo grete a plesure that thou wolde chese to suffre the grete paynes of helle longe tyme after a shorte syght so that thou myght see hym ayen And yf a soule whiche is in the paynes of helle myght see hym the grete Joye of the syght of god sholde stoppe for the tyme all the paynes of helle that hit sholde fele none for that Joye sholde so fulfyll the wyll with delectacoÌ„n plesure that hit sholde fele no payne for ther sholde no place be lefte for ony contrarye felynge In this lyfe ther is no plesure so grete but ther is payne moche more but after this lyfe ther shal be plesure incomparable more than ony payne may be now I exhorte the to seke thy lorde truly by trybulacoÌ„n payne whiche hath sought the fouÌ„de the by incomparable more payne than thou whiche haste loste hym mayst suffre to fynde hym ayen THe xvii comforte is to remembre that our lorde hath sende trybulacoÌ„n to the to the entente that he wyll make the aferde to of offeÌ„de hym for comonly our freyle nature refuseth noo thynge whiche is plesaunt to it except it be meoued of fere and many ther are whiche in lacke of perfyte fayth fere ryght lytel the paynes to come wherfore suche sholde be taken in the snares of the deuyl and falle to contynuaunce in synne yf our lorde of his grete mercy dyd not sende them payne trybulacyon in this present lyfe But he kepeth them soo occupyed with fere bytternesse of payne that ther mynde is withdrawen fro theyr dysordynate plesure And yf they haue y t specyall grace to thyÌ„ke that theyr payne is mynde to them from our lorde to make them to flee synne than theyr payne and trouble putteth them in grete fere to synne maketh them to flee it Wherfore Job spekynge of suche sayth ¶ Terrebit eos tribulacio et angustia ¶ Trybulacyon and anguysshe shall fere them Many ther are whiche as yonge childern that haue lytell vse of reson lyue al after sensualyte plesure of theyr fleshe and that is theyr grete sporte delyte in this worlde And often tyme in the myddes of theyr playnge tyme without ony warnynge they are called out of this worlde to theyr acounte Jugement where the sentence of dampnatoÌ„n is shortly gyuen of them forth with they are put in to payne of the vengeable fyre of helle ther they shall abyde euer without ende That soule whiche fleeth syÌ„ne pryncypally for fere of payne or for worldely shame or for ony other creature it shall haue noo rewarde therfore in heuen but yet by that it offendeth lesse to god than it sholde haue done yf it had no suche fere sooner ryseth to grace This fere of payne is called a seruyle fere for thus fereth the seruannt for to offende his mayster by cause he fereth he sholde haue grete strokes and punysshement But the good childe fereth his fader pryncypaly for loue that he hath to hyÌ„ bycause he wolde not offende hym And ryght so the good wyfe loueth her husbonde for loue that she hath to hym she wyll not offende hym But the euyl wyf fereth to make transgressyon of her spousage more for fere of strokes than for loue Thus the childely fere of god is merytoryous shal haue grete rewarde of our lorde whan a soule fleeth synue for loue y t it hath to god bycause it wolde not fynally be sperate from hym Neuerthelesse for seruyle drede the soule is brought to childely drede oftentymes Than sythen no thynge shal departe the soule fro god brynge it to perpetuell payne but on lysynne our lorde sendeth the payne to departe the fro synne than he wyll by temporall payne delyuer the fro the eternall payne Joyne the to hym in perpetuell glorye wherfore yf y e lyft thy mynde to god in the tyme of payne trybulacyon seeyng so faderly he deleth with the what profyte he ordeyneth to come of thy payne trouble thou ought to take it pacyently and gyue hym grete laude and praysynge therfore whiche thus mercyfull deleth with the. THe xviii consolacyon is to remembre how our lorde prouydeth for the whiche art in trybulacoÌ„n yf y u take it well that after thyn herte be constrayned to god with anguysshe of payne it shall be dylated with Joye aÌ„d opened ayen as the prophete sayth ¶ In tribulacoÌ„e dilatasti michi ¶ Thou haue dylated by trybulacoÌ„n myn hert to me And as it is wryten in the booke of Tohbye ¶ Post tribulacioneÌ„ et flectuÌ„ exultacioneÌ„ infundis ¶ Thou gyuest to the herte after trybulacoÌ„n we pynge Joye gladnesse Ther is none after the ordynate lawe of our lorde that cometh to grete gladnesse in hym but after grete sorynesse of this lyfe specyally yf the sorowe and trouble be taken for the loue of god in ordre to hym as the prophete sayth ¶ Detorrente in via bibet ê“pterea exaltauit caput ¶ He shall drynke of the bytter water in the waye of trybulacyon therfore he shall exalte afterwarde his hede with Joye in god delectacyon That thynge whiche maketh man or woman to sett lesse by hemselfe that same dysposeth