vse theym to the prouffyte of the soule What place someuer thou be in dresse well thy thoughtes reuolue some holsome thynges in thy soule For sothly euery place is apte coÌ„uenient to gode thoughtes medytacions Therfore gadre togider thy soule with an hole felycyte Ioye abyde at lyberte in thin inwarde habitacyon walkynge in the largesse of thyne herte Make redy therin to Cryste a restynge place and a large chambre For the mynde of a wyse man is alwaye to god We shold alway haue hym before our eyen by whom we haue our beyenge our lyf vnderstondynge For lyke as we in our beynge haue him as auctour maker so yf we shal profyte in wysdome we muste haue him a doctour a techer· and so we shal be blessyd we muste haue him the yeuer of euerlastynge blysse And in that we knowe that the ymage of him that is to saye that hyghe gloryous trynyte is in vs. For lyke as he is is both wyse gode so we in our maner haue a beyenge knowe that we haue a beynge are glad that we haue that knowlege Therfore vse thyselfe as the temple of god for that that is in the lyke to god Sothly cheyef honoure worshyp to god is to worsyp folowe hym Yf thou be meke thou folowest hym For sothly the mynde of a meke man is an holy temple to our lorde his herte is a chyef awter to hym Thou worshyp peste him yf thou be mercyfull lyke as he is mercyfull to al. Sothly it is an acceptable hoste oblacyon to god to do well to all men for the loue of Cryste do all thynges euyn as the chylde of god that thou maye be acceptable to him that hathe vouchesauf to call the his chylde In all thynge that thou doost knowe well haue in mynde that almyghty god is presente therfore beware that nother thy syghte ne thy thought abyde or tary in vnleful delectacyon or plesyre or· be wel ware that thou nother saye ne doo thynge that is vnlefull for noo maner of plesyre or lykynge leest thou offende god in ony dede or in ony token therto The whiche is presente in euery place beholdeth what someuer thou doost Sothly thou haste nede to be kepte well For thou arte alwaye before the eyen of a Iuge that seeth all thynges Thou arte alwaye with hym in surete yf thou rule thy self so that he vouchesauf to be with the. Yf he be not with the by grace he is nyghe to the by vengaunce but woo to the yf it be so with the. Ye but woo to the yf it he be not so wyth the. For almyghty god is wroth with hym that he chastyseth not whan he synneth For hym that he amendeth not by correccion he suffreth perysh in euerlastynge dampnacyon ¶ Of mannes herte And of prouffyte in redynge holy thynges cao. ixo. CErteyne it is that deth tretyth the in euery place the deuyll layeth watche to take thy soule whan it is departed fro the body but for all that be thou not aferde For almyghty god yf thou be his seruaunte shall delyuer the bothe fro deth fro the deuyll God is a true a faythfull felowe He forsaketh not them that truste in him but yf he be forsaken before Sothly he is lefte and forsaken whan the herte renneth with a wauerynge vnstable mynde by shrewde vnprouffytable thoughtes Therfore we oughte to kepe it well to holde it rule it well with grete besynesse dylygence that almyghty god maye reste therin For amonge all creatures vnder heuen that ben occupyed with worldly vanytees there is noo thynge founde more hyghe and noble more lyke to god than is the herte of man Wherfore our lorde seketh or desyreth none other thynge of the but a clene herte Therfore make it pure and clene by pure clene confessyon and besy prayer that thou mayste see god with a clene herte by contynuell beholdynge of hym Soo that thou be subget cyrcumspecte attendaunt to hym in euery place Dresse well thy maners condycyons that thou maye be quyete and restfull in thyself Loue all men And behaue the amyable and goodly to all men that thou maye be pesyble restfull and the chylde of god Thus thou shalte be a good a holy meke and a true monke And whan thou arte suche one I praye the remembre me Woo is me for I saye thyse thynge I do them not And yf I do them somtyme I perceuer not abyde in them I haue thyse in mynde kepe them not in my lyf I haue them in wordes and sermons but in maners I shewe the lawe of god alday in my herte mouth but I do contrary therto I rede in it both of relygyon prayer I loue more redynge than prayer neuer the lesse the scrypture of god techeth no thynge but to kepe relygyon to loue vnyte to haue charyte but I wretche renne rather to redynge than to pray â—â— I haue more plesyre to rede than to here masse ¶ Some tyme some man taryeth for me desyrynge to speke with me for his necessytees and I take a boke that he or he wolde haue rede theron and in redynge therin lefte the fruyte of charyte the affeccyon of pety the teeres of coÌ„puncyon the prouffyte of masses the coÌ„templacyon of heuenly thynges Neuerthelesse there is noo thynge