other sodaynlye ryse Howe may this lyfe be beloued that hath so many bytternes and is so full of myseryes how may it be called a lyfe that gendreth so many dethes gostely infeccions and yet it is beloued and with great gladnes delyted idyed in The worlde is ofte reproued for that it is disceytfull and vayne And yet it is nat soone forfake whyle the coÌ„cupysceÌ„ce of the flesshe reygneth some thynges iÌ„ the worlde induceth man to loue the worlde some other to despyse it the coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of mannes flesshe the desyre of maÌ„nes eye pryde of yâ— hert But the peynes and the myseryes folowynge gendre hate and coÌ„tempte of the worlde yet for all suche myseryes the euyll delectacion of mynde that is geuen to the worldly pleasure ouercometh the heuenly desyre suche carnall delyte reputeth felycyte to bevnder such sensuall pleasure For such neyther sauer ne taste the swetnes of god ne yâ— inwarde ioy of vertue They that despyse the worlde study to lyue serue god vnder holy discyplyne they taste yâ— sauour of heueÌ„ly thyngê ê“mised to such gostly lyuers they also se verely yâ— errour dysceyte of yâ— worlde ¶ The .xxiii. chapiter how man shuld rest in god aboue all gyftes and goodes erthely O Thou my soule rest thou aboue all thynge in our lorde God for he is the eternall rest of sayntes Gyue me swete Iesu moost louable of all other grace for to reste in the aboue all other creatures a boue all helth and beawte aboue all glory honour power dygnyte aboue all ryces cuÌ„nyng subtylite or craftes aboue all gladnes ioy fame or laude aboue all swetnes coÌ„solacion hope or promyse aboue all meryte desyre or gyftes that thou mayst gyue to me body or soule aboue all ioy or iubylacyon that mannys mynde may fele and compryse And aboue all heueÌ„ly spyrytes with all other thynges vysible iÌ„uysible that is nat thy selfe for thou good lorde amoÌ„ge all thyngê art best hyest moste myghty moost suffycieÌ„t thou art moost swete fayrest moost louable moost noble gloryoê° aboue all iÌ„ whom all other godes be ê‘fytely haue be shal be And therfore what euer hit be that thou gyuest me thy selfe except it is insuffycient For my hert may nat verely rest ne holly be coÌ„tent but in the that surmouÌ„test euery creature or thiÌ„ge O my moste amyable spouse cryste iesu moost pure louer lorde of euery creature graunt me I pray the wynges of very lyberte that I may fle rest in the my feruent loue desyre O whaÌ„ shall it be gyuen to me fully to vnderstande se howe swete and good my lorde God is whan shall I fully gader me in the so that for thy loue I shall nat fele my selfe but yâ— alonly that excedest all knowlege mesure Nowe I ofte sorowe morne bere me in felycite lamentable myserye yâ— I am in with great heuynes For many euyls assayle me in this vale of mysery they sore trouble me and also ofte blynde me dystroyeth and letteth me that I maye nat haue fre accesse to the ne haue thy swete enbrasynge that the blessyd spyrytes haue ê¯tynually with all iocuÌ„dyte ioy I pray yâ— that my syghes inly desyres with my manyfolde desolacyoÌ„s may moue thy goodnes to enclyne to my desyres o iesu the lyght clertye of euerlastyng glory the solace conforte of wayfarynge soules my soule speketh to the with styll desyre and my mouth without voyce Howe loÌ„ge taryeth my lorde god to come â–ª I beseke hym to come to me his pore seruauÌ„t to my coÌ„solacyon gladnes Sende he his hande power to delyuer me from all anguysshe Come good lorde for with out the I can haue no gladde day or hour thou art my ioye without the my mynde borde is voyde I am a wretche and as a prysoner fetred withoute all ê¯fort agreued tyll tyme that I may be refresshid with thy presens so restored to lyberte shewe me therfore I beseke the thy fauour gracious pÌ„sens Let other seke for yâ— what so euer they wyll no thynge pleaseth me ne shall do but thou my lorde god yâ— art my hope eternal helth I shall nat cesse to pray call to yâ— tyll thou returne to me by thy grace speke to me