hem to make more of god Some tyme a persone is made to set lesse by hemselfe by mysery of synne for many one whiche made ryght moche of hymselfe whan they are fallen in to grete abhomynable synne than they are ashamed abhorre with hemselfe And after this lytel makynge of hemselfe they begynne to lerne to make moche of our lorde and come as Mary magdaleyn dyd to grete grace plesure in god By mysery of payne also many come to the same plesure in god and that is the better waye for mysery of synne can neuer be good the tyme is loste of goostly profyte as longe as a soule is in this mysery our lorde hateth this wretchednesse of synne But wretchednesse of payne yf it be wel taken is of grete plesure to our lorde it is of grete meryte the tyme is well spended they y t be in this mysery well taken wherfore I exhorte the whiche haste had plesure in synne worlde haue plesure in god take pacyently payne trybulacyon and than thou shalt see that thou shalt lerne to make moche of god he shall make moche of the. THe xix consolacyon is to remembre how a dulle soule by trybulacyon is made quycke to serue god as the ê“phete sayth ¶ Si ambulauero in me dio tribulacoÌ„is viuificabis me ¶ yf I shall walke in the myddes of trybulacyon thou shalt receyue and quyken me Lyke as a dulle seruaunt by strokes is made sharpely to applye his labour so are dulle soules whiche had lytell appetyte to serue god be made to spende
our lorde hath lent it theym only as longe as it pleseth hym wherfore whan the worldely goodes goo they thynke it is of his ordynauÌ„ce whiche ordeyneth euery thynge to the beste to suche soules as are wyllynge to lyue accordynge to his wyll with an obedyent herte these knowe that it is for the beste that he taketh them awaye therfore they blysse hym wherfore losse of worldly ê“speryte troubled lytel y e soules of good folke y e synful folke thynke y t they are very lordes of temporall goodes that they may spende them after ther owne plesure hauynge lytell regarde or none to the wyll of god And in these goodes they put they moost felycyte and pleasure wherefore they be hyghe and proude in possessyon of these and in losse of them they are caste downe in to grete sorowe and payne and the more sorowe they haue in losse of theym the more corrupte and vycyous loue they hadde in hauynge of them Our lorde also gyueth wordely goodes to synfull folke for yf he sholde stryke euery synfull man woman with the stroke of sharpe trybulacyon as soone as they hadde synned than they sholde thyuky that all synne were punysshed in this lyfe and that ther were no punysshement for synne ordeyned after this lyfe wherfore our lorde suffreth many one for to lyue in this lyfe after theyr owne plesure and to multeplye synne at ther plesure aÌ„d to his grete dysplesure hauynge no punysshement in this worlde by cause we shall vnderstande y t it is reserued to the other worlde for god is so ryghtful that he may leue no synne vnpunysshed wherfore â—ythen these syÌ„ners are not punysshed in this worlde ther muste nede punysshement be done after this worlde And hit shall be to harde to abyde y e trybulacoÌ„n wherfore well is them that haue in this lyfe theyr trybulacyon for this is lytell or nought in regarde of that Also some synners in this lyfe haue grete trybulacoÌ„n punysshement and specyally suche as be comonly knowen of wretched lyuynge one cause is that other shal be aferde to folowe theym by example of lyuynge and an other is that we may see in this lyf that god taketh grete dysplesure with the lyfe of suche as be wretched yf he sholde punysshe no synne in this lyfe than hit sholde be thought that he lytell forsed of the lyfe of man ne gaue none attendaunce therto Also yf he wolde gyue no temporall goodes to suche as aske theym of hym hit sholde seme that they were not in his power And yf he sholde gyue temporall goodes to echone that asketh them vndstandynge that they be soo gretly desyred in this lyfe the people wolde rather serue hym for goodes of this lyfe than for goodes of the lyfe to come wherfore to some he gyueth prosperyte and to some he gyueth aduersyte Wherfore suche as aske temporal prosperyte and resceyue hit of our lorde they may see that he may gyue hit but yf they set theyr herte more on hit than on the prosperyous lyfe to come they shall neuer after this lyfe haue prosperyte but perpetuall trybulacyon and aduersyte Also suche as be louers of god and vertue and haue in this lyf payne and aduersyte our lorde hath ordeyned in y e lyfe to come to haue grete prosperyte And suche as he seeth that sholde be blyndeth with temporal prossperyte he sendeth theym themporall aduersyte by cause that they sholde lytell make of this lyfe where as they suffre so grete trybulacyon and make moche of that lyfe wherby they shall resceyue the grete prosperyté