yet the moost token of loue is aduersyte more than prosperyte For that is the moost token of loue whiche the fader of heuen gyueth to hym y t heloueth beste but he gaaf to our sauyour his sone his blyssed moder whom he loued beste moost trybulacyon in this lyfe lytel prosperyte wherfore aduersyte is the moost sure token of loue Also sythen oure sauyour come in to this worlde as a marchauÌ„t in to a feyre to chose y e good leue the euyll as ysaye sayth ¶ Ut sciat eligere bonuÌ„ reprobare maluÌ„ ¶ But this wyse our lorde refused prosperyte the kyngdome of Jure whan it was offered to hym chose aduersyte and grete labour payne all his lyfe and with the moost bytterest deth endeth his lyfe Than yf thou wylt be awyfe marchauÌ„t folowe hym whiche can not be deceyued in his marchauÌ„dyse Than chese with hym here trybulacoÌ„n thou shalt haue with hym the Infenyte Joye consolacyon THe xiii conforth in trybulacyon is to remembre that yf thou suffre thy payne and trybulacyon pacyently than y u makest a grete conquest of thy goostly enemyes vtterly confouÌ„dest all theyr malyce For all theyr labour is to make the to take thy trybulacoÌ„n with grutchynge and a wofull herte bycause thou art let therby fro suche plesures as thou art dysposed to haue yf thou were without suche payne trouble Wherfore yf thou take thy trouble pacyently with a meke obedyent herte referrynge it as a mene meryte to come to y e euerlastynge Joye plesure And y t y u haste a wyl not to be sorâ— in that thou art let by trybulacuÌ„n for those dysceyuable plesures whiche sholde make the to lose this plesure of eternal felycyte than thou obteynest vyctorye of the fendes whiche tempte the to the contrarye and they shal haue more payne after that they beÌ„ conquered therfore sayth the prophete ¶ Perdes oâ—s qui tribulaÌ„t aiÌ„am meaÌ„ ¶ Thou shalt vndo punysshe all those whiche trouble my soule And of euery fende that thou getest the better of thou shalt haue the place of glorye in heuen whiche he sholde haue had yf he had not fallen as Orygenes sayth of these wordes in Deutro Omnis locus queÌ„ calcauerit pes vester vester erit ¶ And scrypture sayth that these holy gracyous soules whiche ouercome breke the purpose of the deuyll they Iâ—lude hym deceyue hym as Dauyd sayth ¶ Draco iste quem formasti ad illudendum ei ¶ This dragon the fende thou haste made hym that sholde be deluded deceyued whiche at all tyme laboureth to deceyue For good soules vse the temptacyons of y e deuyll contrarye to his entente for by those thynges they are meke wherby he wolde brynge them to pryde and by that they are pacyent wherby he wolde make them vnpacyent and by those thynges they are brought to chastyte wherby he wolde brynge them to lecherye And thus they gyue hym a falle in his owne tourne and with that same croke they caste hym downe with the whiche he entended for to haue wrasteled them downe O how gladde mayst thou than be whiche pacyently haste taken aduersyte For by the merytes of this lyfe thou hast deserued to haue full domynacoÌ„n of thyn enemyes at the houre of deth than they shall be aferde of the for than thou shal be confermed in grace and shalt haue power to tye and to bynde them lyke as the bere warder keper byÌ„deth his beres For thou whiche puttest them to fere shame in this lyfe resystynge theyr temptacyous thou muste than be terryble to them for than y u shalt receyue thy grete power of god in rewarde of thy batayl wherfore thou whiche wolde haue a Joyfull houre of deth take pacyently paynes troubles of this lyfe THe xiiii consolacyon is to remembre that yf thou take trybulacyon pacyently y u drawest to the the mercyfull loke of our lorde and mekest hym with grete plesure to beholde the of this mayst thou be Joyfull that ony thynge sholde be in the wherfore our lorde sholde haue a specyall plesure to beholde the for this thou mayst be sure that yf he haue plesure to loke on the by that loke thoushalt haue profyte of hym wherfore pacyently suffre a whyle for y u shalt be sure that of this sufferauÌ„ce shall growe grete profyte This profyte y u mayst not loke to haue hastly for after the ordre of wysedom of our lorde it mufte haue a tyme in growynge Lyke as y e husbande man loketh not for repyng of his corn as soone as he hath sowen it Our lorde is nothasty in hys werkyng but doth al thyng by tyme delyberacoÌ„n as y u mayst see in y e werkes of nature Thy nayles thy heere groweth coÌ„tynualy but they growe so softely that y e mayst not perceyue theyr growynge loke vpon them as perfytely as y u canst and yet by processe of tyme y u mayst see y t they be growen vnder thyn eyen yet thou perceyuest not Lyke wyse grace grete vertue groweth in thy soule by pacyent takynge of aduersyte that y u shalt well perceyue yf thou perseruer in pacyence thê° vertue groweth yet tho y u perceyuest it not Than specyally our lorde hath plesure to loke on the whan thou takest trybulacyons to the entent that he doth seÌ„de them to the that is to saye as penaunce for that y u haste synned and to obteyne therby grace vertue And that by thy pacyent thankefull sufferynge y u shalt gyue good example to suche as do knowe thy trouble And than thou mayst saye as it is wryten in the boke of Trenos ¶ Uide dnÌ„e qmÌ„ tribulor ¶ Beholde lorde for I am troubled As who sayd well taken trouble is the cause that thou lokest on me this trouble thus taken maketh of croked soules ryghtwysse soules of the whom Dauyd sayth ¶ Oculi dnÌ„i suê‘iustos et aures eius ad preces corr ¶ The eyen of our lorde are set vpon y e ryghtwysse men his eeres are nyghe to theyr prayers But y u wylt peraduenture saye that also he beholdeth wret che men for it foloweth ¶ Uultus auteÌ„ dnÌ„i suê‘ faciences mala ¶ The face of our lord is vpon them that done moche euyl but attende ye then what foloweth in the same verse ¶ Ut ê‘dat de terra memo riam eorr ¶ Our lorde loketh on the wretched men to the entent that after a lytell whyle they shall neuer be remembred after to y e honour of god theyr coÌ„mendacyon But by the good soules whiche here pacyently take trybulacyon our lorde shall euer haue honour they also shall haue perpetuell laude coÌ„mendacoÌ„n lyke as we see in the chirche of god coÌ„ tunuall honour done to god by suche as haue gretely suffred for god and for theyr synnes in this lyfe Ther was
