¶ The Rote or myrour of consolacyon cōforte PEr multas tribulaciones oportet introire in regnum dei ¶ Thus sayth the apostole saynt Poule in the boke of actes and dedes that is to saye in englysshe By many trybulacōns we muste entre in to y e kyngdome of god wherfore all those whiche intende to com in to the kyngdome of heuen muste pacyently take temporall trybulacyon For that is the waye thyder by the ordynaūce of god And those y t moest pacyently take ther trybulacōn they shall haue ther̄ moost consolacyon For say nt Poule sayth in the seconde Epystle to the Corynthes ¶ Sicut socu sumus passionis sic erimus consolacionis ¶ That is to saye Lyke as we are parteners in trybulacyons so shall we be parteners in Joye and consolacyon Thus trybulacyon is bytter but the ende that hit bryngeth to is moost swete delectable And remēbraūce of that euerlastynge swetenes maketh faythfull soules swetely to take mater of trybulacyon Temporall aduersyte trouble profyteth no thynge to the rewarde of eternall Joye but yf it be pacyentely taken Thus pacyence maketh trybulacyon profytable And the profyte of temporall prosperyte cometh of the vertue of mekenes wherby prosperyte is lytel set by The parfyte pacyente herte maketh moche of aduersyte And the parfyte meke herte setteth lytell by temporall prosperyte lytell Joyeth therin but rather soroweth bycause he fereth that he vseth not parfeytly acordynge to the grete plesure of god the goodes of this prosperyte Yf thou aske me why our lorde wyl gyue these temporall goodes to suche as he knoweth y t are wretched sinners and vse them euyl I answere One cause is to shewe his parfyte habondāt goodnesse whiche gyueth good thynges not only to suche as be good but also to suche as are euyl wretched synners And to gyue vs example to folowe hym in doynge good for euyll as he byddeth in the gospell of Mathew Loue your enemyes sayth he do well to suche as do euyll to you and praye for suche as pursue you speke euyl of you For ye doo thus than ye may knowe that ye are parfyte in vertue lyke as your fader in heuē is parfyte maketh the sonne to gyue lyght as well to the euyll men as to the good men And maketh the vnryghtwysse men to haue profyte of the rayne as well as the ryghtwysse And this is a grete comforte to take pacyently trybulacyon For yf we wyll for the loue of god breke our one frowarde herte ād for to wynne y e loue of god loue suche as trouble vs praye for them and do good ayenst euyll thā we haue one of the gretest tokenes that we are parfyte in the syght of god as his owne children and folowers of hym whiche thynge yf we wyll remembre vs is most Joyfull to vs. Also it maketh vs more pacyent yf we duely remembre y e goodes that we haue resceyued of god the goodes of nature as wytte eloquence seblenesse of bodye helthe beaute goodes of fortune as golde syluer clothe lyuelode and how we haue myspended them synfully how pacyently he hath suffred vs longe tyme to abyde in synne to the entent that fynaly remembryn ge his goodenes his pacyence longe sufferynge we sholde tourne to hym wherfore whan he stowe geth vs yf we remembre how wel we haue deserued hit we shall by his grace more parfytly be ayen hit Our lorde gyued good thynges as helthe rychesse prosperyte to euyll men wymen y t remembryng his kyndenesse they sholde be the more moeued to penaunce sorynesse whan they see they haue offen ded so kynde a lorde whiche so gentelly calleth thē of his grete goodnes And he sendeth oftymes trybulacōn to good folk whiche are not parfytly goode for they take not thankefully trybulacōn but some tyme grudge vnder the rodde of chastysemēt wherfore he kepeth them styll vnder the rodde tyll they be so acustomed therwith y t they can take it pacyently Thus by his kyndenesse he bryngyth euyll folke to penaūce and by his sharpnesse he bryngeth good folke to pacyence Also he gyueth prosperyte and goodes of this worlde to good men and wymen to nourysshe them cheryshe them in his loue lyke as the fader telleth the childe to folowe hym by a fayre appell he sendeth also trybulacōn