in this lyfe that sauoureth swetter Noo thynge is more gredyly taken Noo thynge spareth soo the mynde frome the worlde Noo thynge strengtheth the soule so agaynste themptacyons Noo thynge exyteth and helpeth a man soo to good werke and good laboure as redynge and prayer ¶ Of wauerynge and vnstablenesse of the mynde and thoughtes cao. .xijo. Good lorde haue mercy of me for I synne there moost were I sholde make amendys for my synnes Ofte tymes whan I praye in the chyrche I take not hede what I saye Sothly I praye with my mouth but whyle my mynde is wauerynge withoute I lese the fruyte of my prayer My body is within but my herte is withoute And therfore I lese that I saye For it prouffyteth lytyll to synge oonly wyth voys wythoute thentencyon of herte And therfore it is grete peruersyte frowardnesse Ye and moche foly and greatly to be lothed whan we presume to speke with the lorde of mageste in prayer And lyke as we had no wytte or vnderstondynge we torne awaye our ceres and torne our herte and mynde to vncouenable fables tryfles For it is outrageous foly greuously to be punysshed whan moost vyle fylthy duste disdeyneth to here the maker of heuen erthe spekynge to hym Sothly there can noo tonge expresse the suffraunce gentylnes of our maker mercyfull lorde â–ª that dayly beholdeth vs wretches tornynge awaye our ere 's closynge our harde hertes And yet for all that he cryeth to vs sayenge O ye synÌ„ers torne ayen remembre yourself take hede
¶ The meditatōns of saint Bernard ▪ FVll prouffytable ben to vs trauaylynge pylgrymes and freyll synners the fruytfull werkes and treatyses of holy faders The whyche cal vs fro the waye of derkenesse of syn̄e to the waye of ryghtwysnesse And teche vs the streyghte waye to the ende of our pylgremage theuerlastynge blysse of heuen Wherfore amonge those sayd werkes treatyses I haue to thonoure of god prouffyte of his people chose to translate fro latyn in to englys the one swete deuoute treatyse moche prouffytable both to the louers of this trowblous shorte vnsure lyfe And also to the louers of the euerlastynge blessydfull lyfe in the kyngdome of heuen Called the Meditacions of saynt Bernarde ▪ wherof I forbede to vnlerned presumptuous correccion And mekely submytte me my werke to charytable correccyon Besechynge the reders to vouchesauf pray for me the enprynter or wryter herof to do theyr deuour dylygently And by cause I wolde haue so gode so prouffytable a thynge comyn to many and also by cause that hastly after the translacyon herof before it was duely correcte ordred it was by deuoute persones transūpte copyed I wote not how ofte aeynste my wyll Therfore haue I now the yere of of our lord Iesu Cryst M. CCCC.lxxxxv the .xij. daye of the moneth of September for to auoyde eschewe the Ieopardye hurte that maye come by that that was not duely corrected putte it more dylygently corrected ordred to the enprynter In lettyng dystruccyon of all other copyed after the forsayde vncorrected trāslacion And I coūsell exhorte all that haue those same to leue them as doutfull Ieoperdous And take this more dylygently ordred corrected It is not harde to knowe the one fro the other For they dyfferre both in nombre of chapytrees in rubrysshes of the same The vncorrected was dyuyded in to .xxv. chapytres Wherof the fyrste had no specyall rubryshes The seconde chapytre of the same began thus ¶ Oure mynde sothly is the ymage of god or elles thus ¶ The mynde sothly is the ymage of god And his rubryshe was this ¶ That the mynde of god is called the ymage of god But this that is corrected more dylygently is dyuyded parted in to .xviij. chapytres only wherof the rubryches folow her in order ¶ How man by knowlege vnderstōdynge of him selfe maye knowe god And how the soule of man is the ymage of god cao. primo ¶ Of wretchydnesse of body ▪ and of the dredful Iugemente cao. secundo ¶ How a synfull soule is vexed and troubled after her departynge fro the body cao. .iijo. ¶ Of the dygnyte noblesse of mannys soule Of the wretchydnesse of the body And how wretchyd the soule is made by the body cao. .iiijo. ¶ Of the myserye wredchydnesse of man in his conceyuynge his byrth his lyf his deth Of the nobles of the soule And of the sodayne myschyef of wycked men cao. vo. ¶ Of deth and also of the paynes of wycked men after theyr deth cao. .vio. ¶ Of the rewarde of blessyd soules And of the Ioyes of heuen cao. .vijo. ¶ Who is able to haue the Ioyes of heuen viijo. ¶ Of charytable loue of thy neghboure cao. .ixo. ¶ How we sholde pery loue and worshyp god and thynke on him cao. .xo. ¶ Of mannys herte And of prouffyte in redynge holy thynges cao. xio. ¶ Of wauerynge vnstablenesse of the mynde and thoughtes cao. .xijo. ¶ The cause and the remedye also of wauerynge of the mynde And of confessyon cao. .xiijo. ¶ Accusynge by cōfessyon of dyuerse