yron is purged The thyrde is purginge of vynes tresse whan the suê‘fluous brauÌ„ches are cutte awaye with a knyfe or with a sawe The fourth is the purgynge of y e corn fro the chafe with the fleyle The fyfth is the purgynge of wyne whiche is purge with the pressure For the fyrste purgacyon whiche is made by dryÌ„ke I saye our lorde gyueth to y e this drynke of trybulacyon to purge thyn herte fro corrupt humours of worldely flesshely loue for lyke as the bytter medycynable drynke purged the bodye lyke wyse trybulacyon purgeth the herte wherfore dere beloued soule I praye the drynke hertely and with Joye in god in hope of thyn endelesse saluacoÌ„n This drynke of trybulacyon which this souerayne phesycyen gyueth to the. And knoweth beste thyn complexyoÌ„ thyn Infyrmyte and what drynke is moost profytable to the. And this gentyll phesycyan for to comforte the in thy drynkynge and for to shewe to the that he gyueth noo thynge to the but whiche is profytable He hath begonne and dronken of this drynke to the by his moost paynfull and bytter passyon He dranke to the the moost bytterest parte of this drynke for his paynes were moost sharpest as it is wryten in the booke of Trenos ¶ Uidete si est dolor sinulis sicut dolor meus ¶ See ye sayth he yt therbe ony payne lyke to my payne hit passeth thy power to drynke soo bytter a draught as he began to the. And standynge that he is thy fader and thy maker whiche gyueth to the this drynke and hath soo hertely begonnen to the hymselfe than thou mayst well thynke that this drynke is very profytable to the and for this profyte take it swetely O thou worlde saye that yf the kyng of very loue dyd drynke to his seruante hit were a vylenous dedeto this seruaunt to caste the cup downe whan the kinge offered hit hym Lyke wyse whaÌ„ almyghty god gyueth the chastysement by trybulacyon and thou wolde not take hit but with a frowarde herte that is in the thou caste hit awaye soo moche thy dede is more vylenous aÌ„d oryble as this kyng excedeth all other kynges and his loue to the passeth all other loue and yf thou take hit hertely of his honde so moche it is the more merytoryous to the and to the grete honour and plesure of hym Wherfore I counseyll the whan he offereth to the y e cup that thou drynke it of all hertely yf it were y e bytternes of deth y t he dyd gyue the for he hath dronkeÌ„ that bytter draught hymselfe for y e whiche hadde noo thyÌ„ge to purge in hym wherfore y u that art ful of many vnclene humurs and of goostly corrupcyoÌ„ ought hertly to drynke this dryÌ„ke as y u louest thy saluacyon for the whiche this drynke is sende the. And caste hit not downe after the couÌ„seyll of Salomon there he sayth ¶ Fili disciplinaÌ„ dmÌ„ ne abicias ¶ Childe caste not awaye the dyscyplyÌ„e of punysshement whiche our lorde gyueth to the. For as he sayth in an other place ¶ Qui abicit disciplinaÌ„ infelix est ¶ He that casteth awaye chastysynge is vnhappy Thys bytter drynke our lorde gyueth to all his frendes to whom he hath ordeyned the swete drynke of his glorye after this lyfe Of this drike he speketh to saynt James and to saynt JohaÌ„ whan he sayd Maye ye drynke the drynke that I shall drynke Alle the martyrs haue dronken this drynke Confessours holy men wymen whiche now are put in possessyon of y e endelesse Joyfull kyngdom of heuen Therfore sayth the prophete ¶ CaliceÌ„ salutaris accipiam ¶ I shall drynke the holsome drynke yf it be so bytter that thy stomake may not well awaye withall than calle to our lorde that maketh gyueth this drynke y t he wyll gyue thy power tempre thy stomake appetyte hertely to take it wherfor it foloweth in y e ê“phete ¶ Et nomeÌ„ domini inuocabo ¶ I shall calle the name of my lorde god Many ther are whiche in the begynnynge w t good InstruccoÌ„n drynke this drinke hertely but with a lytell contenaunce they waxe meruaylously wery therwith to suche I saye as y e phesycyan doth Sythen ye haue dronken the more ê‘arte lose not your helth for this lytel but stele vpoÌ„ hit swyftly drynke hit euery sope thynke hit is the moost profytable drynke that euer ye dranke for in drynkynge of it ye drynke your helth let hit not longe abyde in your mouth but hastely let it go downe for ellys hiâ— wyll make the herte to haue ab homynacoÌ„n theâ— with grudge than shal be loost the profyte of y e werkynge as yf a man wolde chew the pylles Kasy whiche are gyuen hym they sholde lytell profyte hym He chewech breketh the pylles whiche grutcheâ—h gretly with the trybulacyons aÌ„d chydeth is angry with euery thyÌ„ge for the angre nesse that he hath to his trybulacyon Euery good soule ought not only to â—ere pacyently trybulacoÌ„n but they sholde desyre to haue temporall tribulacioÌ„ ther purgatory here that they myght auoyde the grete paynes tourmeÌ„tes whiche are ordeined for purgacoÌ„n of synne after this lyfe to suche as departe in the state of grace As our sauyour for our we le not only without chydynge or wepynge suffred the payne of his passyon but he wylfully offred himself therto Somtyme the phesycyan gyueth a good me dycyne to purge the bodye and hit â—oth no profyte For the humours are so harde and not dygested the the medycyne purged not y e nature from them Lyke wyse our lorde sendeth trybulacyoÌ„ but the herte is harde without pacyence aÌ„d mekenes that hit nothynge profyteth Lyke as the trybulacyoÌ„ that our lorde sende to kyng Pharao no thynge dyd profite to hym for the more trouble he had the more proude angre and enuyous he was and soo that thyÌ„ge whiche is gyuen of our lorde as medycyne to y e herte the euyll takynge therof tourneth hit to poyson ¶ An other purgacyon of the bodye is by lettynge of blood one maner is to let out the blood by the veyne for lyke as the euyl blood corruÌ„peth the good blood lyke wyse â—yÌ„ne whiche is lykened to euyl blode corruÌ„peth the soule bryngeth it to endelesse paine The mouth wherby this blood of synne eschewe is the mouth of a penytentman or woman whaÌ„ by confessyon it putteth out the synne as SalomoÌ„ sayth ¶ Os iustâ— vena vite ¶ The mouthe of the ryghtwysse man is the veyne of lyfe for therby he is delyuered fro synne whiche yf he were not delyuered therof it sholde brynge hym to endelesse deth For this blood desyred the ê“phete Dauyd to be de lyuered whan he sayd to our lorde ¶ Libera me de sanguinibus deus deus salutis mee ¶ My lorde god of my helth delyuer me fro blood y t is to saye fro syÌ„nes And our lorde sayd by the prophete ysaye to