of that flourynge felicite that neuer shal fade by aduersyte but euer be a lyke fres he without ende in eternyte Thus who so wyll haue that prosperyte they muste take pacyently and thankefully this aduersyte For the profyte of payne and trybulacoÌ„n is in the maner of well takynge therof The good theef and the euyll theef the whiche were crucefyed with our sauyour suffred one maner of payne but the good thef toke it faythfully and pacyently and therfore hit brought hym to the paradyse The euyll theef toke hit not faythfully ne pacyentely and therfore hit nothynge dyde profyte to hym to delyuer hym fro synne and to procure grace for to brynge hym to glorye Oftentyme the paynes that dyuerse persones suffre is lyke but the takynge of hit is not lyke therfore one persone is purged by payne and the other is broken and hurte therby for that one taketh hit pacyently and thanketh god therof and that other grutcheth therwith and forgeteth god and so the payne that they â—uffre is lyke but the sufferers are not lyke for that one hath vertue with the payne and that other hath vyce lyke as in one fyer golde glystereth and the grene blocke smoketh and vnder one fleyle the whete is purged and the chaf is broken so one maner of payne or trybulacyon purgeth the pacyent and fyleth and destroyeth the vnpacyent The good man or good woman loueth and thanketh god therof for hit is his werke and they praye to hym that hit may stande theym for theyr purgatorye for allmaner synet cometh of vyce al maner payne cometh of god to the more profyte of those that desyren to loue hym more than all the wytte of mortall man can telle the euyll man or woman grutcheth with god and thynketh lytell what profyte y t he hath ordeyned to theym by payne trybulacyon THere is noo temporall payne that ony crysten soule suffreth in this lyfe but they deserue hit well and moche more both for offences that they doo in themselfe and also ayenst theyr neyghbours There is noo man neyther noo woman the whiche lyueth soo Innocently and soo vertuousely in this lyfe but many tymes they offen de doynge not after ryght and reason but after the euyll desyre of theyr flesshe Not with standynge that by specyall grace of oure lorde ther are full many the whiche lyue longe tyme without dedely synnes and doo noo grete myscheuous dedes for whiche myscheuous dedes and for punysshement of y t whiche our lorde fulfylleth the worde with grete batayle pestylence and grete hongre and many grete trybulacyons and yet they can not excuse theym but they doo many venyall synnes the whiche deserue more punysshemeÌ„t of the rygoure of ryghtwysnesse than ony that is felede in this lyfe And yf it were so that ony man or woman lyued without synne of themselfe yet they lyue not without synne in dayly couersacoÌ„n with theyr neyghbours for with theyr neyghbours they lyue not alwaye as thei sholde do excytynge them to vertue by wordes and example Also whan they here or see theym offende they correcte theym not as they ought to do by broderly charyte For somtyme of ydelnesse they wyll not studye how they myght saye or do to the correc cyon of theyr neyghbour And somtyme they are a shamed to speke to theym ferynge that they sholde be rebuked ayen other in lyke thynges or in
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
and holy couÌ„seyll in reformacyon of theyr lyuynge here yeshal vnderstaÌ„de that euery true louer hath his herte towarde his loue and they drede to be of gete of ther loue they harte to bef orgete ther they loue And thus our lorde whiche hath to vs loue vn mesurable hated to be forgete of vs. And whan we forgete hym he beteth vs pulleth awaye from vs suche thynges as we moost loue in this worlde as helth of bodye frendes wordely goodes And ofteÌ„ tymes he suffreth the good name coÌ„mendacyoÌ„ to be pulled awaye fro suche as hath vayne glorye in the laude of name without grete deseruynge by holy merytes of good lyuynge of y e laude of god And so he maketh hem to calle on hym to knowe hym by aduersyte whiche forgete hym by prosperyte Lyke as y e butteler of Pharo had forgete Joseph whaÌ„ he was comen to prosperite whiche expowned to hyÌ„ his dreme to his grete solace comforte whan he was in aduersyte And bycause that worldely prossperyte brygeth a soule to forgetefulnesse of god our lorde whan he promysed to y e people of Israel grete cytees with plente of rychesses he warned heÌ„ afore that they sholde not forgete hym saynge thê° Â¶ Non obliuiscaris dnÌ„i dei tui ¶ See that y u in the tyme of thy grete prosperyte forgete not thy lorde god And to shewe to the that he forgeteth not the he sayth hymselfe y t he hath wryten the in his handes ¶ NoÌ„ obliuiscartuin manibê° enâ—meâ—s descrip si te ¶ He bereth yet euer shall the prynte of the wouÌ„des in his handes whiche he suffred for