syn̄es xiiij ¶ Of thre goostly enmyes the flesshe the world the deuyll And also of theyr temptacyons resystence agaynst theym cao. .xvo. ¶ Of the malyce of the deuyll And how he temptyd man by the flesshe cao. .xvio. ¶ Of the blysse of heuen cao. .xvijo. ¶ Of dyspysynge of worldly thynges· Of the olde man And of the pyte gentylnesse and mercy of god Capytulo .xviijo. ¶ The medytacyens of saynt Bernarde ¶ How man by knowlege vnderstondynge of hymselfe maye knowe god And how the soule of man is the ymage of god MAny there ben that know vnderstonde many other thynges yet they knowe not theyr owne selfe They take moche hede to other but they loke not well to themselfe They leue they re inwarde goostly thynges and seke god amonge outwarde thynges the whyche is within theym Therfore I shall torne fro those thynges that ben outwarde to inwarde thynges from inwarde thynges I shall lyft my mynde to thynges aboue that I maye knowe wherof I came and whether I go what I am and wherof I am And so by knowlege of myselfe I maye ascende come to the knowlege of god For the more I proyffyte in knowlege of my self the more nygh I drawe to the knowlege of of god ¶ On the inward mannys behalfe I fynde thre thynges in my soule wherby I remembre beholde desyre my lorde god The whiche ben the mynde the vnderstōdynge wyl or loue By the mynde I remembre him By the vnderstōdynge I beholde him goostly And by wyll or loue I loue and desyre him Whan I remembre god I fynde in hym in my mynde fele therin in him swetnesse plesyre of hym lyke as he vouchesaufe to gyue me By the vnderstōdynge I beholde in hym what he is in hymself what in holy angellys and what in his blessyd sayntes what in his creatures what in mankynde In hymselfe he is incomprehensyble for he is both begynnynge ende Begynnynge without begynnynge ende wythout ende By myselfe I vnderstōde how he is comprehensyble whan I may not atteyne to vnderstōdynge and knowlege of my self whome he hath made In holy angellys he is plesaunt and desyderable For theyr desyre is alwaye to beholde hym In sayntes he is delectable For they happy blessyd delyte them in hym contynually In creatures he is meruelous For by his myghte power he createth all thynges the whiche he gouerneth moost wysely dystrybutyth moost benyngnely In mankynde he is amyable louely For he is theyr god· they ben his people And he dwelleth with theym as in his owne tēple and they ben the temple of hym Who someuer hath mynde and thynketh on him vnderstondeth him and loueth hym he is with hym Sothely we owe to loue hym moche syth he hath loued vs soo moche made vs after his owne ymage lyknes soo hath he done to none erthly creature Sothly it behoueth that the thynge that is made after an ymage to be accordynge and lyke to the ymage or symylytude that it is fourmed after and not to haue vnworthely the name of an ymage in vayne Therfore lete vs shewe in vs thymage of hym in desyrynge of peas and regardynge of trouth Lete vs holde and kepe hym by perfyte loue and charyte in our mynde Lete vs bere him in our conscyence and
wombe where thou was fedde nuorysshed with a fowle lothsome matere And thy cote was not very honest ne pleasauÌ„t thus cladde nourysshed came thou to vs And yet thou haste not in mynde how vyle and wretched thy begynnynge was For bewty fauour of people youth ryches make the that thou knowest not what man is The whiche is not els but fowle and stynkynge matere A sacke of douÌ„ge fynally wormes meete Wherof thenne is man prowde that is conceyued in synne broughte forth with payne lyuynge in moche laboure vexacion finably must nedes deye Thus is man torned in to vermyn stenche abhominacion And euery man is torned in to no man Wherfore thenne arte thou proude man consyderynge that thou was somtyme vyle foule sede blood coagulate in thy moders wombe Afterwarde broughte forth Ieoparded putte to wretchydnesse of this lyfe to synne and fynally shall become wormes and mete to wormes in thy graue O thou duste powdre wherfore arte thou prowde that arte conceyued in synne broughte forth with wretchydnes lyuest in payne trybulacion shalt deye with angwysshe vexacyon Wherto fedeste that thy carcas soo delycyously with precyous meetes· adurnest it with soo gaye precyous garmentes that whyche wythin fewe dayes shall fede wormes in the sepulcre and leuest thy soule naked bare of vertues gode werkes that is to be presented tofore almyghty god his blessyd angellys in heuen O why settest thou soo lytyll pryce by thy soule cheryssheste more thy body than it Sothly it is grete abusion that maystresse lady to serue to be kepte in subieccyon the hondmen to rule haue domynacyon For sothely all the worlde maye not be estemed reputed ryghtfully to the value pryce of one soule For our lorde wolde not gyue his lyfe for all the worlde the whiche he gaue for