to euyll folke to make them drede hym And thus the good folke he bryngeth to loue by worldely prosperyte And euyll folke he bryngeth to drede by aduersyte ONe cause why our lorde wyll that good folke haue aduersyte and trybulacyon is this bycause that euyll folke shall not thynke that trybulacyon is so euyll that our lorde accepteth hit nought ne loueth them whiche hate hit for they see the contrarye that those whiche be moost in vertue haue moost trybulacyon as our sauyour wiche neuer dyd synne hadde moost bytter payne and trouble Also his blessyd moder his apostles and his dyscyples And lyke wyse now in these dayes suche folke as our lorde loueth beste suche he sendeth moost sorowe in ther herte and moost payne or labour in bodye with the whiche in the begynnyng they grut che but fynally they are taught to suffre hit swetly and to gyue thankynges to our lorde therof whiche by trybulacyon delyuereth them from grete synne and brnngeth theym to grete grace in this worlde and ordeyneth for them plentefully the plesure perpetually and glorye of the lyfe that is to come ¶ He gyueth also the goodes of this lyfe to suche as be wretched and synfull lyuers after theyr owne wyll and not after the wyll and lawe of god bycause that good men and wymen shal not set theyr herte to moche on these goodes which they see that wretched people haue with the hatred of god but that they shall loue those goodes moost whiche haue none but suche as be good are specyaly beloued of our lorde And these are the goodes of vertue whiche brynge vs to the habondaūce rychesse of y e ryall empyre of heuen The good soules set lytell by the vayne prosperyte of this worlde for hitis transytorye ād rather occasyon of vyce than of vertue and shey see that they are gyuen to theym only well to dyspense that they haue no lordshyp in theym but only vse that they shall be straytely examyned ād gyue acounte how they haue vsed them and by the ryghtfull Jugemēt of god they shall haue grete punysshement in this lyfe or after this lyfe for euery thynge y t they myspende wherfore these faythfull soules haue more fere than fauour more payn thā plesure in grete possessyon of worldely goodes they are not inflate ne exalte in themselfe by pryde in prosperyte For amonge grete possessyon of worldely bodely goodes they fynde themselfe ryght poore in the goostly goodes wherfore yf the worldely prospe ryte rychesses honours be taken fro them they are not caste downe by sorowe for they knowe that
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
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
yet the moost token of loue is aduersyte more than prosperyte For that is the moost token of loue whiche the fader of heuen gyueth to hym y t heloueth beste but he gaaf to our sauyour his sone his blyssed moder whom he loued beste moost trybulacyon in this lyfe lytel prosperyte wherfore aduersyte is the moost sure token of loue Also sythen oure sauyour come in to this worlde as a marchauÌ„t in to a feyre to chose y e good leue the euyll as ysaye sayth ¶ Ut sciat eligere bonuÌ„ reprobare maluÌ„ ¶ But this wyse our lorde refused prosperyte the kyngdome of Jure whan it was offered to hym chose aduersyte and grete labour payne all his lyfe and with the moost bytterest deth endeth his lyfe Than yf thou wylt be awyfe marchauÌ„t folowe hym whiche can not be deceyued in his marchauÌ„dyse Than chese with hym here trybulacoÌ„n thou shalt haue with hym the Infenyte Joye consolacyon THe xiii conforth in trybulacyon is to remembre that yf thou suffre thy payne and trybulacyon pacyently than y u makest a grete conquest of thy goostly enemyes vtterly confouÌ„dest all theyr malyce For all theyr labour is to make the to take thy trybulacoÌ„n with grutchynge and a wofull herte bycause thou art let therby fro suche plesures as thou art dysposed to haue yf thou were without suche payne trouble Wherfore yf thou take thy trouble pacyently with a meke obedyent herte referrynge it as a mene meryte to come to y e euerlastynge Joye plesure And y t y u haste a wyl not