hym is moost pryncypall as saynt Poule sayth ¶ Nemo coronabi◠nisi qui legittime certauerit ¶ Ther shall none be crowned but suche as lawfully fygureth and pre uayleth by kepynge of ther soule fro consent to syn ne And the more dygnyte that a knyght or a clerke is call dto the more profe to be made before of his habylyte Thus by these techynges thou mayst vnderstande that trybulacyon is ordeyned of god in this lyfe to calle the lede the ayen in to knowlege of thyself in to remembraūce of thyn owne herte And knowe y u veryly that the herte whiche hath not caste out of hymselfe the Joye of worldely prosperyte may not parfytly fele ne knowe hymself For the plesure of this false Joye soo inchothes the herte that it may not retourne in to hymselfe but it is al occupyed with worldely maters whiche in that it may not it ordeyneth to the increace of this vayne Joye so it laboureth euer more more to blynde hymself as longe as it renneth outwarde in worldely prosperyte therof complayneth hym the prophete Dauid in the persone of asynner where as he sayth Lumen oculorum meorum ipsum non est niccum ¶ Thelyght of mȳ eyen is not with me alas they may be sory to whom our lorde hath gyuen grete natural wyll knowlege they spende the candell of ther wysedom in orderynge of worldely vanytees in orderynge of themselfe they spende but lytell or none it is gyuen to them specyally for themselfe that is to saye to the we le of ther soule not to the plesure of theyr bodye Lyke as euery man is moost nyghe hymselfe so vnder god he ought moost to loue hymselfe in ordre to those thynges whiche shal be moost to the auayle of hymselfe as to god vertue and nothynge is so nessarye to be knowen of man as hymselfe For all knowlege without knowlege of hymselfe is but vayne to brynge a man to the ende that he was made fore and lyke as he that hath not hymselfe hath nothynge for yf a man haue no parfyte power to rule hymselfe no thynge is well ruled that cometh in his handes For ther is no outwarde dede well ruled except it come of a well ruled soule for the goodnesse of the outwarde dede presupposeth the goodnesse of the good dede of the wyll Inwarde so yf y u haue not a good wyll ther is no thynge good that y u doost But peraduenture y u wylt saye than y u doost neuer no good dede For comonly whan y u haste wyll to doony good dede ther cometh in thy mynde some shrewde entente as vay ne glorye laude of the worlde or to haue a temporall profyte therby or to plese thy frende or for fere to dysplese hym or of enemyte y u doost to the rebuke of other whiche do not see lyke as y u doost Or y u leuest thynges vndone by cause y u woldest not y t other sholde folowe the. Thus comonly thy wyll is not good and than after this doctrine thy wyll is not good Here I answere y t it is vnpossyble to the to let suche though◠to come to thy mynde But as longe as y u wolde do ony good thynges for y e loue of god profyte of thy soule yf y t vayne or euyll thought we re awaye than y u dost it pryncypaly for god y t euyl or vayne thought letteth no thynge the meryte of thy dede As thus perauenture y u seest a poore man wolde gyue a peny in almesse to hym forth with cometh in thy mynde y t y u shalt haue a laude of the worlde therfore or suche as see y e this thought shal not make the to lese thy meryte as longe as y u wolde gyue y t peny to the poore man for the loue of god yf no man sholde see the than y u dost it pryncypally for god this wyll is merytoryous y e dede folowynge therupon Than retornyng to my saynge before lyke as he whiche hath not hymselfe hath no thynge Lyke wyse he y t knoweth not hymselfe knoweth no thynge that is to saye profytable to hymselfe as to purchesse the rewarde of our lorde in the euerlastynge Joye after this mortal lyfe The wretched man or woman that fixeth ther loue moost on this worldely prosperyte he forgeteth hymselfe for he is not with hymselfe Loke what thynge y e soule moost loueth ther it is moost by conuersacyon of the mynde and the werkers of the soule moost renne thyder As our sauyour sayth ¶ Ubi thesaurus tuus ibi cor-tuū ¶ Loke where that thynge is that y u louest ther is thyn herte Thus the herte of the couetous man is with his golde and syluer The herte of the leche rous man is with the persone there he hath moost fless hely plesure to The herte of the proude man is there he hath moost reuerence and with his fresshe clothes Thus the worldely prosperyte false transytorye Joye in hertely creatures draweth the herte of men and woymē fro themselfe and with moche sorowe oftentymes they come to suche thynges as they loue and therfore they by them with lesse labour sorowe they myght bye grete excellent Joye in heuen than they bye this falte worldely Joye the whiche hastely they shall lese and than they shall haue euerlastynge sorowe But lyke as a man that is besyeged whan he wolde eschewe and goo out of his house he is compelled to retorne and is betyn in ayen by suche as haue besyeged hym and is broughte therto that he dare not ones sette out his fote at the dore Lyke wyse our lorde of hys grete mercy sen deth the soudyoures of trybulacyon to suche soules and hertes as he loueth and wolde that they sholde abyde at home and beteth them in to themselfe ād the more trybulacyons ther are and also the more they be so moche y e hertes haue lesse power to stroye abrode from themselfe Than thanke god theros whiche sendeth the aduersyte wherby thou art made to leue the loue y t y u haste to worldely prosperyte lerne to knowe to loue god ād thyselfe in ordre to god thus to abyde at home and kepe well ordred the loue of thy soule For whan ther is noo dweller in an house soone it falleth to ruyne dekaye Lyke wyse the soules whiche are not Inhabyte in this maner falle to waste come to nought Blyssed is that man or woman whiche abydeth in hymselfe lerneth to knowe hymselfe how they shal kepe ther bodye obedyent to theyr soule theyr soule obedyent to god And aboue all thynge attendeth to kepe hymselfe that the flesshe drawe not the soule to the loue of the worlde but that the soule drawe the flesshe to the seruyce of god and hath the grete Joye in the clerenesse of conscyence is whan it lyueth without rumours