mannis soule therfore the pryce of the soule is grete what coÌ„mutacyon chaunge thenne shall thou gyue for thy soule that gyuest it for noughte Dyde not the sone of god restyng in the bosom of his fader desceÌ„de frome his regall sete to delyuer her fro the power of the deuyll the whiche whan he sawe teyed fettred with snares of synne in poynt to be lost deuoured with fendes and damned to perpetuell deth he had pety on her wepte for her that coude not wepe for her selfe And not oonly wepte but suffred hymselfe to be slayne to redeme her with the raunson of his precyous blood ¶ O thou man mortall beholde how precyouse an oblacion was yeuen for the. Take hede man vnderstonde how moche noble thy soule is And how greuous her wouÌ„des were for whoo 's helth it behouyd Cryste that was god man to be so greuously wouÌ„ded Yf they had not ben mortall wouÌ„des of dethe euerlastyyge the sone of god sholde neuer haue suffred deth to hele them Beware therfore that thou vylupende not sette at lytyll the hurte payne of thy soule of whome thou seeste that hyghe mageste of god haue so greate compassyon He morned wepte for the. Wepe thou wasshe thy bedde euery nyghte with coÌ„punccion of herte plente of teerys He shed his precyous blood for the shed thou thyne for hym by dayly punysshemente of thy body Whiche syth thou mayste not spende at ones by martyrdom or deth for loue of hym At the leest wyse spende it by more ease but by more lenger mardyrdome Take no hede ne regarde to that vnleefull concupyscence of thy flesshe but by the goostly desyre of thy soule O how gloryouse shall the soule be whan it shal torne to his lorde yf it be not defoyled with the flesshe but hath wasshed away all fylthe and is made pure and clene Perauenture thou wylte saye that this is an harde thynge I can not despyse the worlde hate myne owne body I praye the tell me where be the louers of the worlde that somtyme dwelled amonge vs. of whome there remayneth not but powdre wormes Take good hede what they be now and what they were somtyme They were men as thou arte ete drynke and made mery And spended theyr dayes in playsyre And in a momente they be descended to the pytte of helll And here theyr bodyes ben deputed to wormes and thyer soules to hote fyre vnto suche tyme as they felsshypped and Ioyned togyder ayene in an vnhappy company be put to euerlastynge fyre The whyche were felowes in synne wyckydnesse for lyke as they were knytte togyder in one wyll playsyre in synne Soo shall they be punysshed wyth lyke payne ¶ What hath prouffyted theym vayn glory shorte myrth worldly power or domynacyon flesshely pleasyre false vnsure rychesse greate housholde wycked concupysâ—â—nce Where is theyr myrth where is theyr play and sportes where is theyr boste where is theyr pryde Beholde what sorowe wretchydnesse cometh of soo greate myrth and gladnesse What payne foloweth â—o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They ben fallen frome Ioye myrth in to greate myschyef and hyghe tormentynges And lyke as it befell to theym soo it maye befall to the. For thou arte a man erthe made of erth Man cometh of erthe of erth thou arte Of erthe thou lyuest and in to erthe thou shalte be torned whan thy laste daye cometh The whyche shall come hastely And perauenture it shall come this daye O syth we ben but fylth and dunge and erthe the whiche shall â—orne to erthe How or where of maye we be prowde ¶ Of the dethe and also of the paynes of wycked men after deth cao. vio. CErtayn it is that thou shalte deye but it is vncerten whan how or where For deth makyth hym redy ayenste the in euery place and yf thou be wyse thou wylte alwaye make the redy agaynst hym whersoeuer thou be Of all thynges that ben vncerten there is no more vncerten than is the hour of deth And there is none thynge more certen than dethe is For deth is sure vndowted but the houre of dethe is preuy and vnknowen Yf thou lyue after the flesshe thou shalte be punysshed in the flesshe Yf thou desyre precyous clothynge vermyn shall be strewed vnder the for fresshnes of thyn araye thy coueryng shal be wormes He that loueth better worldly thynges than god gloteny beter than abstynence foloweth the deuyll shall goo with hym in to euerlastynge payne but yf he amende What mornynge trowest thou what sorowe heuynesse shall be whan wycked people shall be departed fro the blessyd company of sayntes fro the syghte of god shall be taken in to the hondes of deuylles goo with them in to euerlastynge fyre where they shall abyde euer â–ª withoute ende in sorowe waylynge Sothly they banysshed outlawed ferre fro the blessyd couÌ„trey of paradyse shall be tormented in perpetuell paynes of helle They shall neuer see lyghte Neuer haue socoure ne refresshyng but by thousandes thousandes yeres
