vnto god Therfore my webeloued syster rede this boke willyngly and rede it ouer agayne and agayne for by it ye shall knowe howe ye shall loue bothe god and your neyghbour howe ye shal regard and dispyse these wordly and traÌ„sytory thynges how ye shall desyre couet that is eternall and celestyall howe ye shulde suffer paciently for goddes sake all worldly aduersytes and lytle or nothynge regarde flattery and wordly prosperyte howe that in your infirmytes and sycknes ye shal thaÌ„k god not to be proude of youre health and howe that in prosperyte ye shall not eleuate or exale your selfe nor in aduersyte vnderpresse your self Therfore my welbeloued syster in Chryst it shall pertayne to your wysdome dilygently to study and to rede this boke to ensue and folowe the same Thus god aimyghtye saue you and kepe you from all euyll Of Fayth j. cha THe lorde sayeth that all thing is possyble to hym that be leueth No man can come to etnal blysse without fayth he is ryght fortunate and happye that beleueth well beleuing well liueth wel and lyuing well kepeth well his fayth For. s Paule sayeth that it is impossyble to please GOd without fayth and. S. Isodore sayeth that no man can please God without fayth Men are not constrayned to byleue but they are drawen vnto it by goodly examples and resonable persuasyons for yf man shulde be constrayned to byleue the constraynt and fere onse gone he wolde returne and wax worse then euer he was before Fayth without good and charytable workes is but deade of none effect for he that is not ornared w t good workes let hym truste nothynge to fayth for it is but dead He that beareth the crosse ought to be as ded in this world for why to beare the crosse is nothyng elles but to mortifye himselfe And he that sayeth he beareth the crosse and doth not mortifye hym selfe in this worlde is a very hypocrite and a false dyssembler But he that doutythe not at all but fermly and stedfastly byleueth all y â— is heueÌ„ly and good loke what he demauÌ„deth he shal optayne it He y â— bileueth in Iesus y â— son of God shall optayne etnal euerlasting lyfe who so byleueth not in hym shal neuer come thyther S. Iames sayth y â— as the bodye w tout the soule is but dead so in likewyse fayth is but dead of none effecte w tout good workê My wel beloued syster fayth is an excelleÌ„t a great thing but of no substaÌ„ce w tout charite Therfore loke ye haue good fayth kepe it as pure as net as ye may take hede y â— ye be vncorrupted y t it coÌ„tinue in you And y â— ye coÌ„fesse the selfe fayth w tout any corruptioÌ„ or folish coÌ„municacioÌ„ of christe Iesu suspecte no cruelnes or euyl in hym lest y e so thiÌ„king by him ye offeÌ„de and diminish the loue ye haue or shuld haue vnto hym be iuste in your fayth and loke ye haue Ioyned to ryght fay the holy conuersacyon and that in dedes ye do not denye hym that ye do praye vnto with mouth for an euyll thynge myngled with that that good is doth infecte and mar all as through a lytle pryde all other goodnes and vertues are stayned loke therfore y â— ye the which through grace are perfaith in Fayth do not amis iÌ„ dede nor y t ye besmutter not your faith nor polute not the integrite therof by naughtie lyuynge nor that ye myngle not vyce with vertue nor ioyne yll to good Thus my good syster God preserue you in health Of esperance hope ij c. THe lord sayeth despere not but loke that ye haue the fayth of God in you hope that may be sene is no hope for what Hope is in that thynge a man seyth but yf we Hope that thynge we se not we do patienly tary for it wherupon Salomon sayeth that the abode and expectacion of iust men is ioyfulnes but the hope of euyll men shall peryshe Therfore my ryght wel beloued syster tary for the lorde and kepe his waies that is kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„dementes and he shal so exalte you that ye shall haue heuen for your herytage Dere syster I saye tarry for the lorde and declyne from al euyl and at the day of dome and iudgement he shal exalte you for they y e wyl not leue to doyl do lese but there labour to tary for his mercy of the which they might be sure of yf they wolde leue there mysse liuing WherupoÌ„ s Isidore saieth that we shuld fere lest y â— through the great hope y e god doth ê“mis vs we contynue in syn And agayne y â— we fall not in dyspere bicause of his iust punishmeÌ„t correctioÌ„ the which are to great fautes y â— is to coÌ„tynew in syn to despere of Goddê mercy And therfore it shalbe best to exchew theÌ„ both y â— is to auoyde to renounce y â— is yll to haue good hope in the great mercy of god for euery good man doth enforse hym selfe through hope fere to come to euerlastiÌ„g life hope eleuathe a man to ioye anone aft the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of euerlastynge payne bryngeth a maÌ„ to feare truly who so desperith to optain remission ê‘don of his synnes doth coÌ„demne him selfe more by desperatioÌ„ then by sin Therfore good syster let your hope be sted fast in chryst Iesu for mercy shal coÌ„pas them y â— trust in god trust stedfastly in hym therfore and do wel inhabite the earth that is y â— holy church ye shalbe nouryshed w t his goodes y â— whiche the church possesseth for y e thing y â— is done w tout y â— auctorite of y â— church is of no valure nor yet of no merite Good syst leue of all varyghtfulnesse y â— is all workes which are coÌ„trary vnto god or your neyghboure and trust in goddê mercy leue of al iniquite and specyally all pryde the whiche is called iniquite and truste in thy sauour chryst Iesu ameÌ„d your selfe and hope in the great mercye of god put away all prauite and all noughtynesse and hope to haue pardon correcte your lyfe and trust to haue lyfe eternall to the whiche I desyre hym to bryng you that hath chosen you before all worldes Of grace iij. chap SAynt Paule say the where hath ben moch sin there hath ben moche grace so that where syn hath reygned vnto death grace may also reygne through pardon to come to eternall lyfe for the salare and rewarde of syn is no nother thynge but deathâ— but the grace of god is eternall beatitude god hath distributed giuen grace to euery man accordynge to the measure of y e gyft of christ Welbeloued syster the profyte of a spirituall man as sayeth s Isidore is a gift of god then yf whe profyte throughe the grace of god
and aboundaunce in syckenes and helth in youth and in age we shulde seke hym and axe for hym with all oure mynde and all oure intentyon to be confyrmed in all deuouce and holye conuersacion and yf we couet to se hym in the kyngdome of heuen we muste clense oure selfe frome all fylthynesse for why at the daye of the generall resurrectyon there shall no man come to eternall blysse nor se the glorye of his deuyne maiestye but they onelye that are clene and pure bothe of mynde and hart The kingdome of heuen shall not be gyuen to ydle personnes nor yet to no vagabouÌ„des but to those onely that seke and demaunde it and that enforce theym selfe to gette it for the Lorde sayth Axe and ye shall haue seke ye shal fynde knocke and the dore shall be opened vnto you Therfore we must go to the gates of heueÌ„ be good prayer and seke theÌ„ by good lyfe knocke at the gate by perseueraunce the contynuall seruyce of God Nor it is not suffycyente to begynne well but we muste study to beginne wel and enforce our selfe so to coÌ„tynew al the dayes of oure lyfe For it were moche better not to knowe iustice then after a man knowethe it not to folowe it And hereof sayeth the Lorde Suche as put to and prepayre theyr handes to do wel and after they haue begun loke backewardes ar not mete for the kiÌ„gdome of heuen Therfore good sister it is greatly necessary that we with great desyre and affectyon do knocke contynually at goddes eares and that we neuer leaue of to do well vntyll heuen gates be opened vnto vs me thynkethe that to contynewe styll in goddes seruyce is an excellent vertue For they y â— leaue his seruyce to be worldly are made moch blacker then coles why so For throughe a certayne feblenesse and vnlustynes of mynde they are dede and cleane withoute the heate and fyre of