the aÌ„d also in his herte whiche was wouÌ„ded for the. Lerne y u than to bere some sharpe token on y e to remeÌ„bre hym the grete paynes that he hath suffred for the Yf he gyue the grete rychesse grete prosperyte in this temporall lyfe thynke not for all this that he loueth the soo specyally that y u shalt haue with hym his rychesse in heuen for many whiche shall neuer come in heuen haue grete plente of these goodes And the mysusynge of hem is cause of theyr damp nacoÌ„n wherfore rychesse dygnyte of this worlde are called in scrypture the gyfte of the lyfte honde as Salomon wryteth ¶ In sinistra eius diuicie et gloria ¶ Grete multitude of ryche folke at y e daye of Jugement shall stande at the lyfte honde of the Juge the poore at the ryght honde yf y u shalt haue ony loue of our lorde for thy rychesse it is for the good vse of hem that is to saye by cause y u speÌ„dest hem to his honour releef of hym whiche haue lytell to helpe hemselfe for the loue of hym And euer in the tyme of prosperyte take some wylfull payne to remembre hym lyke as he hath gyuen example to the. For veryly lyke as bodely plesure maketh the soule to forgete hymselfe aÌ„d god lyke wyse bodely payne maketh it to remembre hymself god And this paynes is merytoryous whan it is pacyentely suffred but it is of a meruayloê° grete meryte whan it is taken Joyfully as a remedye to purge the soule fro synne brynge it to specyall grace aÌ„d loue of our lorde whiche peraduenture y u saye syr I meruayle not yf our lorde with the rodde of trybulacoÌ„n bete the frowarde vngentyl hertes whiche knowe â–ª hym not But I meruayle gretely why he beteth the gentyll mercyable hertes whiche knowe hym loue to worshyp hym To this I answere this betyng is not only profytable to suche as be vnkynde aÌ„d of synfull lyuynge but also to suche as be good vertuous whiche be not yet comen to the grete perfeccy on of vertue to suche tyme as they be made perfyte by resystynge of grete temptacoÌ„n gladly takyng of trybulacyon For many soules whiche truste that they be stronge to resyste temptacoÌ„n before they fele it whan it cometh vpon them fersely they fele them self ryght feble in comparyson as they trusted they had ben But by contynuall betynge of temptacyon they come to grete myght of vertue knowlege of themselfe and of what valoure they be in vertue Therfore sayth Salomon ¶ Qui non est temptatus quid scit ¶ He or she that hath no grete temptacyon what can they as who sayth ryght lytell And thus our lorde suffreth ryght mercyfull and gentyl hertes to hym to suffre grete temptacoÌ„n for in that they lerne to loue god For of all proues of loue the grettest is whan a soule resysteth myghtely ayenst grete temptacyons for the loue of god and bycause they wolde not offende his grace And so they make a myghty conquest of themselfe and doo ayenst theyr owne InclynacoÌ„n to preferre the wyll of god ayenst theyr owne wyl and desyre That holy man Job was brought to grete perfeccyon by aduersyte And Salomon that was soo wyse was brought to grete folysshenesse and vnclene lyuynge by prosperyte Here is example that bodely aduersyte bryngeth the soule to goostly prosperyte whiche standeth in goostly wysedom and vertue And the bodely prosperyte begyÌ„neth to goostly folysshenesse and losse of vertue and fynally to euerlastyÌ„ge aduersyte payne trybulacoÌ„n And ther is no soule so gracyously dysposed but it wolde rather chose with temporall aduersyte to haue the goostly rychesse with the loue of god in this lyfe and after it be passed hens ende lesse Joye and felyâ—yte than with temporall prosperyte goostly pouerte with hatred of god perpetual dampnacoÌ„n Sythen Salomon that was soo wyse loste wysedom in prosperyte y u art not sure y t y u shalt kepe thy wysedom in wordely plesures prosperyte than arme the to trybulacyon yf y u wylt come to ony perfeccoÌ„n And whan y u thynkest the trybulacoÌ„n paynfull heuy to bere comforte the ayen with remembraunce that it is but short shall brynge the Joyfully out of the worlde sor thy laste daye shal be the ende of thy trouble for euer thynke that our lorde calleth the to hym therby where thou shalt see hym in his mageste and be replenysshed wyth the solacions syght of his pardurable glorye And thynke veryly that he whyche puttyth the to thys greate proof ordeyneth grete thynges for the. For lyke as the knyght getteth not of hys kyng to suche tyme y t he be proued in actes of cheualerye haue myghtely foghten for his kynge soo loke thou for noo grete tewarde of god except thou haue grete temptacyon for his sake other ayenst the deuyll by goostly temp tacyon or ayenst thy flesshe with temptacoÌ„n of glotonye slouth or lecherye or ayenst y e worlde with co uetyse But of all those batayles the goostly batayl in fayth consyens is moost troublous heuy to bere of all other it is moost profytable to that sou le whiche wyl fyght in this batayll is moost dyrect ayenst the deuyll and the conquest of