they shall be crucyat cruelly tormented in hell shall neuer be delyuerd fro thens Where the tormentour is neuer wery he that is tormentyd shall neuer deye The fyre wastyth punysshyth there on suche manere that it euer reserueth daÌ„pnyd people The tormentynges ben done on suche wyse that they are euer renued For euery man that is dampned shall suffer payne in hell accordynge to his synnes And those synnes that be lyke shall be punysshyd wyth lyke payne No thynge shal be herd there but wepyng syghyng sorowynge wayllynge mornynge gnasshynge of teeth There shall nought be seen but vermyn lothely feerfull facys of tormentours the fowlest moost vgly felyshypp of fendes Cruell wormes shall gnawe within the herte There is excedynge sorowe abhomynable stenche waylyng coÌ„fusion wondre huge feere wretches shall breÌ„ne in euerlastynge fyre alwaye wythoute ende They shal be crucyat tormentyd in body with fyre in soule with the worme of conscyence There shal be sorowe intollerable incoÌ„parable stenche horryble drede Deth both of body soule wythout hope of meecy forgeuenes But they shall soo deye that they maye euer lyue they shall so lyue that they may euer deye Thus mannys soule is tormented euermore in hell for his synnes or elles put in paradys for his merytys good dedes Chese we thenÌ„ one of thyse tweyne â–ª other to be tormented euermore wyth wycked people or euer to Ioye make mery with holy sayntes Sothly both good euyll lyf deth be put before vs. that we maye extende put forth oure hondes whether we woll And yf it be soo that that dredful tormentynges make vs not ferde At the leyst waye lete the grete rewardes of Ioye excyte and styre vs to goodnes ¶ Of the rewardes of blessyd soules And of the Ioyes of heuen cao. .vijo. THe rewardes of blessyd men ben to behold god to lyue with god to lyue of god To be wyth god to be in god and to haue god that is moost noble and souerayne goodnes There is perfyte felycyte perfyte myrth Ioye very lyberte perfyte charyte perpetuell suretee and sure perpetuyte There is very and true gladnesse of cunnynge plenteuousnes all bewte fayrnes all beatitude blisfulnes There is contynuall peas truthe charyte euerlastynge lyght vertue honeste Inestimable Ioye myrthe excedynge swetnesse lyf wythout ende etnall glory lawde quyete rest loue swete coÌ„cord vnyte In this blysse shall he abyde euermore wyth our lord in whose conscyence shal be founde no synne He shal beholde hym at his owne lyberte He shall haue hym to his grete playsure and swetnesse And he shall be knytte to hym in loue to his grete myrthe gladnes He shall lyue in eternyte shyne in truthe Ioye in gladnesse And lyke as he shal haue in abydynge perpetuyte so he shall haue cunnynge knowlege without diffyculte or hardens in perpetuell reste euerlastyng felycyte Sothely he shall be the cytezyn of that holy cyte where angels ben cyteyzins where almyghty god the fader is the temple and his sone the lyghte and the holy goost is the loue charyte· O heuenly cyte a sure mansyon a countrey conteynyng eury thynge playsaunt delectable Wherof the people lyue without stryf or grutchynge the dwellers lyue in quyetnesse reste where men suffre none Indygence ne scarsnesse O thou cyte of god how gloryous thynges are spoken of the. All that euer dwell in the. dwell in perpetuell Ioye felycyte All ben Ioyfull of oure lorde whose countenaunce and chere is meke whose face is fayre bewteuous speche very swete delycyous He is pleasaunt to see swete to haue and kepe and delycyous to loue He is ynough of hymselfe fully to please contente vs. And also of him self is a suffycyent rewarde for our merytes There is no thynge desyred besyde hym For what som euer is desyred is founde in him It is grete lykynge and pleasyre euermore to beholde him euer more to haue hym And euermore to delyte in hym And to be Ioyned and knytte to hym euer more in perfyte loue The vnderstondyng is made clere in him And the desyre is purefyed to knowe and loue truthe And is all the good and welth of man That is to knowe and loue his maker ¶ What greate foly thenne madnesse causeth vs to desyre the bytternesse of vyces to folowe perylles of this worlde to suffre the vnfortunes of this vnstable lyfe And to be subgette of the wycked tyrannye of the deuyll coueyte not rather to flee to the blessyd company of sayntes felycyte of angellis to the solemnyte feest of heuenly gladnesse and to the Ioye swetnes of coÌ„templatyf lyf that we maye entre in to the kyngnome of our lorde see thabuÌ„dauÌ„t ryhces of his goodnesse There we shall reste in ase we shall see how swete our lorde is hoâ— plenteuous the multytude of his swetnesse is We shall see the bewte of eternall glorye the bryghtnes of sayntes the honoure worshyp of the regall mageste we shall knowe the power of the fader the wysdome of the sone the moost benyngne goodnes of the holy good And soo we shall haue