charyte And of suche sayeth saynt Isodore They that returne from a good lyfe to an euyl ar through â—upedytye be smuttered with the blackenes of vyce and synÌ„e and are remoued farre from the lyghte of charite They that go froÌ„ goddes seruice to the world are seperated from the coÌ„panye of aungelles and assocyated to wycked deuilles They that leaue the holy congregacion to come to a worldly lyfe are put oute of goddes companye and do submytte them selues to the deuylles good grace Good syster take good heed what ye haue done euer more remembre from whence ye came whether ye be come and wherfore ye haue lefte and dyspysed for goddes sake all worldly thiges for his loue ye haue chosen to contynewe dwel in holy coÌ„gregatyoÌ„ ye haue bought heueÌ„ paid your owne body for it laboure therfore with all dilygence that ye lese not this goodly kyngdom the which ye haue thus conquered and gotten Loke ye lese not this kingdome y â— which ye haue bough w t your owne body harkeÌ„ what s paule sayeth There shall no man be crowned but they y t fyght lawfully he fighteth laboreth lawfully that coÌ„tinueth all his lyfe iÌ„ good workê he fighteth lawfully that without fraude or anye dissymulacyoÌ„ coÌ„tynueth in goddes seruyce he serueth god worthely y â— foloweth his good workes begun He laboureth wel in good workes y t finyshethe that he began well And the churche of his membres contynuyng in goodnesse sayeth The beames and the tymber of oure houses are of Cedern the coueryngeÌ„ of Cypers that is to saye the howses of the church are the holye congregacyon of faythfull people and goddes seruauntes that contynewe in suche thiÌ„ges as shall please hym for Ceder and cypers be suche trees as neuer putryfye they syngnyfye the blessed saintes of god the whiche with a marueylous and a contynuall affectyon do desyre hym coÌ„tynuyng in good operacyon and workes as loÌ„ge as they lyue Therfore good syster loke ye be y â— cyper tre in goddes house by the contynuaunce of a good and a deuoute lyfe And also that ye be the Ceder tree in the house of god the whiche thyng ye maye be yf ye wyl gyue y â— example of good lyfe the swete fragraunte sauers of good conuersacyon thus I do wryte because ye shulde with al youre harte and mynde dyspyse the worlde and contynewe in vertue For ye shulde not wyll to leaue vertue to requyre this worldly lyfe Also and agayne I counsayle you to tary styll in goddes seruyce and neuer to retourne to the world agayn why so For in that is lyfe coÌ„templatyfe and in the worlde nothyng but labour iÌ„ that is a holy lyfe in the worlde a synfull lyfe in that a spirituall and a gostlye lyfe in the worlde a carnal and a flesshly lyfe in that a heuenly lyfe in the world a earthly lyfe in y â— is a peaseble lyfe iÌ„ y e world a troubelous lyfe in that is a a quyet lyfe in the world a maÌ„nes lyfe is full of contentyon stryfe in that is traÌ„quylyte and reste in the worlde a lytygeus and a contentyous lyfe full of all reproche in that is a chaste and a perfyte lyfe in the world a luxurious and a vycyus lyfe in that is a life ful of al vertue in the worlde ful of all vyce and vnthriftynesse in that is a very deuoute and a holye lyfe in the worlde a lyfe ful of al iniquyte Nowe good syster ye haue hard both of life deth now ye haue set before you both good euyl ye se both ê‘dycyoÌ„ soule helth ye se bothe lyfe and deathe fyre water put forth your haÌ„des take what ye thynke best most necessary ye se before you y â— way to heuen and hell the tone leadeth a man to lyfe eternall the tother to perpetual death Therfore take whiche wayes ye wyll I desyre you onely to take the best ¶ The sisters demaunde WElbeloued brother I wyl accept and receyue youre counsell and chose the best way Also it is moche for my profyte to folowe counsell and to walk in that waye that maye brynge me to eternall ioye and blysse ¶ The brother HOnest vyrgyn I am right glad and thanke god that ye wyll take and folow the best way Therfore loke ye leue not the waye ye haue begon all redy but that ye kepe your purpose of good lyfe as longe as ye shall lyue for then shall youre workes be perfyte yf they coÌ„tynewe God doth promys heuen to those that continew in goodnesse Rewarde is gyueÌ„ to those that contynewe he is not good that dothe good onely but that contynually doth good Therfore yf ye contynewe in fayth good workes ye shal be saued Of virginite the xxi chapi THe prudent and wyse virgyns toke and put oyle in ther lampes Harken vnto my wordes they 〈…〉 are cleane virgyns both of body and mynde are no fooles but very wyse and maye go to mete theyr spouse for they haue
syster Charite is very necessary for without it no man can please GOD he loueth not GOD that hateth his peple nor he loueth not god that dispeseth his cōmaundementes charite is the very rote of all vertue without charite what soeuer we do it helpeth not al our diligēce is vaine without charite where that charite is not there raygneth flesly cupidite and lust and therfore a man is called perfyte when he is ful of charite for without charite notwithstandynge a man byleue neuer so well he shal neuer come to eternall beatitude the vertue of charite is so excellent and so noble that without it all other vertues auayle not but yf charite be in man as it ought to be he hath all thynge he that loueth not GOd loueth not hym selfe Therfore nowe at this tyme I monyshe you that by perfite loue ye annexe ioine your self to your īuiseble spouse chryst Iesu and that be no meanes ye couet not these worldly thynges And haste you also be affection to be out of this dale of wretchednes thynk it a payne to be long here nor take no pleasure therī but w t al your myght and desyre be as faruent as ye may to departe vnto god youre louer that for the loue of him ye esteme and repute youre proper helthe as nothynge And loke y t ye be euermore throw pearsed with the woundes of his excellent loue and so that ye maye say these wordes I am wounded with charite My welbeloued lyster in chryst Iesu harken vnto goddes wordes Whosoeuer sethe that he loued me shal be beloued of my father I wyl loue hym and manyfestly vysclose my selfe vnto hym Therfore good sister loue him in this transitory worlde that he maye loue you with his father in perpetuall beatitude Amen ¶ Of the cōtempt of the worlde viij cha MY Welbeloued syster harken vnto Chryst Iesu the whiche sayth Whosoeuer wyl forsake and seue his house his father and mother his brethren and systers or his childrē his feldes or his heritage for y e loue of me and my name he shal receyue a hunderth tymes asmoch and therwith eternal and euerlastynge lyfe Wherfore good syster it is for oure greate luker profyte to leue al earthly thynges for Goddes sake to get eternall for whosoeuer be a frend and a fauerer of y ◠worlde he is goddes enemie Wherfore let vs not loue the worlde least that God shall hate vs. He shall easely despyse all thynge that rememberth euermore that he shal dye Yf we dayly call oure death to memory we shall wyllyngly despyse all earthly thynges yf we thynke dayly vpon the daye of oure death we shall efthsones forget and despyse all worldly pleasures The sisters demaunde O My good brother I wold be wel content for y e name the loue of god to leue all y e is in the world yf I had any thing but forasmoche as I haue neyther golde syluer nor yet no other ryches of this worlde I cā not tell what I shulde leue for goddes sake The brothers answere O Chrystes spouse ye leue many thynges when ye leue youre wyl to haue ye leue many thynges whē ye put backe youre desyre of bauynge ye leue moche when ye leue all carnall and flesly desyre ye leue moch when that for the name of god ye leue all delectations and plesures of this worlde ye leue moch whē ye renoūce these worldly couetus desyres GOd loueth more the soule of man thē he doth worldly ryches The lorde loueth moche more the hooly pure mynd of man then any worldly substāce good syster the kyngdome of heuen is worthe all that euer ye haue god axeth no more then he hath gyuen you Therfore rēder vp vnto hym that he hathe gyuē you y e is a holy a deuoute a chast a pure