¶ 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
handes of the werke than that metall whiche is of lesser valour as golde is more apte in y e golds mythes hande than yron more precyoê° werke he may werke therin for it is more obedyent vnd the hamer Lyke wyse the pacyenthertes are y e precyous goldeÌ„ hert whiche are obedyeÌ„t to y e strokes of trybulacoÌ„n after y e wyll of our lorde in these he werketh precyous werkes of grace many fayre vertues the se curyous moost precyous werkes of y e grete wise dome of god shall euerlastyngly apere in these obedyent pacyent hert to the honour of god grete plesure to all his louers in the kyngdome of heuen where clerely shall be shewed all the secrete werkynges of the hert whiche are had in this lyfe Suffre thy lorde than esely to bete awaye y t rosty mocyons synfull desyres of thyn herte to make it a clene vessell apt to receyue y e InfusyoÌ„ of his grace And yf y e stroke of y t hamer be paynful harde to abyde recomforte the ayen in y t the goldsmyth is so wyse so good y t he may stryke no stroke but to y e moost auayle of the vessele of thyn herte accordynge to his wyl whiche no thynge may do but well And yf y t be gentyle in sufferynge his strokes and left thyÌ„ hert to hyÌ„ desyrynge y t he do therwith lyke as it pleseth hymselfe y u shalt fynde hyÌ„ gentyl in temperynge of his strokes y t he wyl more esely worke after as the forme of werke requyreth But comonly the goldsmyth stryketh moost strokes on y t vessel whiche is moost precyous werke The hertes whiche are without dyscyplyne techynge they are harde and dysobedyent vnd y e hamer rather they breke than they wyll bowe after the enteÌ„te of y e werker Be not as an olde broken panne whiche whan the werker stryketh it breketh maketh many mo holes than were before Thus harde hert drye without loue ordeuocyon to god incresse her payne vnd the stroke of trybulacoÌ„n for they haue no regarde but only to theyr plesure none to theyr demeryte the ryght wysnesse of god whiche may not leue synne vnpunysshed in this worlde he stryketh bycause he wolde spare y e after this lyf where y e strokes shal be moost bytter to suche as thaÌ„ shall suffre hem And lyke as the herte groweth in fayth byleuyng y t the payne trouble cometh of our lord Also in pacyence by wylfull takynge thankynge god therof also in meke nesse thynkynge y t he is worthy to haue suche payne moche more so the herte groweth in the grace aÌ„d loue of our lorde y e rewarde of glorye Thus meueth y e Ecclesyastes saynge ¶ Sustine sustentacoÌ„es dei riuÌ„gere deo sustine vt crescat in nouissiÌ„a vita tua ¶ Suffre the suffrynges of our lorde be y u Joyned to hym Suffre y u thy lyfe may waxe in the ende This saynge may be vnderstande dyuerse wyse as thus suffre thou that god suffre for the or suffre thou that god suffreth with the or suffre thou that god suffreth in the and the fyrste sence is that thou shall suffre that god suffreth for the in this worlde He suffred for thegrete trouble aÌ„d enemyte of y e worlde he suffred for the grete sclauÌ„der euyl reporte he suffred for the contempt despysynge he suffred for the grete pouerte wylfully he suffred for the grete payne in bodye as werynesse watche hongre thyrst grete sorowe in soule grete payne in bodye fynally the moost grete outrage payne of deth more than may be suffred by natural power For he reteyned his soule in his bodye in sufferaunce of peyne aboue the power of nature largely to recompense for our offeÌ„ce so that he yelde vp his soule with a grete crye as scryptute sayth ¶ Uoce magna tradidit spirituÌ„ ¶ But by the course of nature the bodye is so febled byfore the departyuge of the soule y t it hath no power to sormeony voyce And so sholde the bodye of our sauyour haue be had not he reteyned his soule to suffre plentefully payne for our saluacoÌ„n as he sayth in the gospell of Johan ¶ PotestateÌ„ habeo ponendi aiÌ„am meaÌ„ potestateÌ„ habeo iteruÌ„ resumendieam ¶ I haue power to put my soule fro my bobye whan I wyll I haue power to receyue it ayen Joyne it to the bodye And as the prophete sayth ¶ Apud dnÌ„m miÌ„a copiosa apud euÌ„ redempcio ¶ With our lorde is mercy and plenteuous redempcoÌ„n Remembre y t thy lorde god for thyn offeÌ„se suffred these grete paynes of his grete mercy pyte that he hath of the whiche beâ—yÌ„ge a synner may not be saued without his payne for without his payne no payne is able to satysfye for synne Than I exorte the remembre his grete gentylnes lerne to suffre for hym ayen in parte recompence for his grete gentylnes for thyn offence For sythen he that was an Innocent suffred for the moche more thou that art a syuner ought to suffre for thy selfe The hamers