knowlege of thou holy trynyte We see now bodely thynges by the body Also we knowe the symylytude of bodely thynges by our soule But thenne we shall se that soth fast truthe with clere syghte of our soule O blessyd and happy syght to see almyghty god verely in himself to see him in vs. And to see vs in him in blessydful Ioye Ioyefull blysse We shall haue all that euer we shall desyre so that we shall not lyste to desyre ony more We shall be blessyd with swetnesse loue of hym delyciousnes of beholdinge him The noblenesse of the hygh felycyte shal be whan the clere god hede shal be knowen in his pure beynge and thenÌ„e shal be comprehendyd knowen clerly the blessyd trynyte that is incomprehensyble The preuytees of the godhede shal be shewed openly very god shal be seen loue And that syghte loue fulfyllynge al the hert of man shal be the hole perfeccyon of the felycyte blysse One tonge shal be comyn to all myrth with oute werynesse one desyre eurlastynge loue Truthe shal be shewed clerly Charyte shall replenysshe bothe the body the soule shal be fully sacyat man hede glorefyed shall shyne as the sonÌ„e There shall be restfull helthe concorde of body soule Angels men shal Ioye to gyder in one Ioye speke togyder one speche And be fested all in one feest The loue shall not fayle ne be made lesse There shal be noo sorowe ne payne for dyfferryng of thynges desyred but all good thynges be present for the blessyd presence of the mageste of almyghty god is al thynges to them all conteyneth theym fully in all that they desyre His power that is almiÈty wisdom
to hym presente in euery place lete vs do due reuerence and worshyppe ¶ Our soule sothly is the ymage of god for asmoche as it is apte and mete to take and receyue hym and maye be partener of hym It is the ymage of hym not only that it remembreth itselfe vnderstondyth or loueth itselfe But by cause it maye remembre vnderstonde and loue hym whiche made it And whan it soo dooth thenne it is wyse For sothly there is no thynge more lyke to the hyghe wysdome of almyghty god than is a resonable soule whyche by mynde vnderstondynge and loue resteth in the blessyd Trynyte In whiche she maye not reste and abyde but yf she remembre hym vnderstonde and also loue hym ¶ But yf she thynke dylygently on her lorde god after thymage of whome she is created and made And vnderstonde loue honoure and worshyppe hym wyth whome she maye eternally abyde and reste in perfyghte Ioye and blysse Sothly that soule is ryghte happy and blessyd in whome oure lorde fyndeth restynge And in whoo 's tabernacle he dwelleth and resteth That is an happy soule that maye saye My lorde maker hath restyd in my tabernacle Soothly he shal not deny to suche a soule the euerlastynge reste of heuen O why then̄e loke we not in our self but seke our lorde amonge outwarde thynges the whyche is with vs yf we wyll be with him Sothly he is both in vs and in vs. but that as yet is by fayth vnto suche tyme as we maye deserue to see him clerly We knowe sayth the apostle that by fayth Cryste abydeth in our hertes By fayth I remembre my maker I worshyp my mercyfull redemer and abyde my sauyoure I byleue that he lyueth in all creatures that he dwelleth within me And also I truste to knowe him in himself the whiche is moche more blysfull Ioyfull than all thyse ben For sothly to knowe perfytely the fader the sone the holy goste is euerlastynge lyfe perfyte blysse excedynge plesyre For the mortall eye hath not sene ne eere herde ne mannys herte vnderstōde clerly and perfytly how moche clernesse how moche Ioye how moche swetnes we shall haue in that blessyd syghte whan we shall beholde face to face him that is the lyght of all bryghte thynge the refuge and reste of trauelers labourers the receyuer and keper of them that torne to him the very lyfe to all that lyue And the crowne of theym that ouercome they re goostly enmyes Thus I fynde in my soule the ymage of the hygh gloryous Trynyte to the whiche moost hyghe gloryous Trynyte I owe to referre and orther all my lyfe that I maye remembre hym and putte my playsyre cōtemplacyon in hym The soule is the ymage of almyghty god that whiche conteyneth thre thynges the mynde the vnderstōdynge wyl To the mynde we attrybute put all thynge that we lerne or know though we thynke not alway theron To the vnderstōdynge we attrybute all that we knowe is true the whiche also we cōmende putte to our mynde By the mynde we ben resemblyd lyke to the fader by vnderstondynge to the sone by wyll or loue to the holy goost for there is no thynge in vs more lyke to the holy goost than is the wyll or true loue For true loue is the yefte of god more nor so precyous that there is noo yefte of god and it is ble excellente than it is For true loue that cometh of god and is god himself is properly called the holy goost by whome the loue