handes of the werke than that metall whiche is of lesser valour as golde is more apte in y e golds mythes hande than yron more precyoê° werke he may werke therin for it is more obedyent vnd the hamer Lyke wyse the pacyenthertes are y e precyous goldeÌ„ hert whiche are obedyeÌ„t to y e strokes of trybulacoÌ„n after y e wyll of our lorde in these he werketh precyous werkes of grace many fayre vertues the se curyous moost precyous werkes of y e grete wise dome of god shall euerlastyngly apere in these obedyent pacyent hert to the honour of god grete plesure to all his louers in the kyngdome of heuen where clerely shall be shewed all the secrete werkynges of the hert whiche are had in this lyfe Suffre thy lorde than esely to bete awaye y t rosty mocyons synfull desyres of thyn herte to make it a clene vessell apt to receyue y e InfusyoÌ„ of his grace And yf y e stroke of y t hamer be paynful harde to abyde recomforte the ayen in y t the goldsmyth is so wyse so good y t he may stryke no stroke but to y e moost auayle of the vessele of thyn herte accordynge to his wyl whiche no thynge may do but well And yf y t be gentyle in sufferynge his strokes and left thyÌ„ hert to hyÌ„ desyrynge y t he do therwith lyke as it pleseth hymselfe y u shalt fynde hyÌ„ gentyl in temperynge of his strokes y t he wyl more esely worke after as the forme of werke requyreth But comonly the goldsmyth stryketh moost strokes on y t vessel whiche is moost precyous werke The hertes whiche are without dyscyplyne techynge they are harde and dysobedyent vnd y e hamer rather they breke than they wyll bowe after the enteÌ„te of y e werker Be not as an olde broken panne whiche whan the werker stryketh it breketh maketh many mo holes than were before Thus harde hert drye without loue ordeuocyon to god incresse her payne vnd the stroke of trybulacoÌ„n for they haue no regarde but only to theyr plesure none to theyr demeryte the ryght wysnesse of god whiche may not leue synne vnpunysshed in this worlde he stryketh bycause he wolde spare y e after this lyf where y e strokes shal be moost bytter to suche as thaÌ„ shall suffre hem And lyke as the herte groweth in fayth byleuyng y t the payne trouble cometh of our lord Also in pacyence by wylfull takynge thankynge god therof also in meke nesse thynkynge y t he is worthy to haue suche payne moche more so the herte groweth in the grace aÌ„d loue of our lorde y e rewarde of glorye Thus meueth y e Ecclesyastes saynge ¶ Sustine sustentacoÌ„es dei riuÌ„gere deo sustine vt crescat in nouissiÌ„a vita tua ¶ Suffre the suffrynges of our lorde be y u Joyned to hym Suffre y u thy lyfe may waxe in the ende This saynge may be vnderstande dyuerse wyse as thus suffre thou that god suffre for the or suffre thou that god suffreth with the or suffre thou that god suffreth in the and the fyrste sence is that thou shall suffre that god suffreth for the in this worlde He suffred for thegrete trouble aÌ„d enemyte of y e worlde he suffred for the grete sclauÌ„der euyl reporte he suffred for the contempt despysynge he suffred for the grete pouerte wylfully he suffred for the grete payne in bodye as werynesse watche hongre thyrst grete sorowe in soule grete payne in bodye fynally the moost grete outrage payne of deth more than may be suffred by natural power For he reteyned his soule in his bodye in sufferaunce of peyne aboue the power of nature largely to recompense for our offeÌ„ce so that he yelde vp his soule with a grete crye as scryptute sayth ¶ Uoce magna tradidit spirituÌ„ ¶ But by the course of nature the bodye is so febled byfore the departyuge of the soule y t it hath no power to sormeony voyce And so sholde the bodye of our sauyour haue be had not he reteyned his soule to suffre plentefully payne for our saluacoÌ„n as he sayth in the gospell of Johan ¶ PotestateÌ„ habeo ponendi aiÌ„am meaÌ„ potestateÌ„ habeo iteruÌ„ resumendieam ¶ I haue power to put my soule fro my bobye whan I wyll I haue power to receyue it ayen Joyne it to the bodye And as the prophete sayth ¶ Apud dnÌ„m miÌ„a copiosa apud euÌ„ redempcio ¶ With our lorde is mercy and plenteuous redempcoÌ„n Remembre y t thy lorde god for thyn offeÌ„se suffred these grete paynes of his grete mercy pyte that he hath of the whiche beâ—yÌ„ge a synner may not be saued without his payne for without his payne no payne is able to satysfye for synne Than I exorte the remembre his grete gentylnes lerne to suffre for hym ayen in parte recompence for his grete gentylnes for thyn offence For sythen he that was an Innocent suffred for the moche more thou that art a syuner ought to suffre for thy selfe The hamers of this goldsmythe whiche is almyghty god are not only the paynes trybulacoÌ„ns whiche he werketh in the by cause thou shalt so thynke oftentyme that his werkynge is so secrete that the reson of man can not fynde the cause therof perfytly but also the aduersaryes whiche he suffreth the to haue are his hamers to bete the forge of the a perfyte vessell by pacyent sufferynge accordynge to his plesure to receyue hymselfe here by grace in the lyfe to come with the grete glorye of his eternall felycyte And lyke as the hamer is ordeyned fynaly to the profyte makynge of the vessell not the vessell to the hamer and the hamer in makynge of the vessell and wyth the strokes it is hurte in hymselfe consumeth and fynally breketh So the wretched reprobate people whiche inworde in drede trouble the chosen childern of our lorde they hurte hemselfe fynally are brought to destruccyon dampnacyon thorugh the grete malyce y t they haue to other aÌ„d the pacyent takynges of theyr malyce purgeth the soules whiche y e haue the wronge done vnto them and thus theyr werkes are profytable to other daÌ„pnable to themselfe And therfor sayth Salomon y t the fole serueth to the wyseman ¶ Qui stultus est seruit sapienti ¶ That personeÌ„ is a fole whiche wylfully wyl do that thynge wherby it enteÌ„deth to hurte an other moost hurteth hymselfe And that persone is wyse whiche so wysely taketh that thynge y t myght hurte him that geteth grete profyte therby ThaÌ„ thou whiche wolde be a clene vesseyll honourable to god suffre the strokes of trybulacyon suffre the strokes of troublelers Also y u whiche wolde haue the crowne of vyctorye in this worlde the crowne of glorye in the