to be sorâ— in that thou art let by trybulacuÌ„n for those dysceyuable plesures whiche sholde make the to lose this plesure of eternal felycyte than thou obteynest vyctorye of the fendes whiche tempte the to the contrarye and they shal haue more payne after that they beÌ„ conquered therfore sayth the prophete ¶ Perdes oâ—s qui tribulaÌ„t aiÌ„am meaÌ„ ¶ Thou shalt vndo punysshe all those whiche trouble my soule And of euery fende that thou getest the better of thou shalt haue the place of glorye in heuen whiche he sholde haue had yf he had not fallen as Orygenes sayth of these wordes in Deutro Omnis locus queÌ„ calcauerit pes vester vester erit ¶ And scrypture sayth that these holy gracyous soules whiche ouercome breke the purpose of the deuyll they Iâ—lude hym deceyue hym as Dauyd sayth ¶ Draco iste quem formasti ad illudendum ei ¶ This dragon the fende thou haste made hym that sholde be deluded deceyued whiche at all tyme laboureth to deceyue For good soules vse the temptacyons of y e deuyll contrarye to his entente for by those thynges they are meke wherby he wolde brynge them to pryde and by that they are pacyent wherby he wolde make them vnpacyent and by those thynges they are brought to chastyte wherby he wolde brynge them to lecherye And thus they gyue hym a falle in his owne tourne and with that same croke they caste hym downe with the whiche he entended for to haue wrasteled them downe O how gladde mayst thou than be whiche pacyently haste taken aduersyte For by the merytes of this lyfe thou hast deserued to haue full domynacoÌ„n of thyn enemyes at the houre of deth than they shall be aferde of the for than thou shal be confermed in grace and shalt haue power to tye and to bynde them lyke as the bere warder keper byÌ„deth his beres For thou whiche puttest them to fere shame in this lyfe resystynge theyr temptacyous thou muste than be terryble to them for than y u shalt receyue thy grete power of god in rewarde of thy batayl wherfore thou whiche wolde haue a Joyfull houre of deth take pacyently paynes troubles of this lyfe THe xiiii consolacyon is to remembre that yf thou take trybulacyon pacyently y u drawest to the the mercyfull loke of our lorde and mekest hym with grete plesure to beholde the of this mayst thou be Joyfull that ony thynge sholde be in the wherfore our lorde sholde haue a specyall plesure to beholde the for this thou mayst be sure that yf he haue plesure to loke on the by that loke thoushalt haue profyte of hym wherfore pacyently suffre a whyle for y u shalt be sure that of this sufferauÌ„ce shall growe grete profyte This profyte y u mayst not loke to haue hastly for after the ordre of wysedom of our lorde it mufte haue a tyme in growynge Lyke as y e husbande man loketh not for repyng of his corn as soone as he hath sowen it Our lorde is nothasty in hys werkyng but doth al thyng by tyme delyberacoÌ„n as y u mayst see in y e werkes of nature Thy nayles thy heere groweth coÌ„tynualy but they growe so softely that y e mayst not perceyue theyr growynge loke vpon them as perfytely as y u canst and yet by processe of tyme y u mayst see y t they be growen vnder thyn eyen yet thou perceyuest not Lyke wyse grace grete vertue groweth in thy soule by pacyent takynge of aduersyte that y u shalt well perceyue yf thou perseruer in pacyence thê° vertue groweth yet tho y u perceyuest it not Than specyally our lorde hath plesure to loke on the whan thou takest trybulacyons to the entent that he doth seÌ„de them to the that is to saye as penaunce for that y u haste synned and to obteyne therby grace vertue And that by thy pacyent thankefull sufferynge y u shalt gyue good example to suche as do knowe thy trouble And than thou mayst saye as it is wryten in the boke of Trenos ¶ Uide dnÌ„e qmÌ„ tribulor ¶ Beholde lorde for I am troubled As who sayd well taken trouble is the cause that thou lokest on me this trouble thus taken maketh of croked soules ryghtwysse soules of the whom Dauyd sayth ¶ Oculi dnÌ„i suê‘iustos et aures eius ad preces corr ¶ The eyen of our lorde are set vpon