a religious a fere full mynde and a well manerred Then good syster the kyngdome of heuen is asmoch worth as ye are able to gyue or make gyue and offer vp your selfe vn to god ye shall soone optayne the kyngdome of heuen Let not the price therof trouble you trouble not your selfe for the pryce nor thynk it not moch for chryst Iesus to delyuer you from the handes of the deuyll to wyn to brynge you to god delyuered him self vp Therfore giue your selfe wyllyngly and hooly vnto hym that hath bought delyuered you from the hādes of your enemye for why to saue you he dyd hooly deliuer him self good syster set not by y e mucke of this worlde that ye may optayne the ryches of heuen ryches dothe bryng and leade man to the daūger bothe of body and soule Ryches bring a mā to his death Many a man hath bene destroyed by ryches by ryches many a man hath ben in extreme daunger Many a one hathe ben banyshed and outlawed for ryches Ryches hath bene the death of many a man Who so troubleth hym selfe with these earthly and worldly busynesses shall neuer be at rest nor yet inquiet The care of worldly substaūce dothe trouble a mans mynde maruelously and man gyuen and occupyde aboute suche vyle and earthly matters is in continual vexation and trouble Wherfore yf ye wyll be at rest and in tranquilyte desyre noone of these worldly thynges Ye shall be euermore in quietnesse of mynd yf ye leaue these worldly cures ye shall be at reste yf ye auoyde and leaue al worldly actions and busynesses for ryches are neuer gotten without the great daunger of synne No man melleth with worldly matters w tout parel of syn it is a very rare a seldome sene thing that they come to eternall rest that meldle with the worlde He that in wrappeth hym selfe in worldly matters gothe from the loue of god He that is fixed in the loue of these earthly thynges taketh litle or no pleasure in god these temporall cares and matters elienate a mans mynde frō god there is no mā that at once can bothe loue the glorye of heuen and of the worlde No man can loue god and the worlde togyther it is a very harde thyng to applye celestiall and worldly thynges togyther Yt is a hard point to loue god and the world togyther no man can perfetly loue god and the worlde noman can egally loue them bothe at once O honest virgyn I praye you to harken vnto me for not withstandynge a man do florysh in the glorye of this worlde not withstanding he be clothed with purpure and golde notwithstandynge he semeth to be excellently well arrayed floryshynge in golde and precious stone not w e dyng he hath his garde of goodly men aboute hym and his armed watche men and inuironed with innumerable cōpany of seruantes Yet he is euermore in payne in anguish and heuines in parell and daunger And not withstandyng he be among his goodly tapettes and rych hangynges yet vexed moch troubeled he lyeth in his beddes of golde and syluer and beyng full
his synnes to memory the other is wheÌ„ the soule with great depe sythes desyreth to come to euerlastyng ioye the soule of euery iust maÌ„ is moued by coÌ„puÌ„ctioÌ„ foure maner of wayes The fyrst is by y â— remembrauÌ„ce of his syn the seconde by the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the paynes y â— be to coÌ„e The thyrd is by remeÌ„braunce of the peregrinacion of this mortall lyfe The fourth by the desyre of heueÌ„ the whiche the soule of man dothe greatly couet Euery wretched synÌ„er knoweth that god doth then visyte hym when that by compunction he is prouoked to wepe for S. Peter dyd wepe through greate compunction when god beheld hym for it is wryten that oure lorde turned hym and behelde peter and that incontinently he went out and wepte bytterly of this speaketh the Psalmist God loked and the earth moued and trembled The earth doth then tremble when the poore wretched synner is moued to bewayle his si 〈…〉 es Wherfore good syster I wolde counsell you to call your synnes to remembrauÌ„ce in prayer and sorowfulnesse for his prayer is not cleane nor yet acceptable that prayeth w tout coÌ„punction or contrition I pray you to harken vnto the examples of holy sayntes y e which by coÌ„punction and lamentacyoÌ„ haue obtayned of god pardon and forgiuenes of theyr sinnes As Samuels mother by compunctyon deserued to haue a chylde and ferthermore she optayned of god the gyfte of prophecie Dauid by long waylyng and coÌ„punctioÌ„ optayned pardoÌ„ of his aduenture and murther for the prophet sayde thus vnto hym Thou shalt not die for the lorde hath translated thy synne And good father Tobias by such coÌ„puÌ„ction teares was restored to his syght and holpen of his pouerte for the angel Raphael sayde thus vnto hym be glad quod Raphael agayne be of good chere for y â— shalt be shortly holpeÌ„ And the glorious Magdalene through greate coÌ„punction and manyfolde teares harde these wordes of GOddes owne mouthe thy synnes be for gyneÌ„the Good syster I haue recyted these exaÌ„ples of holy sayntes vnto you that your teares lameÌ„tacyon for your missautes with coÌ„punction maye be swete vnto you for coÌ„punction is a desyrefull treasure and to mans mynde a ioye ineâ—arrable he that prayeth with trewe compuÌ„ction dothe prophet his soule very moche A stronge champion is no lesse worthy of prayse beynge in lamentation then beynge in battayle consyderynge then that after oure bapteme we haue bespotted and defyled our lyfe with stynken syn set vs nowe baptyse rynse our coÌ„scyence w t teares for where is wepynge there is spiritual goostly fyre the whiche shall illuminate kyndle y e secretes of maÌ„s mynde y â— weping the teares of peniteÌ„t ê‘sons are vnto God as a chrystendome Welbeloued syster in christ yf ye haue coÌ„punctioÌ„ ye are happe for coÌ„punctioÌ„ of y e hart is the health of y e soule the coÌ„punction of the mynde thought is the illumination of the soule for theÌ„ the soule is kynled when that by coÌ„punction it is moued to wepe the coÌ„punctioÌ„ of teres is the remission of synnes for then a mans synnes are for gyuen hym when with bytter wepyng and teares he remeÌ„bereth them coÌ„punction dothe brynge the holy gost to man for as soone as the holy goost doth visyte mans mynde by and by the poore synner shall bewayle his mislyuynge ¶ The sisters demaunde O Good brother I requyre you to tell me for what causes in this mortall lyfe we shulde wepe The brothers answere GOod sister there are foure causes the first is for our owne synnes The second for the wretchednes and misery of this worlde The thyrde is for the compassyon of our neyghbour The fourth is for the pleasure of the celestiall and heuenly rewarde He wepte for his synnes that sayde I wyl washe my bed euery nyght and with my teares I wyll wete the couerlet of my bed And agayne bewaylynge the misery of this wretched worlde he sayde Alas I am in great sorowfulnesse for why my labour that is my lyfe is prolonged and in these my wretchednes I dwel not among good men but among synners the whiche are vnderstanded by this worde cedar my soule hath ben very longe absent from god Also y â— good lord wepte through pite and coÌ„passyon apon Lazarus and apon the citye of Hierusalem sayeng for yf thou hadest knowen the tyme of the visitacyon c. And S. Paule commaundeth that we shuld reioyce with those that are in ioye and wepe with those that wepe and beynge in greate heuynesse he sayde Who is sycke and I am not sycke And they y â— are good iuste men wepe for ioye of the â—eward of lyfe euerlastyng rehersynge the wordes of Dauyd say enge We sat apoÌ„ the floodes of BabiloÌ„ wepte wheÌ„ we remembered the SyoÌ„ that is wheÌ„ we remeÌ„bre our celestiall rewarde This preseÌ„t life is but death for it is ful of misery wretchednes the which thynges are not in heuen but only in this preseÌ„t lyfe the which is neuer at home but alwayes as vanished for beyng in this world we be neuer in the citie but wanderynge abrode and as straungers as it is wryten we haue no parpetuall demore in this worlde but we seke search for a place y t is to come that is for heueÌ„ Therfore good syster fyrst aboue all thynge I wold ye shuld bewayle your synnes secoÌ„darely y e wretchednes of