lyfe to come for the grete sufferers are the grete cqonuerours And with the betynge y t they suffre of payne trybulacyon theyr crowne is forged on the flethy of ther herte Than thou whiche desyrest to haue the crowne forsake not the strokes of the hamers for by these our lorde hath ordeyÌ„ed that thy crowne shall be made and at suche tymes y t the strokes are moost profytable to the whan thou with very fayth remembrynge the profytes of a pacyent charytable herte kepe his perfyte obedyence to our lorde aÌ„d loue to thyn enemyes that thou canst fynde in thyn herte to forgyue them hertely to praye for them y t they may haue forgyuenesse of our lorde This fyre of charyte maketh thy werke to go forth spedefully lyke as the hote metall dylateth goth abrode vndernethe the hamer yet w t this charyte y u mayst defende thy ryght oppresse the malyce of thyn enemye by menes acordynge to Justyce equyte yf thy power be therto and specyally whan of lykelyhode by grete suffrauÌ„ce theyr malyce shold Incresse Also thou shalt sustene that god susteneth with the for he susteneth with the bereth the vp in suffrynge auersyte by his sustenyng of the y u arte borne vp that thou falle not vnder the grete strokes of aduersyte other by bodely deth or grete vnpacyence or rancour of herte many soules sholde haue grete falles by false worldely ê“speryte they were not keped vnder the strokes of aduersyte and also these strokes they myght not abyde except they had supportacyon of the hande of almyghty god with these trybulacyons thou art also sustened and fede made stronge lyke as the bodye is made myghty to bere grete burthens by materyall mete This trybulacyons are bytter but they purge the soule make it to growe in perfeccyon of goostly lyfe wherfore I counseyll the as the goostly phesycyan of thy soule to refuse not this dysshe of our lorde sette it before the for he hathe not only tasted this dysshe to the but he hath plentefully taken hymselfe of hit as the prophete Jeremye prophecyed vpon hym ¶ Saturabitur ob probriis ¶ He shall be sacyate sayd he with rebukes Thus y u shalt not thynke thy selfe rebuked in that thou haste trybulacyons grete wronge done to y e in this worlde but rather y u art worshyped in y e that thou art called to the dysshe of our lorde Of this dysshe was fede that holy man Job as he sayth in his boke ¶ Non leuabo caput saturatê° afflictione ¶ I shal not lyft vp myn hede with payne and woo Than as y u hast grete trybulacoÌ„n moche to suffre thanke thy lorde god whiche so largely ê“uydeth for the for after the quantyte of trybulacyon shal be the quantyte mesure of thy glorye consolacoÌ„n And therfore as y u wyll haue the swete receyue the sowre for thy grete swetnesse muste come of bytternesse Also thou shall sustene that god susteneth in the for he within the so reteneth the mocyons of trybulacyons that yf he sustened heÌ„ not they sholde oppresse the downe and therfore foloweth ¶ Comungere deo et sustine ¶ As who sayd drawe thou nyghe cleue to god for he is felowe to the in this sufferynge berynge of trybulacyon wherfore be not astonysshed in berynge thynkynge that the burthen pas seth thy power For he bereth with the whiche wyll suffre the no more to bere but acordynge to thy power the resydue of the burthen he bereth it with the. He is so mercyfull so gentyll that he wyll suffre noo soule to bere aboue his power in weyght of temptacoÌ„n trybulacoÌ„n as the apostle sayth ¶ Fidelis deus q noÌ„ pacietÌ„ nos teÌ„ptari vltra quam potestis ¶ Wherfore complayne not of thy burthen for he leyeth vpon the whiche beste knoweth thy power no more chargeth the withall but that thou may be re the resydue he bereth hymselfe and that is the greter parte yet in that parte thou berest thy selfe he helpeth the and comforteth the for without hym thou mayst no thynge do as he sayth in the gospell of saynt Johan ¶ Sine me nichil potestis facere ¶ Wherfore all ye whiche desyre to haue the lyfe of Joye I counseyll you pacyently to take this lyfe of trybulacoÌ„n for by the storkes of trybulacyon ye are made able to receyue stronge to retene y e grace of our lorde wherby ye shall shortly be delyuered from all trybulacyon come to the plentefulnesse of the flood of delectacoÌ„n which shal flowe vpon you tro the grete essencyall mageste of god soo replenysshe you that all your power shall be sacyate eternally after this lytell and short payne of this traÌ„sytorye lyfe THe eyght consolacoÌ„n is to remembre y e payne trybulacyon maketh the to seche labour for the solace aboue in heuen For naturally euery man woman hath apetyte to solace delectacyon wherfore whan they are put therfro in this lyte by bytter trybulacyon than theyr mynde renneth for to haue it in the other worlde For in this lyfe there both no man may fulfylle his appe tyte after his plesure for after the ordynauÌ„ce of god grete plesure in this lyfe he hath ordeyned grete pai ne for it in that lyfe for this plesure is not without myserye of synne and grete payne here he hath ordeyned grete plesure for it there Wherfore trybulacyon in as moche as it excludeth fro the and Interdyâ—eth erthely plesure solace soo moche it prouydeth and openeth to the the heuenly solace Lyke wyse as the lorde of the towne where as grete plente of wyne is for to be solde as in the contre there it groweth he wyll make the taueners of the towne to be shette vp to suche a tyme that he haue vttered his owne wyne Soo our lorde maketh the tauerne of this worlde to be shette vp to the by trybulacyon to suche a tyme that thou haue bought his wyne of consolacyon by merytes of this lyfe Soo yf y u wylt haue wyne of consolacoÌ„n thou muste go to hym as the prophete Johell sayth ¶ Bestie agri quasi area sciciens inspexeruÌ„t ad te quomaÌ„ excecati sunt fontes aquarum ¶ He calleth the bestes of the felde flesshely affeccyons and desyres of our herte and the welles of the waters he calleth the plesures of sensuall delectacyon Whiche whan they are dryed with aduersytees they coustreyne the herte to loke vpwarde to heuen for drynke for than it can fynde none in erth and fayne it wolde drynke And so moche the glory of god the plesure of the perfyte Joye is more desyred of y e herte And in this also he sheweth to the his specyall goodenesse whiche maketh all thynges so bytter to the that no thynge thou haste plesure to thynke on but only of hym Wherfore sayth saynt Austen in his confessyons ¶ Paciebar in