y e ryghtwysse men his eeres are nyghe to theyr prayers But y u wylt peraduenture saye that also he beholdeth wret che men for it foloweth ¶ Uultus auteÌ„ dnÌ„i suê‘ faciences mala ¶ The face of our lord is vpon them that done moche euyl but attende ye then what foloweth in the same verse ¶ Ut ê‘dat de terra memo riam eorr ¶ Our lorde loketh on the wretched men to the entent that after a lytell whyle they shall neuer be remembred after to y e honour of god theyr coÌ„mendacyon But by the good soules whiche here pacyently take trybulacyon our lorde shall euer haue honour they also shall haue perpetuell laude coÌ„mendacoÌ„n lyke as we see in the chirche of god coÌ„ tunuall honour done to god by suche as haue gretely suffred for god and for theyr synnes in this lyfe Ther was
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
batayll where a man putteth noo dyfference betwixt his frende his enemye The Joyes of this worlde I saye are enemyes to the soule brynge hit to synne perdycyon Troubles of this worlde sekenes payÌ„e are frendes to the soule for they drawe hit from synne Wherfore yf thou hate thy frendes loue thyn enemyes thou seest what Jeoperdy y u standest in wherfore saye welcome my frende trybulacyon and fy of erthely Joye THe seconde consolacyon and fruyte in trybulacyon is to remembre how the herte is closed vp fro vanytees wherby hit stoppeth the eeres of the soule soo that hit may not here the callynges and the mocyons of teÌ„ptacyon as other do whiche fele no trybulacyons For in suche hertes as do floure in prosperyte the vayne plesure of the worlde doth kepe ther perleament at lyberte And those hertes gyue attendaunce and withstudye applye them how they may atteyne to fulfyll the desyres of worldly plesures in makyÌ„ge of goodly bil dynge and of goodly facyons of clothes and to be well acompanyed with goodly seruauntes And to gydre tresoure to be called ryche and to come to honour and dygnyte and to be moche set by aÌ„d to be called fayre in face and goodly in bodye These vayne and transytorye plesures do so replenysshe fulfyll the soule with suche mocyons that in maner hit forgeteth hymselfe both in tyme of prayer and whan hit sholde be vertuously occupyed hit is so a customed to take hede and attende to the spekynges of these deceyuable plesures that in maner hit hath noo plesure to here thynges profytable to the plesure of god the perpetuall weyle of the soule But whan trybulacyon cometh all this vayne speche cesseth as the mocyons of vayne plesures are withdrawen This is fygured sygnefyed in the boke of Job where hit is sayd the tyme that he was in grete trybulacyon ¶ Nemo loquebatur ei verbuÌ„ videbant enim dolorem eius vehementem ¶ The frendes that came to Job whan they see hym haue so grete payne and trybulacyon they spake no worde to hym By these frendes are sygnefyed y e teÌ„ptacyons of prosperite whiche make pretence by the plesaunt semblauÌ„ce coÌ„tenauÌ„ce they shewe to the soule that they were very frendes and they are veri traytours for they cesse not tyll they haue brought the soule to moche sorowe oftentymes in this worlde And yf ther folowe no sorowe and penaunce in this worlde ther foloweth dampnacyon with perpe tuall payne and tourment after this worlde in helle with the deuylles whiche moost labour to make the hertes moost to loue y e temporal prosperyte of this lyfe and the worlde and the flesshe do helpe the deuyll to make the soule to set the loue in prosperyte of this lyfe whiche sholde be fixed of the felicyte of the euerlastynge lyfe for all y e tyme y t it shall abyde here is grauÌ„ted hit to lerne to set lytel by the vayne Joyes plesures of this lyfe For by the ordynauÌ„e of god the lesse hit setteth by the Joyes of this wor de the more hit shall haue of those moost excellent and eternall Joyes in heuen what our lorde of his special grace seÌ„deth trybulacoÌ„n These Joyes are lytell set by therfore they dare not speke leste thei sholde be forsaken for euer and therfore as in this tyme they go awaye as astoned and a shamed O than this trybulacyon