of god is diffused sprad in our hertes And by whome all the holy blessyd trynyte dwelleth and abydeth in vs. ¶ Of wretchydnes of the body and of the dredfull Iugemente cao. secundo ON the outwarde mannys behalfe I am comen of my faders the whyche haue made me the chylde of dampnacyon before they haue made me the chylde of natyuyte Synners in theyr synne haue begotten a synnarr whome they haue norysshed of theyr synne Wretches haue broughte forth a wretche in to wretchydnesse of thys worlde I haue not of them but wretchydnesse and synne and this corruptyble and rotlewe body that I carye aboute And soothly I haste towarde them the whiche by bodely deth be passed oute of this worlde Whan I beholde theyr sepulcre and graues I fynde not els in them but powder wormes stenche lothsomnesse Suche as I am now they were but lately and suche as they be I shall be hastely What am I A man made of lothsom and fylthy matere torned in to flesshe wepynge waylynge put in to exyle of this worlde And loo now I dye full of wyckednes abhomynacyon fylthe And hastly I shal be presented before the streyte Iuge to gyue a counte rekenynge of my werkes Woo shall be to me wretche whan the daye of dredfull Iugemente shall come the bokes shall be opened wherin all my purposes desyres thoughtes shal be rehersed in the presence of almyghty god Then̄e shall I stonde quakynge tremblynge in the Iugement before our lorde castynge downe myne hede as gretly abasshed in my conscyence whan I remembre myne vnkyndenesse trespaces and whan it shall be sayde of me beholde this man and his werkes Thenne shall I haue in mynde all my dutyes synnes For by the prouydēce vertue of almyghty god it shall be soo ordeyned that euery mannis good dedes and euyll shal be reducyd called ayene to his mynde they shall be shewed with a meruelous swyftnesse that his knowlege maye accuse excuse his conscyence And thus shall euery man be Iuged For euery man shal be Iuged of his dedes euery man̄ys secretis and preuytees shall be shewed to euery man Suche as we woll not for shame confesse shall be shewed to all men And all that euer we coloure here by dyssymulacyon shall be brennyd there with the vengable flamme of fyre For the cruell wode fyre shal be lete lose reyne at lyberte And the longer that our mercyfull lorde abydeth vs. of his greate gentylnesse yeueth vs space to amende our lyfe the more streyter shall he punysshe vs by ryghtwysnesse yf we wyl not amende wherfore loue we thenne somoche coueyte the lyfe of this worlde in the whyche lyf y◠lenger we cōtynue abyde the more euyll we do synne And the lenger that we lyue the more blame we deserue For euyll thynges shrewdnes encrease growe dayly gode thynges ben withdrawen Man is in cōtynuall variacion chaūge now in prosperite now in aduersyte wote not whan by deth he shal be put therfro For lyke as a sterre with bryght bemes moueth swyftly and sodenly vanysshed away as a spercle of fyre is quenched torned to asshes Soo dooth this bodyly lyf as we maye well see yf we take hede ¶ For whan a man lyueth merely this worlde And trusteth soo longe to endure dysposed ordeyneth many thynges to be
done in prosesse of longe tyme. sodenly he is rauysshed with dethe vnware without prouisyon he is take fro the body ¶ How a synfull soule is vexed and trowbled after her departynge fro the body cao. .iijo. WHan the soule with greate fere moche sorowe is departed fro the body angels come to take her to presente her tofore the ferdfull Iuge And thenÌ„e she remembrynge her euyll wicked werkes the whiche she dyde by nyght or day trembleth quaketh loketh how she myght escape or flee desyreth truesse sayenge O yeue me space though it be but an houre Thenne shal the werkes as in maner of spekyng say Thou hast wroughte vs. we ben thy werkis We shall not lese the. but abyde styll with the go with the to the Iugemente And they shal accuse her of many synnes trespaces and sholl fynde many fals wytnesse ayenste her al though true wytnes were suffycyent to her dampnacion The euyll fendes with ferdfull loke and terryble countenaunce shalle feere her and purswe her wyth grete cruelte and woodnesse and shall catche her with greate drede and feere and holde her styll yf she be not delyuered frome theym by the helpe socoure of oure lorde ThenÌ„e the soule beholdynge the eyen the mouth other bodely wyttes closed and spered by whom she was wont to passe forth to take her sportes playsyre in worldly thynges shall retorne to herselfe And whan she seeth herself alone lefte naked without body smytten with grete fere and drede she shall fayle in herself by dyspeyre And by cause she folysshly lefte the loue of god for the loue of the worlde and flesshly plesyre she shall be forsake of oure lorde lyke a wretche in that tyme of so grete nede of helpe And shall be delyuered to the deuylles