vp by medytacoÌ„n to almyghty god and hath excluded fro the y t vayne thoughtes whiche were wont to occupye thy mynde ryght vnprofytable the god thoughtes well ordeyned to our lorde more profyte the without mesure than ony bodely good whiche trybulacoÌ„n may take fro y e in token that his mynde is moche on his seruauÌ„tes whiche are in trouble he sayth in the booke of Exodi ¶ Uidi afflictionem populi mei et recordatus sum pacti mei ¶ I haue sene the trybulacyon of my people I am remembred of the couenauÌ„t and promysse that I haue made to hem As who sayth thou that art in trouble yf thou take thy trouble pacyently our lorde hath made a coÌ„uenauÌ„t to werke auayle therof whiche as y u shalt knowe hereafter y e it shall be to thy moost ê“fyte kyng Dauyd whan his owne sone Absolon hadde put hym fro the kyngdom and he wente lyke an outlawe from place to place for saluacyon of hymselfe One that was called Symey a wretched man whan he see hym he scorned hym and cursed hym and caste at hym stones and the foule stynkynge derte whan the seruauÌ„tes of Dauyd wolde haue ben vpon hym to haue stryken hym to haue reuenged theyr mayster Dauyd coÌ„maunded they sholde not do so saynge thus ¶ Dimitte eum vt mala dicat si forte respiciat dnÌ„s et reddat michi bonuÌ„ ê“ maladictioeÌ„s hac hodierna ¶ Suffre hym let hym allone in cursynge and rebu kynge me for by this sufferynge I truste god wyll rewarde me and for this cursynge pacyently taken he wyl gyue me some good rewarde Thus Dauyd wolde suffre the cursynge Iniurye of his enemyes as the mene to make hym to haue specyall helpe of our lorde in his grete nede whan his owne sone persued hym to put hym to deth Therfore suffre thou pacyently the euyll saynge Iniuryes of euyll folke suche bryngeth the to the blessynge specyal helpe of our lorde in suche thynges ther thou haste specyall nede of his helpe I sayd byfore that our lorde remembreth his couenauÌ„t to suche as be in trybula cyon Here thou wyll aske me what couenauÌ„t that it is He maketh couenauÌ„t with suche as pacyently ta ke trybulacyon to delyuer hem that they shall haue power of delyuerauÌ„ce and that he shall be felowe with hem as longe as they are in trybulacyon in berynge the trouble as it is sayd before This is fygured in the boke of Danyell whan he his felowe were put in the brennynge ouen there appered one with hem lyke the sone of god whiche made the ouen as so temperate as it hadde ben full of aprety colde wynde with a temperate dewe therwith that the fyre hurte them not in the ouen but it flowe out of the ouen vpon suche as kyndeled the fyre and de stroyde them and those in the ouen were delyuered Lyke wyse yf thou blyssedly take trybulacyons and blysse god lyke as the thre childern blyssed god whiche were in the ouen than thou shalt haue delyueraunce and the trybulacyons shall be caste on thyn aduersaryes whiche brought the to trouble by the helpe of Ihesu cryste the sone of god whiche yf thou feloushyp with hym with thyn hert shall swage the fyre of aduersyte brenne them therby whiche bloweth and kyndeled the fyre vpon the. Also our lorde maketh promysse to his frendes y e whiche are in trybulacyons that he shall rewarde them with the goodes of his glorye and more than thou mayst conuenyently aske of hym than the delyuerauÌ„ce of thy paynes and troubles and rewardes of his excellent goodes in his kyngdom of glorye And this couenaunt is wryten there he sayth ¶ Cum ipsosum in tribulacione eripiaÌ„ eum glorificabo eum ¶ with my frende I am in trybulacoÌ„n I shall delyuer hym and I shall glorefye hym Than sythen it is so profytable to the to haue god in thy mynde with feeré to offende hym and to this grete auayle thou art brought by trybulacyon than I counseyll the whiche wolde be the louer of our lorde and haue hym to thy rewarde after this lyfe whom thou haste specyally in thy mynde the tyme of trybulacyon that thou take pacyently payne temporall veÌ„xacyon THe tenthe consolacyon is to remembre that trybulacyon pacyentely thaÌ„kfully taken maketh our lorde more mercyfull to the it maketh thy prayer more merytoryous sooner to be except of god whiche hath ordeyned that mercy shall be had through askynge of hym Wherfore suche dulie soules as wyll not aske mercy our lorde be teth them to make them crye for mercy as the childe doth vnder the rodde wherfore our lorde is redie to gyue mercy to suche as faythfully perseuerauÌ„t ly calle for it at theyr petycyon prayer And that he accepteth the prayer of them is wryten in the boke of Ecclesyastes ther he sayth ¶ DeprecationeÌ„lesi exaudiet dnÌ„s ¶ Our lorde shall here the prayer of suche a ê‘sone as is hurte wherfore yf y u fele hurte in y e by payne trybulacyoÌ„ comforte thy selfe ayen that these hurtes make thy prayers the sooner to be herde of almyghty god for remyssyon of thy synue to the grete rewarde of thy saluacyon Our lorde beteth suche as he wyll haue saued w t payne trouble to constreyne them to crye for helpe by cause he wyll they shall vnderstande y t theyr helpe cometh of hym whiche after longe contynuaunce of cryenge grauÌ„teth them theyr petycoÌ„n Many a mouth is closed by prosperyte y t it cryeth for none helpe to god whiche is opened by aduersyte And so is wryten of Jonas the prophete y e whan he fled in to the contre of Tharse he sleped profuÌ„dly in y e feloushyp there he was as longe as the weder was fayre aÌ„d calme but whan tempest dyde ryse myghtely than he was wakened to make hym crye for helpe to his god the shypman caste hym in to the see there a qualle receyued hym swolowed hym in to his wombe there in grete fere of his lyfe amonges the bowelles of the qualle he cryed with feruent spyryte to god with contynauÌ„ce that crye was herde of god Suche hertes slepe with Jonas as in thef al 's Joye and deceyuable prosperyte of this lyfe forgett themselfe are brought to y e state y t they lytel atende ne take hede to ony thynge but suche as are to theyr bodely plesure or bodely hurte lytel take hede to thynges of theyr dampnacoÌ„n or saluacoÌ„n the more prosperyte they haue y e faster they are on slepe theyr slepe is the more peryllous the more kyghe they are to dampnacoÌ„n But lyke as ê“speryte maketh them to slepe lyke wyse aduersyte maketh them to wake And there they holde them stylle in slepynge there they crye whan they are wakynge And for this cause our lorde maketh to ryse grete tempestes of trybulacyons to suche folke that be profouÌ„dely in this