of this goldsmythe whiche is almyghty god are not only the paynes trybulacoÌ„ns whiche he werketh in the by cause thou shalt so thynke oftentyme that his werkynge is so secrete that the reson of man can not fynde the cause therof perfytly but also the aduersaryes whiche he suffreth the to haue are his hamers to bete the forge of the a perfyte vessell by pacyent sufferynge accordynge to his plesure to receyue hymselfe here by grace in the lyfe to come with the grete glorye of his eternall felycyte And lyke as the hamer is ordeyned fynaly to the profyte makynge of the vessell not the vessell to the hamer and the hamer in makynge of the vessell and wyth the strokes it is hurte in hymselfe consumeth and fynally breketh So the wretched reprobate people whiche inworde in drede trouble the chosen childern of our lorde they hurte hemselfe fynally are brought to destruccyon dampnacyon thorugh the grete malyce y t they haue to other aÌ„d the pacyent takynges of theyr malyce purgeth the soules whiche y e haue the wronge done vnto them and thus theyr werkes are profytable to other daÌ„pnable to themselfe And therfor sayth Salomon y t the fole serueth to the wyseman ¶ Qui stultus est seruit sapienti ¶ That personeÌ„ is a fole whiche wylfully wyl do that thynge wherby it enteÌ„deth to hurte an other moost hurteth hymselfe And that persone is wyse whiche so wysely taketh that thynge y t myght hurte him that geteth grete profyte therby ThaÌ„ thou whiche wolde be a clene vesseyll honourable to god suffre the strokes of trybulacyon suffre the strokes of troublelers Also y u whiche wolde haue the crowne of vyctorye in this worlde the crowne of glorye in the
vp by medytacoÌ„n to almyghty god and hath excluded fro the y t vayne thoughtes whiche were wont to occupye thy mynde ryght vnprofytable the god thoughtes well ordeyned to our lorde more profyte the without mesure than ony bodely good whiche trybulacoÌ„n may take fro y e in token that his mynde is moche on his seruauÌ„tes whiche are in trouble he sayth in the booke of Exodi ¶ Uidi afflictionem populi mei et recordatus sum pacti mei ¶ I haue sene the trybulacyon of my people I am remembred of the couenauÌ„t and promysse that I haue made to hem As who sayth thou that art in trouble yf thou take thy trouble pacyently our lorde hath made a coÌ„uenauÌ„t to werke auayle therof whiche as y u shalt knowe hereafter y e it shall be to thy moost ê“fyte kyng Dauyd whan his owne sone Absolon hadde put hym fro the kyngdom and he wente lyke an outlawe from place to place for saluacyon of hymselfe One that was called Symey a wretched man whan he see hym he scorned hym and cursed hym and caste at hym stones and the foule stynkynge derte whan the seruauÌ„tes of Dauyd wolde haue ben vpon hym to haue stryken hym to haue reuenged theyr mayster Dauyd coÌ„maunded they sholde not do so saynge thus ¶ Dimitte eum vt mala dicat si forte respiciat dnÌ„s et reddat michi bonuÌ„ ê“ maladictioeÌ„s hac hodierna ¶ Suffre hym let hym allone in cursynge and rebu kynge me for by this sufferynge I truste god wyll rewarde me and for this cursynge pacyently taken he wyl gyue me some good rewarde Thus Dauyd wolde suffre the cursynge Iniurye of his enemyes as the mene to make hym to haue specyall helpe of our lorde in his grete nede whan his owne sone persued hym to put hym to deth Therfore suffre thou pacyently the euyll saynge Iniuryes of euyll folke suche bryngeth the to the blessynge specyal helpe of our lorde in suche thynges ther thou haste specyall nede of his helpe I sayd byfore that our lorde remembreth his couenauÌ„t to suche as be in trybula cyon Here thou wyll aske me what couenauÌ„t that it is He maketh couenauÌ„t with suche as pacyently ta ke trybulacyon to delyuer hem that they shall haue power of delyuerauÌ„ce and that he shall be felowe with hem as longe as they are in trybulacyon in berynge the trouble as it is sayd before This is fygured in the boke of Danyell whan he his felowe were put in the brennynge ouen there appered one with hem lyke the sone of god whiche made the ouen as so temperate as it hadde ben full of aprety colde wynde with a temperate dewe therwith that the fyre hurte them not in the ouen but it flowe out of the ouen vpon suche as kyndeled the fyre and de stroyde them and those in the ouen were delyuered Lyke wyse yf thou blyssedly take trybulacyons and blysse god lyke as the thre childern blyssed god whiche were in the ouen than thou shalt haue delyueraunce and the trybulacyons shall be caste on thyn aduersaryes whiche brought the to trouble by the helpe of Ihesu cryste the sone of god whiche yf thou feloushyp with hym with thyn hert shall swage the fyre of aduersyte brenne them therby whiche bloweth and kyndeled the fyre vpon the. Also our lorde maketh promysse to his frendes y e whiche are in