this world Thyrdly your neyghbour fourthly for the loue of the celestiall reward Honest virgyn loke ye pray to god w t good deuocion desyrynge hym to gyue you trewe coÌ„punctioÌ„ of mind and of harte contrition for compunction causeth god to be with vs as he himselfe sayeth I and my father wyl come to him that hath coÌ„punction and we wyl tary with hym Where is moche wepinge and wayling there are lightly no euyll thoughtes and yf paraduenture at some tyme they approche nygh yet they take no rote and therfore they can not abyde longe wepynge causeth a man to haue good confidence in God Harken good syster vnto goddes owne wordes Stand vp good doughter and come vnto me for truely wynter is gone and past the floures begyn to appeare and the tyme of loppynge is come for we haue harde the voyce of the turtyll in our countrey that is to say the voyce of the preachers and of the apostles are hard in goddes churche This turtyll is a very chast byrde whose custome is to buylde her nest in hygh trees and by her is signified the apostelles and other good docters whiche may say our inhabitauÌ„ce and dwellynge place is in heuen the whiche turtyll rather mourneth then syngeth whose mournynge dothe signyfye the teares and sorowfulnes of good sayntes exortynge there frendes to mournynge and lamentacyon sayenge be petyfull and mourne you Therfore welbeloued syster taken an example by y â— turtyll and wepe vntyll
deme nour to coÌ„serue kepe vs froÌ„ al sin vnthriftines of y â— which thiÌ„g sait Paule wryteth sayng Be obedyent to youre superyours and subiecte vnto them for they watche to gyue acountes for your soules The superiours prelates of the churche shuld take hede rule Christes people with al solicitude and diligence of the whiche thynge it is wrytten in the Canticles Thre score of the most stroÌ„gest valyanstes of all Israell stode aboute Salomons bed holdiÌ„g swordes iÌ„ theyr handes wel a poited to fyghte and euery one had his sworde hangynge vpoÌ„ his thygh for the fere of y â— night The trewe SalomoÌ„ is christ hâ— selfe for he is very peasyble and hath made peace concorde betwyxte god maÌ„ By SalomoÌ„s bed is vnderstaÌ„ded y â— coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of faythful people w t whom god doth dwell rest The valyauÌ„t and stronge men which do compasse aboute Salomons bedde be the prelates of the church the whiche be reprouynge correctynge and exhortyng of men to vertue do compasse and defende goddes churche agaynst vyce other enimys both vysible and inuisible the whiche prelates are therfore called stronge bycause they are or shulde be perfet in the obseruauntes of goddes coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes holdyngâ— theyr swordes in theyr handes that is the worde of god for in theyr prechynge they shulde represse the vyce and synnes of theyr subiectes And they are very wel apoiÌ„ted to warre for it is nedefull y â— they be alwayes redy to withstande all spirituall battelles And they haue theyr swourdes vpoÌ„ theyr thyghes that is they shulde fyrst represse and correct theym selues of all carnall and flesshly luste and then theyr obediences and subiectes They do all this for y â— feare of the nyght that is agaynste the secrete tem tatyons of the deuyll the which in the nyght of this world doth proue and attempte the forsayd prelates verye sore to this entente that after they haue deceyued theym they maye the more easlyer bespot and defyle the for sayd Salomon that is the forsayd congregacyon of faythfull people goodes seruauÌ„tes in the whiche throughe grace the trewe Salomon Christe Iesus do the reste Welbeloued syster I haue declayred these thynges vnto you bycause ye shulde knowe that humbly we oughte to obey our prelates and superyours Obedyence is the onely vertue that bryngeth all other vertues to the soule and wheÌ„ they be there it kepeth theÌ„ there of the which obedyence the wyse man sayeth Obedyence is better then sacryfyce For by sacryfyce other straunge fleshe is deuoured and slayne but by obedyence a mannes proper fleshe and wyll is ruled He that is obedyeÌ„t speketh of vyctory for who so mekelye is obedyent to another mannes worde ouercommeth hym selfe Adam fel bycause he was inobedient Chryst mounted vp to heuen bycause he obeyed his father euen to deathe and as by Adams inobedyence there are many synners so be the obedyence of Chryste there are many iuste men And as by Adams mysfaute and synne euery man and woman is in the way of daÌ„nacyon so by y e iustyce of chryst euerye man is in the way of iustyfycacyon And as the inobedyence of oure fyrste father ingendred deathe so the obedyence of chryste ingendred lyfe Therfore my sister if for the loue of god ye be obedyente and buxum to youre superyours ye shall obtayne the kyndome of heuen saye nothynge nor be neuer rebellyous agaynste theym Loke y t iÌ„ no case ye speke agaist those y â— be ordred to rule you honoure those y e ar better theÌ„ ye in scyence and in good lyuynge honoure euery maÌ„ as his good lyfe dothe requyre and deserue do reuerence to those that are in hyghe degre do them reuerence after youre possibylyte be obedyente to your elders and humble at theyre commaundement gyue place to those that be iÌ„ authoryte and do condige seruyce to youre superyoures be obedyente to euerye man in all good workes and godlye commaundementes O Chrystes spouse obey maÌ„ so that ye offende not the wyll and pleasure of God be neuer obediente in euyll be not obedyente to hym that shall commaunde you to do that is noughtes nor neuer consent to euyl dede be obedyente to no man in euyll of what power or authorytye so euer he be notwithstandynge he commaunde you vnder payn of deathe it were better to suffre death theÌ„ at any maÌ„s coÌ„mauÌ„demente to do euyll or agayne goddes coÌ„maundementes better it were to be hanged with al abhominacyon and shame then to be dampned etenally We owe oure obedience to god onely nor to no nother maÌ„ but onely for his sake our pÌ„lates our superyours are in goddes rowme and for his sake we be obedient vnto theÌ„ Therfore good syster loke ye be to them obedient and god shall gyue you y â— crowne of euerlastynge lyfe Amen Of ê‘seuerauÌ„ce xx cha WEelbeloued Syster harken vnto saynte Hieromes wordes Men do not seke among chrysteÌ„ meÌ„ for theyr beginynges but for theyr ende and theyr contynuaunce Saynt Paule begaÌ„ but easesly yet he made a good ende Iudas Skaryot began well but he made a shrowed ende Iudas beginiÌ„g is alowed but the ende of his lyfe is reproued And sait Gregory saith y â— perseueraunce coÌ„tinuance is the vertue of al good workes he laborth iÌ„ vayn that begynneth wel and leueth of and Saynte Isydore sayeth God doth not iudge a maÌ„ after his lyuynge in tyme paste but after his ende For it is written as I fynde the so shall I iudge the. And gloryous saynt Magdalane because she contynued styll sekyng of Chryst she after his resuscytatyon deserued to se hym fyrste of all other it is also written in the Canticles In my lytle bed be nyght I sought him whome my soule doth loue Therfore I exhort you good virgyn to seke Christ Iesus iÌ„ your bed that is in rest and quietnes and in conteÌ„placyoÌ„ of y â— mynde and ye shall seke hym by nyght that is in this worlde sythynge vnto hi desiriÌ„g hym y t ye may ê‘fytely fynd hi in time to come se hi reigne iÌ„ his fathers sete seke hym contynually be good life y t ye may se his blissed face in y â— celestial kingdome of heueÌ„ I praye you good syster to saye with Dauid my soule is maruelously a thyrste that is it hathe great desyre to come to god the fountayne of lyfe And when shall I go and apere before the face of god Uerely youre soule dothe desyre god yf it loue hym aboue all thynge truelye youre soule doth desyre god yf for his loue it dispyse all earthly thynges certaynly youre soule doth desyre god and doth loue hym yf it desyre to se hym syttyng in heuen vpon the ryght hande of his father And the prophet Dauid exhortynge vs sayth Seke the Lord and ye shalbe confyrmed seke to come to his face y â— is in prosperyte in aduersyte in pouertye