to be punysshed and tormented cruelly for her mysdedes ¶ On this wyse is the soule of a synner not knowynge the daye ne the hour of his passynge rauysshed w e deth spared departed fro the body tremblynge quakynge she passeth of her Iourneye full of sorowe wretchydnesse And hauynge none excuse to alledge and shewe for her synnes she trembleth for drede to appere before almyghty god She is smyten with grete and wonderful fere vexed with many troublous thoughtes whan at her departynge fro the body all other thynges sette a syde she coÌ„sydereth only herselfe hym to whom the tyme draweth nyghe that she muste gyue accomptes rekenyng And knoweth that he may neuer be declyned ne chauÌ„ged frome ryghtwysnes she consydereth well how streyght a Iuge shall sytte on her what reasons she shall alledge and put for her dyscharge in couÌ„tynge of her lyf at soo streyghte a Iugement of soo precyouse Iustyce And though it be so that she remembre no thynge ne fynde in her self ony offence wherof she sholde be ferde dredfull Yet whan she shall come before that streyghte Iuge she fereth there be somwhat that is not in her remembraunce Her fere drede encreaseth wexeth the more whan she thynketh that she coude not escape that tyme of this lyfe withoute synne And also suche werkis as she thynketh be good coÌ„mendable that she hath done in her lyfe yet they be not all fawtles yf they sholde be streyghtly Iugyd pyte mercy set a syde who can coÌ„sydre call to mynde how many euyll werkys we do by processe of lytyll tyme. And what good thynges we by our neclygence leue vndo Sothely lyke as iâ— is synne trespaas to do euyll soo it is a mysse defawte to leue good thynges vndo And soo it is greate hurte peryll to vs whan we nother do wel ne thyÌ„ke wel But suffre our mynde to be occupyed abowte tryfles thynges that ben varyaunt vnprouffytable Sothly is is full harde to kepe oure mynde surly frome euyll thoughtes it is also very harde to be moche occupyed in worldely thynges without synne And therfore there can no man Iuge rebuke hymself perfytly· For he is soo moche occupyed troubly with soo many thoughtes that he in maner knoweth not himself soo that he knoweth not well what he doth or suffreth Wherfore he is smyte with sodeyne fere drede in his coÌ„scyence at his passage out of this world For though he fynde no thynge to his knowelege that greueth his conscyence yet he dredyth suche thynges as he knoweth not ne hath in his remembraunce ¶ Of the dygnyte noblesse of mannys soule Of the wretchydnesse of the body And how wretchyd the soule is made by the body cao. .iiijo. O Thou soule of man aourned with thymage of god made fayre bewteuous with his symylytude spoused and wedded to hym by fayth endoured wyth his holy spyryte redemed with his precyous blood deputed and putte to be kepte with his blessyd angellys pertener of his Ioye blysse the Inherytoure of his goodnes induyd with reason vnderstondynge What plesyre hast thou to be so coÌ„uersaunte with the vyle body wherby thou suffrest so moche greuauÌ„ce tribulacion payne By the body thou arte punysshed for the synnes of other thou arte broughte to nought repute a thyng in vayne of lytyll valour That carcas that thou louest cheryseste so moche with whome thou art so coÌ„uersauÌ„t is fowle lothsom matere torned in to flesshe couered wyth freyll vnsure bewte and hastely shall be stynkynge roten caryon and meete to wormes For though man exalte and magnefye himselfe neuer so moche yet he abydeth styll a foule vnclene carcas Certeynly yf thou consyder wel what fylth auoydeth by thy mouth thy nose other partes of thy body thou sawest neuer a fowler dounghyll Yf thou woll nombre couÌ„te all his wretchydnes howe greuous it is oppressyd with the heuy burden of synne bounde fretyd with vyces moued styâ—ed with concupicence trauayled and troubled with dyuers passyons affeccions defowled with Illusions euer pâ—â—oe redy to euyl hasty to euery vyce thou shalte fynde it full of shame confusyon Thorugh the flesshe man is made lyke vnto vanyte For thorugh it he is enfecte wyth the vyce of concupycsence vnleful desyre Wherby he is kept as thral in bondage and made so crockyd that he loueth vanyte and werked wyckydnesse ¶ Of the myserye and wretchydnes of man in his conceyuynge his byrth his lyfe and his deth Of the noblesse of the soule And of the sodayne myschyef of wycked men cao. .vo. MAn takehede what thou were before thy natyuyte What thou arte fro the begynnynge vnto thyne endynge And what thou thalte be after this lyf O man fyrste fylth lothsom matere Afterwarde a stynkynge sackefull of dounge And at the last mete to wormes to gnawe on in the grouÌ„de How sholdest thou be proude Sothly thou was fyrste as nought thenÌ„e thou made brought forth of vyse and fylthy matere wrapped in vnclene clothynge garmentes in thy moders