trybulacyons that he shall rewarde them with the goodes of his glorye and more than thou mayst conuenyently aske of hym than the delyuerauÌ„ce of thy paynes and troubles and rewardes of his excellent goodes in his kyngdom of glorye And this couenaunt is wryten there he sayth ¶ Cum ipsosum in tribulacione eripiaÌ„ eum glorificabo eum ¶ with my frende I am in trybulacoÌ„n I shall delyuer hym and I shall glorefye hym Than sythen it is so profytable to the to haue god in thy mynde with feeré to offende hym and to this grete auayle thou art brought by trybulacyon than I counseyll the whiche wolde be the louer of our lorde and haue hym to thy rewarde after this lyfe whom thou haste specyally in thy mynde the tyme of trybulacyon that thou take pacyently payne temporall veÌ„xacyon THe tenthe consolacyon is to remembre that trybulacyon pacyentely thaÌ„kfully taken maketh our lorde more mercyfull to the it maketh thy prayer more merytoryous sooner to be except of god whiche hath ordeyned that mercy shall be had through askynge of hym Wherfore suche dulie soules as wyll not aske mercy our lorde be teth them to make them crye for mercy as the childe doth vnder the rodde wherfore our lorde is redie to gyue mercy to suche as faythfully perseuerauÌ„t ly calle for it at theyr petycyon prayer And that he accepteth the prayer of them is wryten in the boke of Ecclesyastes ther he sayth ¶ DeprecationeÌ„lesi exaudiet dnÌ„s ¶ Our lorde shall here the prayer of suche a ê‘sone as is hurte wherfore yf y u fele hurte in y e by payne trybulacyoÌ„ comforte thy selfe ayen that these hurtes make thy prayers the sooner to be herde of almyghty god for remyssyon of thy synue to the grete rewarde of thy saluacyon Our lorde beteth suche as he wyll haue saued w t payne trouble to constreyne them to crye for helpe by cause he wyll they shall vnderstande y t theyr helpe cometh of hym whiche after longe contynuaunce of cryenge grauÌ„teth them theyr petycoÌ„n Many a mouth is closed by prosperyte y t it cryeth for none helpe to god whiche is opened by aduersyte And so is wryten of Jonas the prophete y e whan he fled in to the contre of Tharse he sleped profuÌ„dly in y e feloushyp there he was as longe as the weder was fayre aÌ„d calme but whan tempest dyde ryse myghtely than he was wakened to make hym crye for helpe to his god the shypman caste hym in to the see there a qualle receyued hym swolowed hym in to his wombe there in grete fere of his lyfe amonges the bowelles of the qualle he cryed with feruent spyryte to god with contynauÌ„ce that crye was herde of god Suche hertes slepe with Jonas as in thef al 's Joye and deceyuable prosperyte of this lyfe forgett themselfe are brought to y e state y t they lytel atende ne take hede to ony thynge but suche as are to theyr bodely plesure or bodely hurte lytel take hede to thynges of theyr dampnacoÌ„n or saluacoÌ„n the more prosperyte they haue y e faster they are on slepe theyr slepe is the more peryllous the more kyghe they are to dampnacoÌ„n But lyke as ê“speryte maketh them to slepe lyke wyse aduersyte maketh them to wake And there they holde them stylle in slepynge there they crye whan they are wakynge And for this cause our lorde maketh to ryse grete tempestes of trybulacyons to suche folke that be profouÌ„dely in this
deuyll is pryncypall cause of synfull plesure in this worlde whiche shall tourment punysshe the vayne occupyed soules in the other worlde It is laboryous and paynfull to the to seke god thus with so grete fere in trybulaciō wherfore in thy sekynge remembre the fyndynge of him how Joyfull it shall be to the for thon shalt fynde hym therby yf thou take it thankefully whiche shal tourne all thy payne in to plesure thy sorowe in to solace thy transytorye aduersyte into the perdurable Joye prosperyte wherfore sayth the prophete ¶ Letetur cor quērenciū dn̄m querite faciē eius semper ¶ They haue cause to haue a lyght herte whiche seketh our lorde wherfore seke ye the Joyfull face of hym euer The payne of sehynge is bytter but he is swete whom thou sekest by payne yf thou seke hym by payne to the entent that y u wolde be a louer of hym thy payne shall apere the lesser as Dauyd sayth ¶ Letent̄ in teoēs qui querūtte ¶ All those whiche seke the they shall be lyghtned in the. But the beftyall folke whiche ordeyne not theyr payne as a mene wherby they sholde come to our lorde but only take it as a grete hurte to theyr bodye ryght lytell or nought remembre what profyte theyr soule may haue therby they are very woo with all for they hate more the myserye of payne than the myserye of synne more labour to auoyde thynges to theyr dysplesure than to the dysplesure of god And yet our lorde kepeth suche folke in payne to suche a tyme tyll he haue made them to set lytel by them selfe be more redye to applye them to do