Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A08254
|
Here begynneth the rule of seynt Benet
|
Benedict, Saint, Abbot of Monte Cassino.; Fox, Richarde, b. ca. 1447.
|
1517
(1517)
|
STC 1859; ESTC S110729
|
56,422
|
88
|
¶ Here begynneth the Rule of seynt Benet Or asmoche as euery ê‘sone ought to knowe the thyng that he is bounde to kepe or occoÌ„plisshe and ignorance of the thynge that he is bounde to do cannot nor may not excuse him and for so moche also as the reding of the thynge that a persone is bounde to do execute except he vnderstande it is to the executinge therof no thyng vailliable but only thyng iÌ„utile trauell in vayne and tyme loste ¶ we therfore Richarde by the permission and suffrance of our lorde god Bisshope of winchester reuoluinge in our mynde that certayne deuoute and religiouse womeÌ„ beinge within our Diocese vnder our pastorall charge and cure haue not only professed them to thobseruance of the Rule of the holy coÌ„fessoure Seinte Benet but also be bounde to rede lerne and vnderstond the same when they be Nouices before they be professed And also after their profession they shulde nat onely in them selfe kepe obserue execute and practise the sayd rule but also teche other their sisters the same iÌ„ so moche that for the same intente they daily rede cause to be red soÌ„me ê‘te of the sayd Rule by one of the sayd sisters amonges theÌ„ selfe aswell in their Chapiter howse after the rediÌ„ge of the Martyrologe as soÌ„me tyme in their Fraitur in tyme of refeccioÌ„s and collacioÌ„s al the which redingê is alwayes don iÌ„ the latin toÌ„ge wherof they haue no knowlege nor vnderstoÌ„dinge but be vtterly ignorant of the same whereby they do nat only lese their tyme but also renne iÌ„to the euideÌ„t daunger perill of the ê‘dicion of their soules we the sayd Bisshope knowing and coÌ„sideringe the premisses and rememberyng that we may not without like peryll of our sowle suffer the sayd religious wemen of whose sowles we haue the cure to contynue in their sayde blindenesse and ignorance of the sayd Rule to the knowlege and obseruance wherof they be professed specially to th entent that the yonge Nouices may first knowe and vnderstande the sayde Rule before they ê“fesse theÌ„ to it So that none of them shall mowe afterward probably say that she wyste nat what she professed as we knowe by experience that soÌ„me of them haue sayd in tyme passed For these causes and specially at thinstant requeste of our ryght dere and welbeloued doughters in oure lorde IhuÌ„ Thabbasses of the monasteris of Rumsay wharwel Seynt Maries within the citie of winchester and the prioresse of wintnay oure right religious diocesans we haue translated the sayde rule into oure moders tonge coÌ„mune playne rounde englisshe easy and redy to be vnderstande by the sayde deuoute religiouse women And by cause we wolde not that there shulde be any lacke amongis them of the bokis of this sayd translation we haue therfore aboue and besyde certayne bokes therof which we haue yeuen to the sayde monasteris caused it to be emprinted by our welbeloued Richarde Pynson of London priÌ„ter The .xxii. day of the Monethe of Ianuary The yere of oure Lorde M. CCCCC.xvi And the .viii. yere of the Reigne of our souerayne lorde kynge Henry the .viii. and of our translacioÌ„ the xvi ¶ The rule of seynt Benet ¶ In the name of the Trinite Here ensueth the ê“logue of the rule of the blacke monkê minchins made by the moost religiouse fader seynt Benet whiche in the begynniÌ„ge of the sayde prologue sayth thus FEre and marke well my childreÌ„ the preceptes and coÌ„maundementes of oure fader master diligently apply inclyne the inwarde spirituall ere 's of youre hertes and gladly perceyue and admitte the frutefull admonicioÌ„s of your good louinge fader And effectually accomplishe and fullfyll the same so that by the laboure and vertu of obedience ye may retorne and coÌ„me agayne to all myghty god from whome ye were departed disseuered thurgh Idelnesse vice and disobedieÌ„ce ¶ Vnto you all therfore my wordes be nowe derected and spoken what so euer ye be that wyll forsake and renounce youre owne wylles sensualytes and pleasures and take vppon you the myghty and noble spyrituall armure of obedience to doo seruice to that noble and verie true kynge almyghty god Iesu christe ¶ And firste what so euer goode purpose or werke ye begyn to take vppon you ye shall before ye begynne it aske and moste instantly desyre the goode lorde to performe and make