inwardly saying lo I am here come to the for thou called me thy terys the desyre of thy soul thy huÌ„yliacioÌ„ ê¯tricion of hert hath made me enclyne brought me to the. And I agayne to my lorde good lorde I called the haue desyred to ioy in the all other thynges left forsakeÌ„ for the. Thou lorde dyd fyrst excyte me to seke the blessyd be thou that hast wrought such goodnes with thy seruauÌ„t after thy great mercy what shuld thy seruauÌ„t more do or say before the goodlorde but to huÌ„ble hym to thy mageste alway myndefull of his proper fraylte wyekednes None is lyke to the good lorde in all yâ— meruelous creatures iÌ„ heueÌ„ erthe all thy workes that thou hast wrought be very god thy domes ryght wyse trewe by thy ê“uydeÌ„s all thynges be gouerned Laude glory be to the that arte the wysdome of the fader celestyall My soule my mouthe with all partyes may loue the and prayse the with all other creatures wtout ende Amen ¶ The .xxiiii. chapter a remeÌ„brauÌ„ce or repetynge of the bnÌ„faytê of god GOodlorde open my herte in thy lawe and in thy pÌ„ceptes make me to walke Make me al way to vnderstande thy wyll and pleasure dylygently to ê¯syder with reuereÌ„ce thy bnÌ„faites both in generall in specyall yâ— I may dewly thanke the I knowe and confesse for trothe that I may nat gyue to the due thaÌ„kes for the leste benefyte that thou gyuest and am vnworthy thereof whaÌ„ I consyder thy excellence and noblenesse my spyryte fayleth in me for the great magnytude therof All thynges that we haue in body or soule within or without naturallye or suê‘naturally we haue of thy gyfte all they commende the of whom all goodnes cometh though some perceyue of thy larges mo graces or bnÌ„faites and some fewer yet all that we haue cometh of the the leest gyft may nat be had without the he that receyueth more bounteously of thy graces may nat toy therin as he had them of his owne merytes nor he maye nat very worthely exalte hym selfe aboue other ne vylypende his infery oure or the poure for he that ascrybeth nat to hym selfe ne to his merytes but onely to the goodnes of god is more meke and in gyuynge thankes vnto god more deuout and he that for all suche prerogatyues repreueth hym selfe moost vyle and vnworthy of other he is more apte to ê‘ceyue of the hande of almyghty God more larger gyftes he that perceyueth fewer gyftes of god ought nat therfore to be heuy ne wroth ne enuyous ayenst his rycher but he ought rather thaÌ„ke yâ—
that thou my Lorde god very god and man art holy conteyned vnder a lytell lykenesse of bred and wyne and thou art hole receyued withoute consumynge of hym that so receyueth the. ¶ Thou Lorde of all that haste no nede of any thynge yet thou haste wyllede to inhabyte within vs by thys thy hooly sacrament Lorde kepe my herte and my body vndefyled to the ende that with a pure and a Ioyous conscience I may often receyue the to my euerlastynge helthe ¶ Thise holy mysteryes whiche be institute and ordeyned chyefly vnto thy honour and perpetuall remembraunce ¶ O my soule reioyse the and gyue thankynges vnto thy god for his noble gyfte and synguler comforth that it lyste hym here in thys vale of teres thus to cōforte the. For as often tymes as thou remembrest thys mystery and receyueste thys blessed body of our lorde so often thou receiuest the werke of thy redempcyon and arte made partener of all the merytes of our lorde Iesu cryst For his charyte is neuer mynisshed the greatnesse of his mercy is neuer consumed wherfore thou oughtest to dispose the alwaye with a newe reuoluynge of thy thought oughtest to consider this great mysterye of thy helthe by attentyue reysynge of thy soule ¶ And this werke ought to be vnto the as greatly newe and ioyous whan thou receyuest it as if that same day our lorde had first descended in to the wombe of the virgyn mari to be made man orelles he that daye had suffred dethe for the helthe of man vpon the crosse ¶ What greate profyte it is often to receyue the body of our lorde Iesu cryst C iii.a LOrde I come vnto the to th ende