after his wyll than after theyr owne wyll lyke as the mayster cesseth not to punysshe his seruaūt to suche a tyme tyl he hath brought hym to werke after his wyl specyally whan it is suche a seruaūt that he hath a fauour to hym wyll not put hym from hymselfe Thou wylt peraduenture saye a they speke falsely vpon me sclaūder me how can this come of god for this is dedely synne no synne may be Imputed to god To this I answere that our lorde of his secrete dome vnknowen Jugement suffreth the to synne of that synne he wyll werke vertue in the make the to haue wyl to forsake synne whiche wyl cometh of sorowe confusyon that thou hast in thy selfe this payne of sorowe whiche thou feleste byte thyn herte ryght bytterly cometh of god and also the good wyll whiche foloweth therof in forsakynge of synne therfor the prophete sayth ¶ Imple facies eorum ignomina et querent nomen tuum dn̄e ¶ Fulfyll the face of theyr soule with shame rebuke than they shall seke the. And therfore our lorde suffreth many a soule to falle in grete ād openly knowen synne wherby they haue grete shame and are brought therby to forsake synne to set ryght lytell by themselfe whiche byfore made to moche of themselfe hadde grete pryde and vayne glorye in the good name reporte that was made vpon them And by this comon shame and shamefull reporte whiche gooth vpon them this vayne plesure is clene taken from them Thus god is so good that he suffreth none euyll to be done in the worlde neyther in his electe childern but of the whiche that he werketh a grete auayle to them They shall clerely see vpon the daye of Jugement that lyke as they neuer dyd good thynge vnrewarded soo they neuer dyd euyll thynge but our lorde dyd werke grete auayle therof to theyr rewarde yf thou sekest our lorde in the waye of paynfull pouerte and wantest thynges as it is sene to the that it is necessarye to thy lyuynge sustentacōn remémbre that yf thou pacyently take thy pouerte thou shalt haue the greetest rychesse that euer was for thou shalt haue god himselfe all the rychesse that he hath shall be thyn As he sayth in the gospell ¶ Omnia meā tua sunt ¶ All my rychesse are thy rychesse O than be thou glad to bere thy pouerte Joyfully for a whyle whiche hastely shall be made so ryche It were a grete plesure to a poore man to haue promysed y e rychesse of a temporall kyng but moche more plesure it is to a faythful soule to haue promysed the Inestimable rychesse of god whiche is the kyng of kynges ād lorde of lordes Thou sayest peraduenture Syr I haue loste my bodely helth wherby I myght haue done many good werkes to the honour of god and profyte of my soule fro these I am letted now by grete sekenesse oftentyme fere of deth I answere the in this that peraduenture whan thou hadde thyn helth thou occupyed full symply more thou vsed it to thy plesure than to the plesure of god ād y u sholde haue comen to more Incōuenyentes therby yf thou had contynued therin And for mysusynge of thyn helth our lorde hath sende the now this seknesse there as y u wolde not serue hym well in tyme of they helth in well doynge serue hym well now in tyme of sekenesse by good sufferynge Be thou sure that yf thyn helth had ben more to his plesure than sekenesse y u sholde haue had it standynge that he is the pryncypall cause of all bodely sekenesse and ther thou lesest thy bodely helth whiche is better to the than all the rychesse of the worlde y t y u getest ayen therby yf y u gracyously take it whiche goodes passe thy bodely helth all bodely rychesse of the worlde that is to saye the grace of our lorde in this worlde with vertue of mekenesse pacyence and charyte flesshely payne is the specyall remedy to auoyde flessly synne for the tyme of payne y e wyll hath but lytell plesure in remembraūce of flesshely delectacōn therfore yf it be tempted it is the more stronger to resyste it and therfore sayth the apostle ¶ Cūinfirmor forcior sū ¶ Whan I am seke in my bodye I am stronger to resyste the temptaciō of vyce in my soule By payne the seke persōe is brought to set lytell by hymselfe for yf it be full of payne it setteth lytell by precyous clothes it setteth lytell by worshyp worldly honour And that persone is meke whiche setteth lytell by hymselfe but pacyence is more paynful that is to saye wylfully thankefully to take the sekenesse with hande herte to gyue louynge to our lorde therfore neuertheles a fayth full soule remembrȳge these profytes whiche come by sekenesse is full glad therof conformeth y e wyll to the wyll of god but this pacyence to god muste haue charyte to those whiche are about it yf thou haue these thre that is to saye mekenesse in lytell settynge by thy selfe obedyent pacyence to god charyte to suche as be aboute the without chydynge braulynge than y u haste grete wytnesse y e whiche shal brynge the to the