neuer kyng in this worlde whiche had so grete honour as now haue some sayntes whiche was afore tyme but a poore man or a poore womā in theyr tyme were lytell set by amonge the people of the worlde And therfore sayth the prophete ¶ Nimis honorati sūt amici tui deus ¶ Thy frendes good lorde are hyghely honoured Of y e ryche man of whom is spoken in the gospell of Luke whiche was clothed in purple rychely fedde euery daye y e people of this worlde dyd loke dyd hym gretereuerence but almyghty god lytell attended hȳ ne the company of heuen for he lytell attended the people of our lorde contrary wysefewe gaue kepe to the poore lazar that laye at his dore desyred but the crōmes that felle from his table none was gyuen hym but almyghty god the heuenly creatures behelde hym lyeng with grete payne afore the gates of this ryche man And that was shewed in theyr departynge fro this lyfe for ther was sende of god a ryall Imbasset of angelles to receyue the soule of the lepre to brynge it with grete Joye in to Abrahams bosom And the soule of the ryche man whiche had prosperyte felycyte of this worlde was buryed in helle there it is yet for in helle is no redempcyon These the now whether thou wylt that the syght of our lorde be set vpon the for thy pacyence in the tyme of thyn aduersyte therby to haue this comforte whan thou shalt departe fro this worlde or to haue thy plesure after the transytorye course of this worldely prosperyte and in maner be forgeten of god the dwellers of heuen and at the houre of deth to be taken with the terryble tyraūtes of helle and thyder to be brought to dwelle without hope of remyssyon of synne or delyueraūce of payne euer without ende Ther was neuer Emperour ne kyng that had so grete plesure to see his seruaunt fyght for his loue as almghty god hath in the why che that beren pacyently trybulacōn ayenst all the malyce of the deuylles for his sake Ther is no grete euyl done in this lyf but it is soone shewed amon ges the company of helle so ther is no grete thynge of perfeccyon done ne suffred in this lyfe but it is shewed to the courte of heuen to theyr grete Joye Than see that y u suffre Joyfully payne trybulary on as y u wylt that god the heuenly multytude haue Joye in the gretely desyre that y u shalt be felowe with them in theyr beatytude felycyte THe xv consolacyon is to remembre that our lorde sendeth the trybulacyon to make the to come to knowlege not only how thou sholde rule thy selfe accordynge to the plesure of hym but also that he hath ordeyned the to be a teherof other For lyke as none can so comfortably dele with a seke perlone as the phesycyan whiche hath ben in the same sekenesse afore soo none can gyue soo comfortable a counseyll to a soule in trouble as that persone the whiche afore tyme hath had suche atrouble by the grace of god hath well gyded hem selfe therin As saynt Poule sayth ¶ Tribulamur pro vestra exhortacōe et salute ¶ We are troubled for your exhortacyon and goostly helth As who sayd Our lorde sendeth vs trouble to the entente that we sholde teche you bothe by example of pacyence sufferynge and also by holy exortacyonon of worde that ye be obedyent for the grete rewarde whiche is ordeyned for pacyence in trouble And that by lyke resons as we fynde in our selfe by the Inwardely techynge of our lorde wherby we more Joyfully take trybulacyon suche or lyke we sholde shewe to you for to make you lyke wyse pacyently to soffre aduersyte and lyke as the good soule whicho is in trouble techeth an other bothe in worde in dede how it shall pacyently holyly take trybulacōn so y t it hath ordeyned for it double rewarde in y e glorye of god Thus y u shalt haue reward of god in that y u pacyently suffres sekenesse trouble than kefully in thy selfe Also thou shalt haue rewarde in that y u shewest thy pacyent takynge to other to the entente to gyue them good example and to the laude of god pryncypally and not to thy cōmendacyon Also thou shalt haue rewarde in that thou techest with thy mouth to other after the good mocyons medytacyons that y u felest in thy selfe wherby thou felest thy selfe comforted in thy payne and trouble And in the Joye of heuen thou shalt haue synguler rewarde of glorye by eche one of them whiche are profyted here by thy techynge And they shall gyue the thankynges euerlastȳgly for the goostly helpe y t they haue had of the here in this lyfe And so thou whiche suche vsest thy trybulacyon to the profyte of many thou shalt haue grace Joye gyuen to the by trybulacyon as the prophete Danyel sayth ¶ Fulgebunt iusti tanquam stelle in perpetuas eternytates et sicut splendor firmamenti qui ad iusticiam erudiunt multos ¶ The ryghtwysse men shal shyne as sterres and those the whiche teche other to lyue ryghtwysly shall shyne as the hole fyrmament Thus lyke as the lyght of the fyrmament the whiche conteyneth the sonne the mone and the sterres soo the glorye of those that teche other for to do and to suffre vertuously shal passe the glorye of those the whiche are not suche techers wherfore I counseyll the in the tyme of thy payne and trouble that thou applye thy mynde dylygently to lerne well for to take thy trouble to the good example of other that thou be nombred amonges the gloryous multytude of techers THe xvi comforte is to remembre that our lorde by the hygh prouydēce of his wysedome moost ryght ordre of his Justyce hath made this statute that y u whiche haste loste hym by prosperyte false Inordynate plesure of this worlde shalt fynde hym ayen by aduersyte of payne ād trybulaciō as it is wryten in the booke of Deutro ¶ Inuenies em̄ si cū toto corde inqueras eū trybulacione ¶ Thou shalt fynde hym yf thou seke hym with all thyn herte in trybulacyon O how gladde mayst thou be whiche art set by the very ordynaūce of our lorde in that waye state that thou may fynde hym yf thou wylt Peraduenture thou wylt saye Syr yf I vnderstode that this payne trouble y t I fele at myn herte or in my bodye came of our lorde I wolde be glad therof it sholde be welcome to me but I thynke that I am the cause therof my selfe To this I saye that what soweuer sorowe y t thou haste in herte or payne in bodye god is the pryncypall cause therof ād it is ordeyned by his wyll and ryghtwysnesse that thou shalt haue it He gyueth payne in this worlde whiche he shall gyue Joye in the other worlde and the