is of grete auctoryte whiche stoppeth the mouth of y e vayn plesures of the worlde Than lecherye is set onlyde she dare nor spekefor her speche in that tyme is no thynge set by Lyke wyse glotonye pryde for as that tyme the herte delyteth nother in delyctable mete and dryÌ„ke ne in fresshe clothes Than the eyen of the soule whiche were blynded with prosperite that it nother see hymselfe ne god now they are opened and can dyscerne that all is but wretchednesse in this worlde that theris no true loue but y e loue of god and vertue and than it fereth god And than hit called besely for his helpe and maketh many a good purpose and promyse to amende the lyfe and to do thynges to his plesure Thou shal vnderstande herÌ„ that what maner of spekynges the temptacoÌ„ns make in thy soule other by thoughtes or ymagynacoÌ„ns contrarye to the soule whiche somtyme seme abhomynable and shamfull fere thou no thynge as longe as thou answerest not to them saynge ye be consentynge but nay by dyscentyÌ„ge of For as longe as y e coÌ„sentes not to y e thought be they neuer so erronê° or neuer so abhomynable they shall nothyng hurte the to the decresse of thy meryte This is fygured in the bokes of the kynges where kyng ysachy coÌ„mauÌ„ded y t people of Jerusalem whiche stode vpoÌ„ the walles of the cyte y t they sholde not answere to the blasphemê° spekyÌ„ges of Rapsaces whiche was marchall of y e oost of kyÌ„g Senacheryb seyde sege to the cyte But peradueÌ„ture y u wyll saye to me sir how shall I knowe y t I consent not to my thoughtes To this I answere y t one tokeÌ„ is y t y u conseÌ„â—â— not whan y u wolde haue them awaye An other is whaÌ„ y u felest a remors a sorowenes a dysplesure growynge in thyÌ„ hert of suche thoughtes for this sorowe cometh of a â—traryousnes whiche is bytwene thy wyll thy mynde an other is whan y u canst fynde in thyne herte to praye god to take them awaye for notwithstandynge that they hurte y e not yet they trouble sore abasshe stonysshe an Innocent soule And as for thoughtes coÌ„trarye to the fayth fere them not as longe as thy wyll is to byleue as the chirche of god byleueth For thaÌ„ y e fayth of the chirche is thy fayth after that thou shalt be taken not after thy rennynge mynde Thus sythen trybulacoÌ„n putteth to sylence the grete teÌ„ptacoÌ„ns of this worlde y t they dare not come nygh the troubled soule openeth the eyen therof that hit may see hit selfe god and that the worldely prosperyte is but myserye aÌ„d maketh the soule to crye to god kepeth hym in mynde I couÌ„seyll the to make moche of aduersyte whan hit cometh and thanke god therof For he sendeth euer to y e for thy wele and more than thou can thynkeÌ„ and for other causes than thy mynde is able to knowe excepte y e haste it by reuelacyon of hym THe thyrde consolacoÌ„n comforte in trybulacoÌ„n is to remembre the profyte of trybulacoÌ„n in purgynge of the soule fro synne wretchenesse Here is to be vnderstande y t ther are fyue maners of purgacyons whiche are remenbred in scrypture One is of the bodye by medycynable drynke or by lettynge of blood that is other by strykynge of the veyne or crasynge or cuttynge of the flesshe The seconde is purgynge of metall aÌ„d that is other with the fyrelyke as golde is gurged or by furbysshynge lyke as
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
peryllous slepe For he wyl that they crye on hym hertely beseche hym for suche thynges as he wyll gyue them For lyke wyse he hath ordeyned what he wyll gyue them also he hath ordeyned that they shall come therby by petycyons and by askynge of hym And therfore sayth Dauyd in the persone of suche as haue theyr helpe of god by theyr petycyon and prayer ¶ Ad dnÌ„m cuÌ„tribularer clamaui et exaudiuit me ¶ Whan I haue ben troubled I haue cryed to god he hath herde me and graunted me my petycyon Suche folke as are in prosperyte thei calle somtyme to our lorde for many whiche are in prosperyte the are not brought soo faste on slepe y t they forgete themselfe and god lyke as they do whiche are very foles yet in tyme of prosperyte the