oyle in there vessels that is they haue chastyte in theyr soules but suche as ve onely virgyns of body not of mynde be very fooles nor can not go to mete theyre spouse for they haue no oyle in theyre vessels y e is they haue not chastite in theyr soules And s Isodore sayeth She y e is a virgyn in bodie not in soule shall haue no remuncracyon ne reward And y â— lorde speakynge of these foolysh virgyns sayeth I knowe not what ye be Wherfore I exhorte you to be a virgin both in soule body y â— hereaftÌ„ ye may be set in the celestial rhaÌ„bre of your spouse christ iesê° Uirginite is not coÌ„mauÌ„ded but yet our holy fathers do couÌ„sell vs to kepe it as a thynge most excellent The gyfte of virginyte is double for it hathe no carefulnesse in this worlde and in tyme to come it shalbe excellently rewarded without doute they that continew chast and in virginite shalbe egal with goddes angelles And the prophete Izaye doth beare wytnes that virgyns aboue all other shalbe most fortunate iÌ„ the eternal beatytude be sayeth those wordes speakynge vnto the Enuques that is to those that be chaste lyue chastly for goddes sake I wyll gyue them my house a place within my walles and a better name then hath my chyldren a name that shall dure for euermore and neuer perysshe All maner of synne through penaunce deserueth pardon forgyuenesse but virgynite once peryshed and lost can in no maner of wyse be recouered for not withstandinge a man by penance doth optayne pardon therof yet he by no maner of meanes can retourne to his fyrst estate purenesse O my good syster bodely virginyte is of no valure where is no integrite of harte mynde All suche virgyns as glorifye them selfe of theyr merytes are compared to Ipocrytes the whiche requyre exteryor glorye for theyr good workes and dedes the which they shuld haue inwardly and in conscieÌ„ce And this is it that is wrytten Howe the foolyshe virgyns had no oyle in theyr vessels that is howe they kepte not inwardely in theyr conscyence the testimony of good workê but that they wolde be glorifyed heare in this worlde amonge men and not in harte with God Saynt Austen sayeth that the virginyte of the bodye helpeth not where that anger dothe rule And there is a great difference betwyxt pure virginite of the soule the which is not poluted ne defyled with contagyousnesse and that that hathe ben subiecte to many bodely pleasures Good sister I pray you harken vnto Saynt Hierom wordes sayenge That it profyteth nothynge that the bodye be chaste yf the mynde be maried Also it is as nothynge to kepe the bodye chaste yf man refrayne not his eyes from concupiscence wanton lokes Norvirgynyte profyteth nothynge yf theyr be in the mynde no charite nor no humilite Wherfore good syster I wold counsel you to take the oyle of good workes with you and that ye garnyshe your lampes with good cleane maners and that ye kyndle and lyght them with good and goostly vertues that when so euer ye shall heare that the bryde grome is commynge ye maye go and mete hym that is to saye ye maye go and mete with Chryst Iesus youre spouse and be receyued and set in his celestyall chambre ¶ Of continence the .xxij chapitur Good sister I pray you to harken with all deuocyon vnto my admonicyon The nomber of thyrte is the fyrst noÌ„bre and it sygnifyeth the coÌ„federatyon of maryage The noÌ„bre of thre score is the seconde degre of noÌ„bres it sygnifeth the coÌ„tyneÌ„ce of wydowes A hundered is the thyrd degre of nombers the which is deputed vnto virgyns for the glorye and crowne of theyre virginyte Saynt Isodore sayeth y â— ther be which in there youth lyued luxuriusly in age do inteÌ„d to lyue chastly and that wyl liue then in continence and chastite when voluptuousnesse bodely pleasure hath forsaken left them but suche men shall haue litle or no reward for they haue taken no payne to resyste temptacyoÌ„ They shal be rewarded the crowne of glorye appertayneth to them that valyaÌ„tly haue foughten and warsteled for it the fruyte of chastite is swetnesse Chastite is the sauegard of the soule and the health of the body Luxuriousnesse dothe feble a mans body and causeth man to seme olde and aged before his tyme continuall and longe chastite is reputed for virginite Therfore good syster the beutifulnesse of chastite oug ht to be loued and myche made of They that lyue continently and chastely prepare them selfe as and humble synner is more to be laudyd a great dele then the proude iust man Therfore dysprayse no womeÌ„ for many a holy womaÌ„ hath ben maryed and haue had chyldren truely yf ye blame or accuse any such ye are culpable before god For the holy prophete saynt â—n was maryed Yet neuerthelesse she prophesyed of Chryst and deserued to se hym Also Mary Magdalene was a secular woman and yet she sawe chryst after he was rysen from death to lyfe and deserued to be chrystes messenger to his apostles we shulde neuer haue them in coÌ„tempte the whiche god hath chosen to be his seruantes Wherfore I exhort you that for the loue of chryst ye do them the seruyce and pleasure ye maye or can and that ye loue them as mothers And good syster ye ought to loue them as your owne chyldreÌ„ for god hath conuerted and drawen them froÌ„ the worlde to his seruyce Yf ye then despyse them bycause they be his handmaydeÌ„s and seruantes ye do hym iniure O good syster in Chryst Iesu neuer say or thynke your selfe a drye stock or an vnfrutefull tree For yf ye loue the lorde as ye shuld do ye haue seuen goodly chyldren The fyrste is called shamefastnesse the seconde patyence the thyrde sobernesse the fourth teÌ„peraunce the fyfte is charyte the syxte humilyte the seuenth chastite Behold nowe good syster how that by the great grace of GOD without any grefe or corporall corruptyon ye haue brought forthe to GOddes honour seuen fayre chyldren And so ye haue fulfylled that is wrytteÌ„ The barreÌ„ hath brought forthe seuen chyldren Therfore good syster ye muste nouryshe repast confort and chasten these your goodly chyldren ye muste nouryshe them with good maners with deuoute contemplacyon with the mylke of eternall swetenesse ye must repast them with the loue of heueÌ„ly pasture ye muste conforte them with the breade of the worde of God Ye must chasten them with the roddes of the feare of god and commaunde them to flye and auoyd all pryde and lyghtnesse that they neuer transgresse his commaundementes and that they neuer go ne departe from you Nowe ye se then howe that virgyns fynd out and optayne the moost excellentes and moost souerauÌ„ce place of the kyngdome of heuen not without a great cause for they haue dispised this present worlde And therfore they are
of his head and delyuered hym to his enemes the whiche by by put out both his eyes And so the poore wretched man for asmoche as he behelde that he shulde not haue loked vpon he lost his syght and was in daunger of his lyfe Nowe good syster ye se that many a one by the syght of the eye haue bene bothe in daunger of body and soule Wherfore I exhorte you to make a bargayne w t your eyes that ye neuer loke wantonly vpon suche thynges as ye shuld not loke vpon beware that death enter and descende not by youre eyes into your soule but if your flesh as I haue sayde before do assale you if lechery do tempt you yf misorderd appetite do prouoke you yf the remembraunce of fornication do yet torment you set death in the presence of all these thynges cast before your eyes the ende of your lyfe call also to your remembraunce the paynes of hell that be ordeyned for synÌ„ers Let the horryble day of Iudgement be before youre eyes in your mynde and Imagyn with your self how streyght it shall be for yf it were not the great mercy of God there were no man able to abyde it The remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of y â— horryble paynes and vehement fyer of hell shall quynche the heate of fornicacyoÌ„ the memorye of the perpetuall flame fyre of hel shal cause you to forget all maner of fornicacy on For the greater heate quinched alwayes the lesser ouercommeth it And the ofte thynkynge vpon the horryble fyre of hell quinchet the vehement and burnynge fyre of fornicacy on Good syster I