¶ 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
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
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
grete teÌ„ptacyons they haue resysted for the loue of hym He letteth not the troubled soule alway neyther oftentyme fele his presence by goostly swetnesse by cause he wyll kepe it lowe aÌ„d in fere for the more lowe that a soule maketh himselfe and the lesse that hit setteth by hymselfe and thynketh that it is so wretched y t it is not worthy to haue ony goostly comforte of god the more our lorde maketh of hym and y e more glorye aÌ„d Joye theris ordeyÌ„ed to hym For as he sayth ¶ Omnis qui se humiliat exaltabitur ¶ Euery persone that meketh hymselfe he shall be exalted And thus many a soule groweth in vertue and lytell perceyued it as by ony goostly swetnesse But who so myght haue a lytell taste of the parfyte delectacyon to the whiche he shall be brought by trybulacyon yf he take it well He sholde not complayne but Joye of tribulacyon As saynt Poule sayth ¶ Gloriamur in spe filioâ— dei et non solum in hoc sed in tribulacione scientes qmÌ„ tribulacio pacienciaÌ„ operatÌ„ pacientia probacioneÌ„ probacio spem spes autem non confundit quia caritas dei diffusa est in cordibê° nostris ¶ We Joye sayth he not only that we hope to be the childe of god and Inherytours of his Joye but we Joye also in trybulacyon knowynge that tribulacyon maketh a pacyent herteyf it be well taken and pacyence of herte is the grete profe that a persone is the very chosen childe of eleccyon and after that profe cometh hope of saluacyon not as of our merytes but by the grace of god whiche is yelded in to our hertes by the holy goost whiche is gyueÌ„ to vs. The grete comforte cometh not fro god to suche a tyme as the place be made redy for hit in the soule and the herberers whiche take aÌ„d dresse this lodgynge are trybulacyons as it is wryten in the booke of Thobye ¶ Post lacrimacionem et fletuÌ„ exultacioneÌ„ infundis ¶ After trybulacyon and we pynge thou sendest comforte and Joye Than yf thou haue grete labours and besynesse with these herberers thynke hit well spente for they wyll quy te hit one of these dayes And grete trybulacyon maketh rome and place for grette Joyes hit is decreed and determined as alawe by the grete wysedome of god that fyrste he shall come to his dere beloued children with trybulacyon to delyuer them fro the false Joyes of this worlde aÌ„d after he shal dwelle with them by true Joye where as they shal haue no nede of trybulacyoÌ„ for to exclude the false Joye s. But afore that he come with very true Joye he wyll make the herte by trybulacyon and temptacyon to sette nought by all y e false Joyes of this worlde Whan as trybulacyon is passed and hath made an holy place by pacyence and by mekenesse than cometh in Joye But peraduenture thou complaynest and sayest Syr it is longe or this consolacyon cometh A this is the complaynte of louers what thinge soo euer hit is that is gretely beloued the deferrynge therof is paynfull And not withstandynge that yf hit be neuer soo sharpely hasted yet hit is thought very longe in comynge As Salomon sayth ¶ Spes que differtur affligit animaÌ„ ¶ Whan as a man hath hope for to haue a thynge that he loueth the deferrynge of hit is bytter to the soule Also peraduenture thou wyll reson to me thys Syr I meruayll not that wretched meÌ„ and wymen whiche set all theyr herte plesure in wretched lyuynge and spende ther tyme not profytabli but occupye all about synnes and vanytees of this worlde thoughe these haue trybulacyon see y e try bulacoÌ„n is profytable to them whiche are fallen in the hondes of theyr enemyes as these be to drawe them fro ther hondes and make them flee synne wretched lyuynge But to suche as lyue holyly and do no grete synne I meruayll why these haue grete trybulacyoÌ„ for they falle not so in the hondes of theyrenemyes as the other do To this I answere that our lorde delyuered from the false Joyes of this worlde bothe synners and also the Innocentes whiche sholde be taken with them except his grace preuoked them by trybulacyon and temptacyon preserued them fro these false synfull Joyes also an other wyse our lorde rescues his enemyes and other wyse his frendes For he rescues his enemyes fro trybulacyon delyuerynge them whan they are taken of theyr enemyes But his frendes he delyuereth sendynge them helpe by trybulacyons that they come not in to the handes of theyr enemyes And soo bothe are holden to laude and to thanke god bothe the synfull whiche by pacyence and grete trybulacyon is drawen fro synne to vertuously uynge and lytell settynge by all the false worldely Joye And also the vertuous Innocente whiche is preserued by temptacyon and trybulacion that hit is neuer blynded and desceyued by that Joye Thê° no man neyther woman may thynke that they be out of the loue of our lorde by trybulacyan but rather thynke that they are specyally beloued of hym the whiche sendeth them trybulacyon to kepe or to delyuer them fro false desceyuable plesures of this worlde aÌ„d from the Inordynate and foule delytes of the flesshe These pleasures are called false for they are ful swete in the begynnynge but they ende with grete bytternesse and sorowe As Salomon sayth ¶ Extrema gauditluctus occupat ¶ The ende of wordely Joye is occupyed with wepynge and sorowe A thou wyse gracyous man and womanbeware of this false worldely Joye y t thou be not brought to grete sorowe therby Thou seest hit is butlytell and after hit shall folowe sorowe of Inestymable gretnesse hit is but shorte but it hath a longe tayle of sorowe that neuershall haue ende Hit is no hole Joye for hit is medled with sorowe As Salomon sayth ¶ Risus dolore miscebytur ¶ The laughynge Joye of this worlde is medled with many maters of sorynes Those whiche thou thynkest haue moost of worldely Joyes they haue moche sorowe trouble and labour with them They are soo bytter to a parfyte herte that felynge them ones vit wolde neuer haue them yf it myght haue them per petually They go faste awaye but the sorowe that foloweth vpoÌ„ them shal euer abyde A this is a false Joye where is so lytel plesure and so grete payne and goth soo swyftly awaye and neuer shall come ayen wherfore I exhorte you all whiche wolde haue y e loue of our lorde and contynue a vertuous ly fe that ye thankefully welcome trybulacyons as your defenders fro your grete enemyes whiche tri bulacyons are sende from our lorde as his knyght to defende you And thynke that your expeÌ„ses made in them shall stande you in grete seruyce And yf ye can not welcoÌ„e hertely these soudyoures of our lorde yet chyde not with them nor malynge not ayenst them for yf ye fyght with them ye fyght with your freÌ„des and that is a peryllous
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
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
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