soules are slomerynge towarde slepynge soo y t the crye is not so myghty to obteyne the helpe of our lorde as in tyme of aduersyte Perauenture y u wylt saye to me that the payne aduersyte whiche thou hast incombred thyn herte so sore y t y u lesse prayest lesse callest to god the tyme of aduersyte than in tyme of prosperyte To this I saye that yf thou speke noo worde in the tyme of thy payne but only applye y e to take it pacyently than thy payne cryeth for the. For as many sores Infyrmytees as Lazarus had in his bodye as many mouthes he had cryenge to god And yf thou haue but a lytell prayer with thy herte or mouth that tyme the vertue of well takynge thy trybulacyon maketh it of grete meryte derely to be receyued of god As many trybulacoÌ„ns as thou haste and takest them well thankynge god of them as many proptours aduocates thou haste in the courte of heueÌ„ to speke for the calle before the trone of god for expedycoÌ„n helpe for the. And thê° yf thy mouth be shette at somtyme for greue bytternesse y t thou felest by trybulacyoÌ„ thy trybulacoÌ„n than cryeth for the with a grete voyce in the herynge of god trybulacoÌ„ns also make thy prayers sooner to spede Thy trybulacyons are as paymentes for the charter of thy delyuerauÌ„ce therfore pacyently suffre trybulacoÌ„ns as thou wyll haue the letters of thy delyuerauÌ„ce And of this gyueth the example that holy man Job whiche speketh as he that had longe tyme abyden at the courte desyrynge to haue his letters hath not to paye for them ¶ Quis michi det vt veniat peticio mea et quod exspectabo tribuat michi dnÌ„s ¶ who shall gyue me that my petycyon may come to me and that our lorde shal gyue to me those thynges whiche I desyre of hym And specyally amonge all other prayers the Pater noster is moost specyall And that thou mayst well vnderstande whan he gaaf it to the by his owne mouth for he hymselfe knoweth beste what petycyon moost pleseth hym He not wery to crye notwithstandynge that y u haste not soone delyuerauÌ„ce after thyn owne wyll at the courte of our lorde for he knoweth the ordre of his courte wherfore it is moost expedyent that thou submytte thy wyll to his besechynge hym that after the ordre of his wyll he wyl delyuer the and than thou shalt be sure of blyssed delyuerauÌ„ce y u whiche thus abydest that thou gracyously labour for thy delyuerauÌ„ce The wretched people take not themselfe as abyders for he that abydeth he hopeth to haue some thynge but these men loke for no rewarde of theyr trybulacoÌ„ns They abyde for noo thynge but for worldely good worshype or solace theyr hertes be so fixed in these worldely goodes that they loke lytell to the goodes of heuen and the rewarde of god The ryghtwysse people whiche see by the ryghtwysnesse of god that noo synne may passe vnpunysshed they desyre of god to haue labour and trybulacyon in this worlde wherby they may escape y e bytter paynes and tourmentes the whiche ben ordeyned for synners that haue lytell payne in this worlde and they Joye of theyr trybulacyon For the payne whiche is pacyently taken for the loue of god in this worlde it purgeth not only the soule fro synne but also it ordeyneth grete Joye after this worlde And the payne the whiche is suffered after this lyfe it only profyteth to purgacyon of synne in suche as departe fro this lyfe in the state of grace Wherfore the holy man Job sayth ¶ Qui cepit verberare me ipÌ„e conterat me ¶ He whiche hath begonnen to bete me he spare me not but bete me ynough and in that only I wyll comforte me for that he gyueth me so grete payne and sorowe and that he spareth me not O take good hede of this holy soule whiche had loste all his rychesse all his childern all his bodely helth that the flesshe felle roten fro his boones and was despysed of his frendes and scorned of his wyfe And yet all his sufferaunce he helde it but as a begynnynge of his betynge and besought god to bete hym fully as who wolde saye that god hadde but lytell done to hym in all these and other comforte he hadde not ne none other he desyred to haue but that god wolde