perfeyte your sayde purpose or werke that he whiche hathe vowchedsafe to accepte vs as in the nomber of his chosen children be not at any season moued displeased or greued thurgh our euyll offences misdedes ¶ For at all seasones we ought for the great goodnesse that he hath shewed vnto vs so to bowe obey vnto him lesse that he as a displeased fader for our demerites not only disinheryte vs as his vnkynde chyldren but also as a ferefull lorde mayster ê“uoked by our euill dedes coÌ„dempne vs as frowarde and vnkynde seruantes to perpetuall paynes bycause we dyde not our diligence to followe him to euerlastinge glorie ¶ Therfore nowe at the laste let hir arryse holy scripture exciting vs with these wordes Tyme is nowe that we arrise froÌ„ slepe that we open our yes to the clere lyght of allmighty god so that we may ê‘ceyue here with attentyue erys what dayly is coÌ„maunded vs by the worde of god saynge thus ¶ If ye this day haue harde the worde of almyghty god be ye not harde nor stobborne nor stoppe not the erys of your herte And also he saith agayne He that hath erys to here let him here what the holy goost sayth to all cristen people But what sayth he CoÌ„me ye my children and here me I shall teche you to drede god Renne ye and be diligent whiles the lyght of lyfe is a monges you lesse the derkenes of deth catche you Also all myghty god seyng his faythfull people obedient seruantes workemen amonges the multytude of his people not only cryethe after the maner a forsayd but also he sayth demauÌ„deth in this wyse what man is he that wyll haue euerlastinge lyfe and desyreth to see good dayes And if thou heryng these wordes woll answere say I am he allmyghty god then sayth to the ageyne If thou wol haue trewe euerlasting lyfe with drawe kepe thy tonge from all euyll and suffer no fraude ne dissayte passe thurgh thy lyppes turne the from all euyll doo that is goode seke out pursue peax folowe the same And wheÌ„ ye do after this maner sayth allmyghty god then shall myne yes be open fixed vppon you myne erys allway redy to your prayers peticions before ye shall call vppoÌ„ me I shall pÌ„uent you shall say lowe here I am redy to youre desyres ¶ O dere susters sayth seynt Benet what thyng may be to vs swetter then this voyce of our sauiour in the maner a forsayd callynge vs to him Be holde susters sayth seint Benet
he sheweth that god is allweye present to our thoughtes saynge thus God sercheth what meÌ„ thinke and what meÌ„ delyte iÌ„ And ageyne he sayth God knoweth the thought of maÌ„ Also the prophet sayth Good lorde thou haste vnderstande my thoughtes afar And the thoughtes of man shall make confession and be open vnto the. And to th entent that a religiose person be very studiose and diligeÌ„t in withstondinge euyll thoughtes lat hir say allwayes in hir hart Then shall I be clene and immaculate byfore him when I kepe me from synne and iniquite And also in lyke wyse we be forbyd to doo our owne wyll by cause scripture sayth vnto vs. Be thou coÌ„trary to thyne owne wyll And also we make intercession to god in oure prayers that his wyll be fulfilled in vs. Therfore not without cause we be taught not to doo our owne wyll when that we take hede of that that holy scripture techeth vs sayng certayne wayes there be which semeth vnto man ryght good but th ende ouerthroweth a man and bringeth him to the depe pytt of hell Moreouer we be tawght in lyke wyse whan we be ware of that is sayde of negligent persones in this maner They be corrupt and made abhominable in their desyres wylles and for the exchuenge of the appetites of the fleshe lat vs beleue and thinke that god is alwayes soo nyghe and present to vs that they be euer opyn and manifest vnto him sithen the prophete saith to all myghty god Byfore the and to the is knowen euery of my desyrê Lat vs therfore beware of euyll lust or desyre for euen ryght at the entre into delectacion standeth deth by dedly syn wheruppon scripture coÌ„maundeth saynge Followe not thy coÌ„cupiscence and deris Therfore sens it is soo that god beholdeth good euyll and euer ouerloketh from his heuenly mansion the childreÌ„ of men to see if there be any that hath ony vnderstandynge and seketh him And moreouer sens it is soo that our dedes be shewed dayly vnto oure maker by angelles deputed to our custodie we must therfore dere susters sayth seynt Benet nedes beware euery houre as the ê“phete sheweth vs in the psalme that god fynde vs not in any tyme geuynge our selfe vnto that thynge whiche