beseche GOd to gyue you trew chastite bothe of body and soule ¶ Of abstinence the .xxiiij. chapiter THat is called a perfyte faste when we fast outwardely and pray inwardly By fastynge mans prayer is soone harde By fastynge prayenge mans soule is ioyned to the angels and coupeled to God Fastynge is as stronge armoure to feyght agaynst the deuyll as may be by fastynge and prayenge the wycked spirytes are ouercommed My welbeloued syster in GOd wyll ye knowe howe fornycacion maye be best restrayned and kepte vnder Ye good brother yf it please you I pray you shew me harken then vnto me By fastynge and by abstynence fornicacyon is soone layde a syde By fastynge voluptuous pleasure lechery is quicly restrayned Neuer fyll your self luxuriousnes shall neuer ruell you Abstynence ouercoÌ„meth y â— flesh abstinence doth brydell bodely pleasure abstyneÌ„ce doth break diminyshe all fleshly lust mo cyon Abstynence dothe vtterlyè destrowe the power of fornicacion hunger and thryst doth ouer come all carnall concupyscence and lust That soule that is gyuen to diuersyte of meates and drynkes leseth the vigure and effecte of good prayer That soule that of longe seasoÌ„ hathe not ben repasted nor fed w t the word of god is lyke the bodye y t hathe ben long without meat Saynt hierome sayeth that a maÌ„ muste fast meanely w t moderacyon least that to moch fasting shuld febly she the stomacke For meat moderately takeÌ„ is both ê“fytable for y â— soule the bodye A fat bellye and moch aboundauÌ„ce of meat causeth dull wyttê dull vnderstaÌ„dyng Also it is moche better dayly to eate lytle then to eate but seldome and moche he fasteth well that exchuyt syn Better it is to abstayne froÌ„ vice then from meat but to abstayne that ye may afterwardê fyl your selfe is not laudable nor suche abstinence is nothyng coÌ„mendable A voyde bely prouoketh a man to prayer and deuocioÌ„ and a ful belly to slepe and slouthfulnesse kepe the bodye drye by the desyre of the kyngdome of heueÌ„ to thentent ye may fulfyll that is wrytten My soule my flesh doth greatly desyre god y â— flessh doth then desyre God when by moch fastyng it abstayneth and wareth drye Good syster yf ye ê‘fytly desyre god in this mortal lyfe he shal satisfye coÌ„teÌ„t your mind iÌ„ y â— glorious kiÌ„dome of heueÌ„ abstineÌ„ce doth both kil giue lyfe for it quyckeneth y â— soule mortifyeth the bodye AbstyneÌ„ce doth edifye ingeÌ„der vertue in mans soule destroyeth the vicyousnes of y â— body We shuld w t all diligeÌ„ce despyse glotony the coÌ„cupyscens desyre of dilicate viandes meates shulde be left and litle regarded A man shuld not care for his belye when the belye is to moche replenyshed then the bodye is inflamed with wantoÌ„nesse lechery We shuld not eare to fyll the bellye but to sustayne the bodye For when the belye is full then is the fyer of fornycacyon kyndeled that body that is chasted and kepte lowe by abstynence is neuer inflamed nor hurt with the fyre of voluptuous pleasure The ryche man clothed in purpure the which to euery maÌ„nes iudgment syght lyued in great abundauÌ„ce bycause he wold not abstayne in this world from immoderate meates and drynkes was caste into the fyre of hell desyred but one droppe of water to refreshe cole his tunge withall yet he could not haue it nor neuer shal And as be abstinence all vertue is roted and edyfyed in the soule of manne so be the abundauÌ„ce of meate and drynke vice is noryshed in maÌ„s bodye nor man shall neuer obtayne the perfytenes of vertue yf he do not fyrste tame and refrayne the glotony of the belye The thre childreÌ„ were not burnt nor coÌ„sumed because they were abstinent and sober And Danyell was delyuered frome the lyon because he was abstinent No man of hym selfe can repell temptacyon yf he refrayne not froÌ„ iÌ„moderate eatiÌ„g driÌ„kyng The systers demauÌ„de DEare brother I praye you to tel me how I shuld chasten my body w t abstineÌ„ce The brothers answere GOod syster ye muste nourishe your body vnder suche a fassioÌ„ y â— it waxe not prowd and rebellyous ye muste so kepe it vnder and so represse it that it fall not ye must so refreshe your flesshe that it maye do you seruyce so chasteÌ„ your body with abstinence that it peryshe not if ye punish your body more then nedethe ye kyll your freÌ„de yf ye kepe it to waÌ„toÌ„ly ye nourish your enmy Good syster in all abstynence beware ye hurt not your bodye but the vycyousnes therof absteyne froÌ„ meates loke youre face be pale and not ruddy loke youre body be leane and not fatte eate so that ye maye be alwaies a hungerde neuer iÌ„ferce nor fyll your bellye with moche meate Be euermore a hungerde a thryste in abstynence and leanenes ye can not ouercome temptacyon yf ye chasteÌ„ not your body For by moch eatyng drinkyng lechery dothe encrece y â— abuÌ„dauÌ„ce of wine daiÌ„ty metes doth styr y â— fleshe to bodyly pleasure luxuriusnes is euermore ioyned to saturite y â— cold of moch watchiÌ„g doth quench the heate of carnal lust euyl spirytes are very moche there where is suê‘fluytye of meate drynke Therfore good syster in Chryst Iesu yf ye inteÌ„d as I haue
mens hartes Also reason requyreth that he refrayne from syn that desyreth to correcte other mens vnwise persons of tentymes by the correction of other mens fautes disclose theyr owne For as longe as maÌ„ knoweth not his owne fautes the which he shuld both know bewayle he goeth curiously aboute to know other mens But yf he remeÌ„bre behold hym self well he shall not greatly iÌ„quire of other mens misdedes for he shall fynde in hym selfe that he may be wayle amend Saynt I sodore sayeth That we can soner correcte other mens vices then we can augment or increce theyre vertues Nor we be not so dilygeÌ„t to know what good meÌ„ do as we be to knowe what euyl they do Wherfore good syster I exhorte you reyther to amend your owne fautes theÌ„ to correct other mens And fyrst to loke vpon your owne mysdedes and then vpon other mens Be dilygent for youre owne correctyon careful for your owne welth amendement Neuer desyre to medle with that thynge that ye haue nothyng to do with all Nor be not curiê° to know where of men do speke nor what other men do Flye curiosyte leue to be curiose and to know howe other men lyue Let no curyosyte trouble or deceyue you Loke not so vpon other mens maners that ye for get your owne take hede ye be as diligent to correct youre owne mysdoynges as ye wolde be to correcte other mens Be not curiose to know y â— thing that is secrete beware yeinquire not to knowe that ê‘tayneth nothyng vnto you Kepe that thiÌ„g secrete that ye haue learnde by holy scrypture Seke for no more theÌ„ is wrytteÌ„ seke for no more then holy scrypture doth shewe you nor neuer go aboute to lern that ye shulde not lerne lerne y â— curiosite is a verye daungerus and a perilus presumptioÌ„ curiosite is a perilus science for it ê“uoketh man to heresy and bryngeth a mans minde to noughtie tales fables maketh a man bold in y â— thyng y â— is very dark hard to be vnderstaÌ„ded doth caste hym into ignoraunt matters Good sister ameÌ„d your lyfe w t all the diligence ye can y e ye may here afâ— come to euerlastiÌ„g ¶ Of watche the .liij. cha MY welbeloued sister listeÌ„ to y â— lordê sayng Watche for ye knowe not wheÌ„ the lord shall come And agayne I saye vnto you all watch you and S-Peter sayeth Be wyse watche in prayer For wheÌ„ men shal say that theyr is peace and securite then shall sodeyn death destruction come vpoÌ„ theÌ„ SalomoÌ„ sayeth They are iust and wyse and theyr workes are in goddes handes and yet they can not tel whether they be â—orthe to be loued or hated Why so For al vncertayn thynges are reserued to the tyme y e is to come My good syster god hath kepte hydden froÌ„ vs the tyme of his coÌ„myng that by such vncertaynte long taryeng we shulde often tymes thinke that he is euermore redy to come For we be ignorant of his coÌ„mynge We must so passe forth the ioye of this world that we forget not the bytternesse of the iudgement that is to come The deuyl doth often tymes deceyue man and so leadeth hym to syn For when he perceyueth that man is troubeled and sory for his misfaute