not spare hym He vnderstode that his betynge was payment to obteyne his letters of delyueraunce and therfore he besought god that he wolde gyue hym payment ynough that he sholde not be taryed after his delyueraunce in defaute of payment Also he vnderstode that suche as our lorde spareth in this lyfe he spareth them for to be beten after this lyfe And suche as that our lorde loueth he beteth them in this lyfe bycause that he wyl spare them after this lyfe The wretched folke are spared here by the grete wrath and grete yre of god for he wyll here after hym reuenge of them And therfore Job desyred to make all his paymenthere Thus yf that thou be dyscomforted in that that thou art gretely beten with payne and trybulacyon thou muste comforte thy selfe ayen in remembrynge how that our lorde loueth the and wyll spare the in tyme comynge Our lorde wyll not bete the twyes for one thynge whan as one betynge is suffycyent and the suffycyence is made by a good wyll and by the good takynge of betynge For one gentyll and obedyent wyll maketh a lytel payne as acceptable to god for remyssyon of synne and encresse of grace as ony grete payne without suche a good wyll For as it is wryten in Genesis ¶ Respexit deus ad abel et ad munera sua ¶ Our lorde dyd beholde Abell and his offerynges â—yrste he be helde his herte and his good entente and than his gyftes as who wolde saye he made more of his gode and his louynge herte than he dyd of his gyftes for ther is no gyfte acceptable to god except it come of a good herte Thus this holy fader Job offered his payne to god with a good hert and with a good wyl whan
he desyred that he sholde not spare hym and all was by cause that he wolde that he sholde spare hym in an other place and therfore lyke as he desyred to be beten here also he desyred for to be spared there Wherfore he sayth thus ¶ Parce michi domine ¶ Lorde spare me wherfore I counseyl the whiche our lorde here doth vysyte with payne trouble that thou thanke hym therof whiche so louely remembreth the that he wyll in tyme to come spare the in that place where the wouÌ„de of his stroke shall neuer be heled for the synne whiche deserueth forgyuen after this lyfe standynge thou knowest thy selfe a synner and muste nedes be beten I counseyll the take thy betynge so that it may be profytable to the and auoyde the betynge in tyme comy ge for ellys thou shalt be beten both here and there here thy wounde may be heled but there it shall neuer be heled THe xi consolacyon is to remembre how the herte is keped and nourysshed by trybulacyon Our lorde hath ordeyned that the goodes of the hert shal be vnder y e kepynge of trybulacoÌ„n w t out suche kepyng of tyme they are lost as it was preuâ—n in the wyse man Salomon of whom saynt Gregorye sayth ¶ Ideo sapiÌ„a cor salomonis deseruit quia nulla tribulacoÌ„is disciplina illud custodiuit ¶ The wysedom of god dyd forsake the herte of Salomon for no dyscyplyne of trybulacioÌ„ dyd it kepe For lyke as the fyre is keped vnder the asshes the sede vnder the snowe lyke wyse the her tes of the frendes of our lorde are keped vnder the couerynge of trybulacyon In token of this our lorde coÌ„mauÌ„ded that his tabernacle sholde be couered with here whiche is sharpe to the entente that this sharpe couerynge sholde defende the precyous curtens of sylke whiche was vndertheym So our lorde couered the soules of his louers with sharpe trybulacyonsto the entent that the grete tempestes of flesshely temptacyons shall not fade the fayre ornamentes of vertue whiche clotheth the soule And this trybulacyon bryngeth in to our mynde the myserable state of our nature how soone it is brought to sekenesse of bodye temptacyon of soule by Inordynate plesure of malyce of wyll how vnable it is to bere perfytly the weyght of ony trybulacioÌ„ but only by the specyal supportacoÌ„n of the grace of our lorde And thus we are madeÌ„ by trybulacyon to me ke our selfe where as prosperyte made vs to haue more plesure in our selfe than we ought to haue aÌ„d made vs hyer in our conceyte than we sholde haue be And