deuyll is pryncypall cause of synfull plesure in this worlde whiche shall tourment punysshe the vayne occupyed soules in the other worlde It is laboryous and paynfull to the to seke god thus with so grete fere in trybulaciō wherfore in thy sekynge remembre the fyndynge of him how Joyfull it shall be to the for thon shalt fynde hym therby yf thou take it thankefully whiche shal tourne all thy payne in to plesure thy sorowe in to solace thy transytorye aduersyte into the perdurable Joye prosperyte wherfore sayth the prophete ¶ Letetur cor quērenciū dn̄m querite faciē eius semper ¶ They haue cause to haue a lyght herte whiche seketh our lorde wherfore seke ye the Joyfull face of hym euer The payne of sehynge is bytter but he is swete whom thou sekest by payne yf thou seke hym by payne to the entent that y u wolde be a louer of hym thy payne shall apere the lesser as Dauyd sayth ¶ Letent̄ in teoēs qui querūtte ¶ All those whiche seke the they shall be lyghtned in the. But the beftyall folke whiche ordeyne not theyr payne as a mene wherby they sholde come to our lorde but only take it as a grete hurte to theyr bodye ryght lytell or nought remembre what profyte theyr soule may haue therby they are very woo with all for they hate more the myserye of payne than the myserye of synne more labour to auoyde thynges to theyr dysplesure than to the dysplesure of god And yet our lorde kepeth suche folke in payne to suche a tyme tyll he haue made them to set lytel by them selfe be more redye to applye them to do after his wyll than after theyr owne wyll lyke as the mayster cesseth not to punysshe his seruaūt to suche a tyme tyl he hath brought hym to werke after his wyl specyally whan it is suche a seruaūt that he hath a fauour to hym wyll not put hym from hymselfe Thou wylt peraduenture saye a they speke falsely vpon me sclaūder me how can this come of god for this is dedely synne no synne may be Imputed to god To this I answere that our lorde of his secrete dome vnknowen Jugement suffreth the to synne of that synne he wyll werke vertue in the make the to haue wyl to forsake synne whiche wyl cometh of sorowe confusyon that thou hast in thy selfe this payne of sorowe whiche thou feleste byte thyn herte ryght bytterly cometh of god and also the good wyll whiche foloweth therof in forsakynge of synne therfor the prophete sayth ¶ Imple facies eorum ignomina et querent nomen tuum dn̄e ¶ Fulfyll the face of theyr soule with shame rebuke than they shall seke the. And therfore our lorde suffreth many a soule to falle in grete ād openly knowen synne wherby they haue grete shame and are brought therby to forsake synne to set ryght lytell by themselfe whiche byfore made to moche of themselfe hadde grete pryde and vayne glorye in the good name reporte that was made vpon them And by this comon shame and shamefull reporte whiche gooth vpon them this vayne plesure is clene taken from them Thus god is so good that he suffreth none euyll to be done in the worlde neyther in his electe childern but of the whiche that he werketh a grete auayle to them They shall clerely see vpon the daye of Jugement that lyke as they neuer dyd good thynge vnrewarded soo they neuer dyd euyll thynge but our lorde dyd werke grete auayle therof to theyr rewarde yf thou sekest our lorde in the waye of paynfull pouerte and wantest thynges as it is sene to the that it is necessarye to thy lyuynge sustentacōn remémbre that yf thou pacyently take thy pouerte thou shalt haue the greetest rychesse that euer was for thou shalt haue god himselfe all the rychesse that he hath shall be thyn As he sayth in the gospell ¶ Omnia meā tua sunt ¶ All my rychesse are thy rychesse O than be thou glad to bere thy pouerte Joyfully for a whyle whiche hastely shall be made so ryche It were a grete plesure to a poore man to haue promysed y e rychesse of a temporall kyng but moche more plesure it is to a faythful soule to haue promysed the Inestimable rychesse of god whiche is the kyng of kynges ād lorde of lordes Thou sayest peraduenture Syr I haue loste my bodely helth wherby I myght haue done many good werkes to the honour of god and profyte of my soule fro these I am letted now by grete sekenesse oftentyme fere of deth I answere the in this that peraduenture whan thou hadde thyn helth thou occupyed full symply more thou vsed it to thy plesure than to the plesure of god ād y u sholde haue comen to more Incōuenyentes therby yf thou had contynued therin And for mysusynge of thyn helth our lorde hath sende the now this seknesse there as y u wolde not serue hym well in tyme of they helth in well doynge serue hym well now in tyme of sekenesse by good sufferynge Be thou sure that yf thyn helth had ben more to his plesure than sekenesse y u sholde haue had it standynge that he is the pryncypall cause of all bodely sekenesse and ther thou lesest thy bodely helth whiche is better to the than all the rychesse of the worlde y t y u getest ayen therby yf y u gracyously take it whiche goodes passe thy bodely helth all bodely rychesse of the worlde that is to saye the grace of our lorde in this worlde with vertue of mekenesse pacyence and charyte flesshely payne is the specyall remedy to auoyde flessly synne for the tyme of payne y e wyll hath but lytell plesure in remembraūce of flesshely delectacōn therfore yf it be tempted it is the more stronger to resyste it and therfore sayth the apostle ¶ Cūinfirmor forcior sū ¶ Whan I am seke in my bodye I am stronger to resyste the temptaciō of vyce in my soule By payne the seke persōe is brought to set lytell by hymselfe for yf it be full of payne it setteth lytell by precyous clothes it setteth lytell by worshyp worldly honour And that persone is meke whiche setteth lytell by hymselfe but pacyence is more paynful that is to saye wylfully thankefully to take the sekenesse with hande herte to gyue louynge to our lorde therfore neuertheles a fayth full soule remembrȳge these profytes whiche come by sekenesse is full glad therof conformeth y e wyll to the wyll of god but this pacyence to god muste haue charyte to those whiche are about it yf thou haue these thre that is to saye mekenesse in lytell settynge by thy selfe obedyent pacyence to god charyte to suche as be aboute the without chydynge braulynge than y u haste grete wytnesse y e whiche shal brynge the to the