then by a certayn securite surenes he deceyueth hiÌ„ agayne Wherfore good syster when so euer we do anye good dedes it is nedefull also y t we remeÌ„ber oure misdedes least that by ignoraunce of our fautes we reioyce vnwysely in oure good workes And god wold we shulde be ignoraunt of our last houre bycause we shulde be euermore indoute therof redely pÌ„pare our selfes vnto it w t out any assurance s Isodore sayeth Let not the iust trust in his iustnes nor y â— synner mistrust nor despere of y â— great mercy of God but let them haue in harte both hope feare And so to trust vnto his mercy that they forget not to fere his iustice For notwithstandyng that the conuersacyon of holy men is probable well alowed yet it is vncertayne to what ende they are prepared vnto And therfore a man shulde neuer be without feare for it is not man but GOd that iudgeth mans penaunce satisfaccyon And of this thynge sayeth Cesarius howe moch as man is in suertie of his mysfautes y e are past somoch y â— more he must take hede fle those that are to come Good syster byleue me y t meditacyoÌ„ of death is the very lyfe of a wyse man Therfore ye shall do wysely if ye coÌ„tinually do think vpoÌ„ god at some timê vpoÌ„deth for a certayn wyse man sayeth Blessed is he that is alwayes in feare Wherfore good virgyn I exhorte monyshe you to be alwayes in feare in doute diligeÌ„t subtyl against y â— teÌ„ptacions of the deuyll and to be in coÌ„tinual watche stryte battell agaynst hym his subtyll crafty teÌ„ptacyons Herken good Chrystys spouse what god sayeth Blessid is that seruant whome God at his coÌ„myng doth finde watshiÌ„g Wherfore yf ye wyll watch and set all your mynde vpon him ye shalbe counted in eternall beatitude amonge those that are fortunate blessed Ye shalbe estemed to be blessed yf ye lyfte vp the eyes of your soule with good deuocyon vnto god y â— very trew lyght and w tout dowte ye shall be greatly fortunate blessed if ye diligeÌ„tly and effecteously do watche to god ward for he hath ê“mysed to crowne those y t watch of this it is wrytteÌ„ her eyes are lyke doues eyes vpoÌ„ y â—ful riuers y â— which are washte w t mylke y â— eyes of y â— spouse are the good deuout peple the which lyke doues do liue in simplicite and by theyr good pÌ„ching good example giuyng bring many other to the way of saluacion They are estemed to be vpoÌ„y â— riuer bicause they ar coÌ„tynually iÌ„ y â—coÌ„uersacioÌ„ study of holy scripture washt w t mylke y t is they are through the grace of god the blessed sacrameÌ„t of bapteme pourged froÌ„ all syn what other thyng may we vederstaÌ„de by the full ryuer but the ê“fouÌ„de secret lernyng of holy scrypture y e which when we here it doth coÌ„forth refresh vs. Ferthermore the doues syt most comeÌ„ly vpoÌ„ y e ryuer to se y e shadow of the byrdes y t fle in the ayre y e which by goyng into the water auoide al dauÌ„ger so good meÌ„ by redyng of holy scrypture ê‘ceyue se the subtilite crafty nesse of y e deuil by such descripcyon of thinges they know him as by a shadowe so auoydeth both hym his deceytefulnesse Therfore loke y t ye be coÌ„tynually occupyed in y e meditacyon of holy scrypture for in y t ye shall fynde howe to auoyde al SataÌ„s craftynes and wylynes And agayne good virgyn I exhorte you to coÌ„myt youre selfe holy to the good counsell
shortnes of life the lvii Chapiter DEare syster harken vnto SalomoÌ„s wordes Aâ— that ye caÌ„do do it out of hande For neyther worke nor reason nor scyence nor yet wysdome shalbe in the inferior ê‘tê to y â— which ye ar going AmaÌ„aloÌ„ly may do good iÌ„ this world for in another worlde good workes are not loked for but the reward of good workes This life is very caduke shorte wher of s Isodore sayeth y â— his thought is good and profytable y t coÌ„sydereth by the space ende of this lyfe how longe how shorte lykewyse howe miserable it is Therfore my good syster in chryste yf ye seke for the trewe waye go towarde chryst seke for eternall lyfe for that is euerlastyng and this but mortall And therfore in body ye muste be in this worlde as a dead womaÌ„ that in soule ye may be quycke and goddes seruant for he is estemed a lyue y â— is deed carnally giuyng his hoole mynde vnto GOd to whome he ê“mysed to lyue after his lawê it is a paine for a good man to lyue longe in this world for he thynketh it longe or euer he come to the perpetuall ioyes of heuen Noman knoweth the ende of his lyfe and wheÌ„ a man thynketh hym selfe moost surest therof by and by he is gone Let euerye man therfore make hast to ameÌ„de hym selfe least he departe in iniquite ende his lyfe and his misâ—iuyng together For the deuyll goeth aboute to brynge theÌ„ to ê‘petuall torment and payne at theyr last ende the which in this lyfe he inticed and brought to syn And not w t standiÌ„g a maÌ„ be both good iust yet wheÌ„ he shal depart he feareth he shalbe punyshed y â— pesable the geÌ„tyll departynge of good men out of y â— worlde causeth men to thynk y t they depart in good estate to be associated w t angels in euerlastyng ioye Of this speketh y â— spouse in the caÌ„ticles sayenge My louer is come into my garden to the crowne of blisse of all swete aromatike sauers For GOD visitinge his churche coÌ„meth vnto theÌ„ w t greate grace y â— which he knoweth hath gyuen the good sauers of good examples vertues renome vnto theyr neyghbours he taketh a delyte in gardeÌ„s reioycyng in the vertue of good soules he gathered lilies wheÌ„ he calleth his electe chosen seruaÌ„tes froÌ„ this lyfe to euerlasting ioye Wherof it is wrytteÌ„ The death of holy sayntes is very precious to god Cloth is endid by thredê a maÌ„s lyfe by dayes wheÌ„ deth coÌ„meth the soules of goddes chosen seruantes are in great teare vncertayne wether they shal be saued or daÌ„pned Sum good men at there departyng are pourged of all theyr veniall synnes SuÌ„ other at the same selfe tyme are in greate ioyfulnes remeÌ„bringe the ioyes y t ar to come And it is Goddes pleasure we shulde not knowe the tyme of our departiÌ„g bycause we shulde thynke y â— it is euermore at hand For the more that a man is vncertaine therof the more he shall applye gyue him selfe to good workes The deuyll at the departynge of all mys liuers dothe receyue theyre soules y e theyre inticers to pleasure syn maye be theyr punisshers tormenters in payne At mans departyng y e wycked spirites giue imploy all theyr diligeÌ„ce to bryng to mans remeÌ„beraunce all y â— euer they ê‘suaded them to do in this worlde and y t to brynge them theyr pore soules to euerlastiÌ„g paine The synner after his death is brought to torment and payne but the good syuer to coÌ„tinual ioye and blysse And as we do byleue that good men after theyr great paynes labour takeÌ„ in this world do rest be in quiet so muste we beleue that mildoers be in great payne tormeÌ„tes Good syster I tell you this bycause ye shulde knowe y t it is very nedeful and necessarie for vs to despyse all earthly thynges to remembre that we shall dye Harke what y â— apostle sayeth What other thinge is our lyfe but euen a vapur appearing for a whyle And Salomon sayeth Neuer put truste in the next day folowyng for ye can not tell to what chance it shall prepare you therfore my welbeloued syster ye shuld in coÌ„tynually coÌ„sider y â— ende of youre lyfe and despyse the flatterynge inticementes of this worlde to come to euerlastyng ioye bliss In all your busynesses coÌ„syder your last ende and ye shal neuer do annsse And therfore I exhort you that ye take no pleasure in these worldly trifylles For with out doute ye shall heuse truste not to these temporall thynges for theyr isno wayes to sckape dâ—ath a why shuld this wreched and slynkynge flesshe reioyce in worldly goodes consyderynge it is prepared to fede wormes This I tell you good syster because ye shulde not for gette the ordre of youre estate and condycyon Remembre ye are but asshes and that ye shall retourne to asshes that ye are but dust and shal retourne therto again and so sayde the Lorde vnto Adam Remembre also what Iob was woÌ„te to say vnto him selfe I shalbe consumed as dust and like vnto the vesture that is eaten with mothes