therfore of suche that haue no trybulacyon in this lyfe it is wryten in the spalter ¶ CuÌ„ hoiÌ„bus noÌ„ flagellabuntÌ„ ideo tenuit eos suê‘uia ¶ Suche as are noâ— scourged by trybulacyon they are holden w t the vyce of pryde wherfore thou whiche art a prisoner with pryde as thou mayst vnderstande in that thou haste to moche loue to thy selfe and to lytel to god thousholde praye our lorde to bete the to breke this bande of Inordynaie loue For as longe as thou haste this loue to thy selfe thou mayst not haue that loue to god whiche that thou ought to haue Thou mayst knowe whan that pryde hath possessyon of thy soule by the effectes and weâ—kes that growe of pryde as whan thou art meued to saye thynges coÌ„mendable of thy selfe to the entente that thou sholde be coÌ„mended hauynge no respecte to god ne to the coÌ„mendacyon of hym This auayntynge aÌ„d boostynge groweth of the vyce of pryde and whan that thou art dysobedyent and frowarde and wyll folowe rather thyn owne wyll than the counseyll and byddynge of suche whiche speke to the for thy profyte and is dysposed to chyde to braulle with the whan thy wyll is not fulfylled Also trybulacyon dooth nourysshe thyn herte as it is wryten in Deutronomye ¶ Inundaciones maris quasi lac sugges ¶ Thou muste souke the bytter floodes of trybulacyon as they were mylke lyke as the childe souked the mylke to the encresse of the bodely helpe helth So thou muste souke the bytter trybulacoÌ„n to thy goostly helth for yf thou take them swetely than thou growest in vertue in the grace and fauour of our lorde wherin standeth the helth of thy soule wherfore in thy trybulacoÌ„n comforte the with this mylke whiche shall brynge vpon the swete flood of the glorye of god THe xii consolacyon in the tyme of trybucyon is to remembre that trybulacyons do testefye and bere wytnesse to thyn herte that our lorde dooth specyall loue the and therfore thou ought to receyue them gladdly for they come for to bere wytnesse that thou shalt haue the grettest thynge of the moost valour that thou mayst desyre in this lyfe whiche is the loue of god And this sheweth Salomon where as he sayth ¶ Qui diligit filium assiduat illi flagella ¶ The fader whiche that loueth his childe he beteth hym oftentymes Thus our lorde kepeth his childern euer vndernethe some rodde for he beteth not alwaye with one rodde for somtyme he beteth by trouble of the soule somtyme by payne of the bodye and somtyme whan it semeth that he spareth yet he beteth As whan he suffreth the to goo at lyberte and thou thynkest thy selfe out of trouble yet he suffreth the thoughtes and temptacyons to come in thy mynde as that thy consyence is greued and there he beteth the and thus he spareth the somtyme in betynge he beteth the in sparynge But suche as he sparetij in this lyfe he ordeyned that after this lyfe that al his scourges shal come vpon them al at ones in the bytter payne of dampnacyon And than he shall auauÌ„ce promote to the grete endelesse prosperyte to his childern whiche he hath beyet in this lyfe And ther shal be shewed the grete loue of hym whiche he dyd bete in this lyfe the hatred wrath of them whiche he spared in this lyfe for than he shall caste of hym to gydre all his vengeaunce and all the tourmentes paynes whiche they deserue here shal be hylled vpon them there as our lorde sayth in the boke of Deutronomye ¶ Congregabo suê‘ eos mala et sagittas meas complebo in eis ¶ I shall geder to gydre the paynes vpon them I shall stryke them fully with myn arowes Than thou whiche desyrest to haue the loue of our lorde and to knowe that he loueth the be glad whan the wytnesse of his loue cometh to the. Perauenture thou sayest that prosperyte is also wytnesse of his loue for suche as our lorde loueth somtyme receyue prosperyte of hyÌ„ lyke as other tyme they receyue aduersyte aÌ„d thus thou sayest that sythen both come from one hande one maner of folke y t the one is no more wytnesse of the loue of god than the other To this I answere that not withstandynge that both prosperyte aÌ„d aduersyte come of our lorde