is euyll or fynde vs mutill or vnprofitable And les that god sparynge vs in this pÌ„sent fyfe bycause he is full of pytie loketh that we shulde turne and a mende say vnto vs in tyme to coÌ„me Thus and thus haste thou doon and I haue suffred holde my peace ¶ The secoÌ„de degre of humilite is whaÌ„ a religiose ê‘son luffeth not hir owne wyl nor delyteth to fulfyl that thing that she desyrethe But followeth the voyce of all myghty god saynge I haue not cum to fulfyll myne owne wyll but his that hath sent me that is to say godê wyll my fader Moreouer scripture sayth after wyll followith payne And after the necessite whiche coÌ„meth of obedience coÌ„meth a crowne for a rewarde ¶ The thirde degree of humilite is that a reliose person for the loue of god in euery poynt of obedience submit hir selfe to hir superior Folowynge the steppes of christe of whome thappostell sayth he was obedient vnto the Fader of heuen yea vnto deth ¶ The .iiii. degre of humilite is whan a religiose person for the vertu of obedieÌ„ce in thynges that be harde and coÌ„trary to hir mynde yea and in wronges takith pacieÌ„ce and sufferynge chidethe not grudgethe not ne therfore turnethe hir mynde from hir goode purpose the scripture of all myghty god saynge who soo coÌ„tinueth to the ende he shal be sauffe agayne haue a stronge harte suffer for all myghty god And moreouer scripture shewyng that a feythfull persone ought to suffre contrariose thyngê and aduersities for godê sake saith vnto god as in the persone of the pacient For the goode lorde we be punesshed with deth all the daye longe and none otherwyse be we accomptyd but as shepe be 〈◊〉 to the slauthter and thus persistinge sure in hope of rewarde of almyghty god they coÌ„sine we Ioyfullly saynge thyse wordes yet in all these thynges we haue the victorye and ouerhande by hym whiche hathe loued vs. Moreouer in a nother place holy scripture sayeth Goode lorde thou haste proued vs thou haste tryed vs as syluer is tryed iÌ„ fyre thou haste brought vs into daunger thou haste layde vppon our backes tribulacions And by cause scripture wolde shewe that we ought to be vnder a superior he coÌ„tynuyeth sayng thou haste ordeyned and set meÌ„ to be ouer our heddes But what religiose persoÌ„s fulfyllyng with pacience the coÌ„mauÌ„diment of god in aduersities and iniurys the which when they be strycken vppoÌ„ that oon cheke offre the other which leue their mantell to him that taketh away their cote whiche when they be enforsed to goo oon myle reÌ„neth .ii. whiche with the apostell Paule suffreth false bretherne sistren whiche suffred persecution blessith or sayth well of other that sayth euyll of theym All these persons kepeth this degre of humilite ¶ The .v. degre of humilite is if a religiose person hyde not but by lowly coÌ„fession shewe to the fader spirituell all euyll thoughtes coÌ„mynge to the hart and all hir synnes pryuily coÌ„mitted Scripture exhortynge vs to this thynge saythe Shewe vnto god thy lyfe and thy demeanoure and truste vnto him And agayne he sayth Make your coÌ„fession vnto our lorde god in so moche as he is goode For his mercy is without ende and also the prophete sayth I haue declared vnto the my faute and I haue not hyd my iniquities I haue sayde I shall confesse ageynste my selfe my synnes to all myghty god and thou goode lorde haste forgyuen me the iniquite of my harte ¶ The syxth degre of humilite is when a mynchyn is content with euery vyle worke and lowest offyce with the extremite of euery lowe degre that she iuge hir selfe vnworthy and vnprofitable to all thynges that be coÌ„mitted vnto hir saynge with the ê“phete I am brought to nought was not ware nor knewe it I am but as abeeste towarde the good lorde and yet am I allwey with the. ¶ The .vii. degre of humilite is if that a mynchyn in euery behalfe shewe hir selfe to be inferior vnder all other more vile person than any other and that she doo thus nat only with hir toonge but also that she thynke it inwardly in hir hart submittynge hir selfe and saynge with the prophete I am a worme and not a woman the rebukynge stocke of meÌ„ and outcaste of people newe exalted nowe put downe and confounded And also it is written Goode it is for me goode lorde that thou haste brought me vnder wherby I may lerne thy coÌ„maundementes ¶ The .viii. degre of humilite is that a Mynchyn doo noo thynge except that that the coÌ„mune reule of the monastery or els the examples of their elders and superiours meÌ„ of the holy doctrine and