call to remembraunce that ye shal dye and remembre it contynually that throughe the remembraunce there of ye may eschew and auoyde all vicious lyuynge ¶ Of death the .lviij. cha WHorshypfull sister I pray you to harken vnto the sainge of y â— wyse man O deth howe bytter a thing is it for hym that is in quiet restfulnesse of his substance to remember the And agayne O death thy iudgement is good to those that are in wretchednes pouerte Unto this agreeth S. I sodore saynge O death howe swete arte thou to wretches and to those that liue in bitterfulnes How plesant vnto those that be in heuynes and lamentacion Death is the ende of al worldly mysere of all wretchednes and of all calamite death bryngeth a man to the ende of all worldly tribulation but alas death commeth very late slowly to those that are iÌ„ tribulatioÌ„ Wherfore good sister it were better to dye wel then to lyue wretchedlye it were better not to be theÌ„ to dye vnhappely and myserablye ¶ The systers demauÌ„de DEre brother I pray you telme whether we shulde bewayle those that ate deade and wepe for our frendes that are departed ¶ The brothers aÌ„swere GOod sister vnto this saynt I sodore doth answer you saynge that not w t standyng pytty enforceth and wylleth vs to bewayle suche as dye in good belefe yet our fayth do the inhybyte vs to wepe for theÌ„ And therfore we shulde not wepe for the death of such good people but rather thanke god y â— it hath pleased his grace to delyuer them oute of all worldlye wretchydnes bryngyng theym as we do beleue to perpetuall lyght rest and peace And therfore we shuld not he wayle such good chrysten
soules as we verely suppose to be saued HarkeÌ„ vnto me good syster I say that we shuld lament theyr deth the which y â— wycked spirytê do hale carye to euerlastyng payne tormeÌ„t and not those the which the angels receiue to great ioye honoure and to the celestyall courte of paradyse I saye we shulde mourne theyr deathe the which are buryed in y â— depe pyt of hell and not those the whiche are exalted to y â— perpetual ioyes of heueÌ„ we shuld wepe for those that dye euyll and in sinne and not for those that die wel Good syster when I bewayle theÌ„ that dye well I hurte my selfe and do them no good and they that lamente and wepe for those that dye they in a maner denye the generall resurrectyon and that god rysse frome deathe to lyfe And therfore good syster we y â— byleue that all suche as dye are in heuen withe Chryste shulde not wepe for theym nor lament theyr death but rather pray for theim that yf perchaunce they be in any daunger of paine that it wolde please his gracyous mercyfulnes to delyuer theym Of iudgemeÌ„t the .lix. cha THere are two deuine iudgemeÌ„tes the one in this worlde the other iÌ„ the worlde y â— is to come Many are so iudged in this presente worlde by syckenes by pouertie and by other dyuers worldly tribulacyons that here after they shall not be iudged for such teÌ„porall paines to some are iÌ„ stede place of theyr purgacyon Other there be that begyn theyre daÌ„pnacyoÌ„ in this present world of whose saluacyon there is often tymes nother trust nor hope because they contynew in synne vngracyous lyuynge Some there be that are iudged in this worlde by tribulacyon Some other are iudged iÌ„ tyme to come by fyre after the examinatioÌ„ of the streyte iudge nor the iustice of the iust man shal not then be sure and therfore Iob saith He consumeth the Innocente and the wycked for the innoceÌ„t shal be consumed and as nothynge regarded yf his innocence becoÌ„ pared with goddes innocence GOD shal consume the wretched wicked synner through y â— subtilyte of his deuyne examination his naughtynesse shalbe shewed him and he hym selfe ryghtfully condempned Chryst after as the life of good meÌ„ shal requyre so in his iudgement he wyl be fauorable and good vnto theÌ„ but to those that be wycked synners he shal appere very terryble and fereful and at the day of iudgement Chryst shal shewe hym selfe to euery man as euery mans coÌ„science was beynge vpon earth remaynynge styll in his pece traÌ„quilite he shall appeare terrible to them onely whose proper coÌ„science shall accuse them My good syster harken vnto s Isodore wordê Ther is no man clene w tout syn And therfore theyr can no maÌ„ be sure of goddes Iudgement for then we shalbe contable of euery idle worde that is spokeÌ„ Alas what shall we wretches say at the day of iudgement the whiche do not onely amys vsynge of ydle and fylthy wordes but that commyt dayly so manye abhomynable and enorme crymes neuer leauynge oure noughtynesse with other vnryghtfull operacyons and workes And yf to be that the ryght delyng maÌ„ be not theÌ„ sure of goddes iudgemeÌ„t what shall be come of vs moost wretched synners and yf the Iustice of the vpright and iuste man be in no surance at the examynacy on of this streyte Iudge what shall we catyues do then that dayly do augment and increace our noutynesse and syn And yf at the daye of dome the iust man shal scacely be saued where shal we that haue synned without measure and without ende appere vpoÌ„ that daye Who shall not be in drede and feare when heuen and earth shal shake and quake all the elementes be resolued by heate Of this daye it is writteÌ„ This is the day of yre of trybulacyoÌ„ of mysery vengeauÌ„ce the daye of dym darkenes of the trumpet and of al or ryble sounde vpon this day the strongeste man that euer was shall be troubled ¶ The systers demauÌ„de ALas good brother what shall we saye wheÌ„ y â— strayte iudge shall come vnto vs For wheÌ„ ye put me in remembraunce of his coÌ„miÌ„g ye cause me to wepe and by the rehersynge of that terryble and fearefull day ye haue prouoked me to heuynes ¶ The brothers aÌ„swere MY good syster it is well done yf ye for feare of this eracte strayte Iudge do wepe For or euer this day doth aproch and come we muste appere in confessyon and great waylyng before him The acceptable and helthsome day is whilst we be iÌ„ this world of the whiche it is wrytteÌ„ Seke god whylste he may be founde call vpon hym whylste he is at hande The iudge caÌ„ not be sene in this presente lyfe and yet he is euen by vs he shal be sene in another worlde and shalbe far frome vs. Therfore good syster we muste nedes seke god withe all oure hart and mynde in this presente lyfe yf we intende here after to fynde him for yf we dylygentlye seke hym nowe abstanynge frome all euyll workes at the daye of iudgemeÌ„t he shall be fauorable and mercyfull vnto vs for he is maruaylous geÌ„tyll and full of all mercye For it is wrytten that he is swete and gentyll to euerye man and that is mercye is aboue all his workes Therfore good syster lette vs pray vnto this terrible moste iuste iudge with teares and greate lamentacyon with all deuocyon that at the day of his iudgemente he rewarde vs not after our merytes and iniquites but after his greate and abundaunt mercye and that we withe other mysdoers here not this terryble sentence Gette ye hence ye dampnable synners in to perpetuall fyre But that it wyll please hym we may w t his elected chosen out seruauÌ„tes here these most ioyfull wordes Come hyther ye moste blessed receyue the kyngdome of heuen the which hath bene prepayred for you sence the begynnyng of the worlde The brothers exhortacioÌ„ GOod syster nowe I truste I haue broughte my shyppe into the haueÌ„ made an ende of my exhortacyons and good monytyons yet that notwithstandyng I retourne once agayne intendyng to speake a fewe mo wordes w t you Ye desyred me to wrytte you a fewe good monycyoÌ„s the which thynge I haue accoÌ„plyshed done not parauenture so well as I shuld haue done but yet by goddes grace as well as I coulde I haue chosen out of holy fathers saynges for youre instructyon the beste sentences I coulde fynde y â— which I haue preseÌ„ted vnto you in this boke Take heed therfore my goo syster for ye haue nowe the good admonycyons and instructions of perpetuall lyfe ye haue now good counsell and as it were a rule to lyue well Nowe there caÌ„ no ignorauÌ„ce of syn excuse you ye know now how ye shall lyue well and vertuously ye can not saye nowe that ye dyd a mysse fell