that welthe may come vnto me of thy gyfte and that I may Ioye at the holy feest that thou hast made redy vnto me pore wretche by thy swete benygnyte in the whiche my sauyoure is all that I may or ought to desyre for thou art my helthe my redempcion my strength honour and ioy Alas my lorde god make me thy dayly seruaunt Ioyous For my lorde Iesus I haue reysed my soule vnto the and nowe desyrethe deuowtly reuerently to receyue the in to my how 's to th ende I may deserue with zachee to be blessid of the and to be accompted amonge the children af Abraham ¶ My soule desireth thy body my herte desyrethe to be vnyght wyth the. Gyue thy selfe vnto me good lorde than I suffised for withoute the no consolacyon nor comforte ys good withoute the I may nat be and withoute thy vysytacyon I may nat lyue wherfore it be houeth me often tymes to come and approch to thy hyghe p̄sence to receyue the for the remedy of my helth to the entente I fayle nat in the waye of this mortall lyfe if I were defrauded from thy sprytuall noryshynge ¶ Also my ryght mercy full lorde Iesu whan thou hast preched vnto the people and heled them of diuers sykenes thou hast sayde I wyll nat leue theym fastynge and without refeccion lest peranenture they myght fayle in theyr way Do wyth me than good lorde in that maner syth thou hast lefte thys holy sacrament for the comforte offeythfull people for thou arte the swete refeccion of the sowles of theym that haworthely receyued and eten the and they shall be perteners and inherytours of the eternall ioye Certeyne ytys vnto me necessary that so often synnes and so sone keles and at euery houre fayles to come vnto the to th ende that by contynuall orysons and confessions and by the receyuynge of thy holy body I may puryfye and renewe the heete of my refeccyon For perauenture in absteynonge me to longe to receyue the I may leue forgete and renne from my good purpos For the wytte of man and woman from theyr chyldhod be inclyned vnto euyll And if thys dyuyne and godly medycyne helpe vs nat incontynent we fall vnto worse Than thys holy cōmunyon draweth men from euyll and comforteth theym ageyne in goodnesse for I am many tymes neclygent and often keled whanne I commune or worshyp my god what shulde I thanne do if I toke nat that medecyne and aske of hym grace and helpe And albe it I am nat alwaye well disposed to receyue my creature yet shall I put me vnto peyne to receyue these sacrede mysteryes in tyme conuenable so y◠I maye be made a partener of so greate grace ¶ For ytys one of the mooste pryncypall consolacyons vnto a feythefull sowle for the tyme they shall make theyr pylgrimage towardes in this mortall body and to the entent we may haue the more mynde of thy benefytes ¶ My lorde god I shall more often receyue y◠my louige Lorde wyth a deuout thought O merueylous gentylnesse of thyne vnspekeable pytye towardys vs that thou lorde god creatour and gyuer of lyfe vnto all spirytes hathe wylled to come to one so pore asoule with the deite and humanyte and my pore lene dryesoule hath lysted to be made fatte with thy grace and thy holy vnccyon of thy swete spiryte O happy thought and well happy soule that deserueth deuoutely to receyue hys god hys lorde and creature and in that receyuynge to be fulfylled with ioy and spirytuall gladnesse O what great lorde receyuest thou O what and howe great and host enterteynest thou into thy lodgynge Howe ioyous a felowe takest thou into thy how 's Howe feythefull a frende thou admyttest vnto the. O howe good noble and swete espouse enbraceste thou which ought to be byloued and desyred aboue all thynges O ryght swete beloued lorde the heuen and erthe and all the ornamentis of theym holdeth scylence in the presence of thy face For what praysynge honour and beautye they haue it ys of thy mercy and largenes and can not be lyke vnto thonour and beaute of thy holy name of thy sapience wherof there ys no noumbre nother ende ¶ Howe many cōmodities be gyuen vnto them that deuoutly receyueth this holy sacrament C iiii ◠I lorde god I humbly beseche the to preuent me thy seruaunt in the blessynges of thy swete mekenes So that I may deserue to cum worthely deuoutly to the holy sacrament mooste to be magnyfied Stere my herte lose it frome the dull heuynes of my mortall body Uysite me wyth the messāger of helth and gyue me to tast thy swetnes spirituall whiche is hydde fully in the sacrament as in a foūtayne of all swetnesse Illmyne myne iyen to beholde thys greate mysterye strongly conferme me to beleue the feithe vndoutable for it ys thy werke nat the power of man it ys thy holy ordynaunce and not by mannys deuyse For there is no mā foundeable of hym selfe to conceyue vnderstande these holy mysteryes whiche passeth the subtylte of aungels ¶ Than Howe may I pore vnworthy synner which am but erthe and asshes serche conceyue so hygh holy secrysye lorde I come vnto the in symplenes of herte in ferme feythe and by
with the prophete Samuel that thou vouchesaue to speke to me thy selfe I shall here the. Let nother Moises ne none other ê“phet but thou good lorde the inwarde inspirour of al ê“phetes speke to me in me For thou only without them maist ê‘fitly teche me They withoute thy goodnes can nat profyte me They may well ê“fer vtter thi wordes but they can nat gyue the spirite of vnderstandynge they ê“fer fayre wordes but if thou worke nat with them they make none ardour inwarde they shewe fayre letters writtiges but thou alone openest theyr sense they profer great misteries but thou alone openest the clere vnderstandige of them They shewe thy coÌ„maundementes to be fulfylled but thou alon helpest vs by thy grace to perfourme them They shewe vs the way that we shulde walke i but thou alone doest coÌ„fort vs to go theri They worke only without forth but thou only illumynest within forth They onlye water outwardely but thou gyuest vs the frute of grace good workes They crie speke to ys in outwarde wordes but thou giuest vnderstandinge of that we here wherfore I besech the that I may here the speke to me nat moyses lyst I die be voyde of the frute of good lyuynge if I be only outwarly monisshed nat iflamed iÌ„wardly that nat thy worde be only herde nat fulfylled in dede knowyn nat loued byleued nat kepte so be to me daÌ„pnacioÌ„ speke thou good lorde to me thy seruaunte shal be redy to here the for thou haste the wordes of eternall life shyt in the Speke to me I beseche the yâ— wordes of rsolacion coÌ„forte to my soule to the amendement of my lyfe to thy euerlastinge laude praysinge in heuen ¶ The .iii. chaptre howe the wordes of god shulde be wekely herde howe many ponder them nat in theyr conscience OUr lorde spketh to his deuoute seruaunt saiynge thous My sone gyue hede to my wordes they be full swete pcellige alwisdome cuÌ„nige of philosophers wise men of this worlde Mi wordes be spuÌ„al gostly lyfe nat paisible in mannes mynde they be nat to be applyed ne drawed as vaine complacens but to be herde stydfastly in sylence and peas of soule and to be taken with al humslyte desire of the soule The deuoute seruaunt of god answereth his lorde god thus sayinge to hym Blessed is that man that thou doest enfourme and teche good lorde to vnderstande thy lawes coÌ„maundementis that thou maist so spare hym in the day of thy wrathe fro thy indignacion that he be nat loste wythout coÌ„forte in the lande of dampnacion Oure lorde say the agayne I haue taught ê“phetes with other fro the begynnige of the worlde hytherto and yet I cesse nat to enforme men but many there be that be harde defete to here my wordes Many here more gladly the wordly spekynge than godly or gostly spekynge Many folow gladly theyr flesshely appetites of theyr body than the pleasure or coÌ„mauÌ„d ment of god The worlde ê“mitteth somtyme gyueth vs temporall thynges lytell of valure for the whyche we serue it with greate desire But god almyghty ê“mytteth gyueth vs hye thynges eternal yet men be dulle lowe to his seruice and to at tayne suche rewardes as he ê“mytteth Who so serueth obeyeth god almyghty in obseruynge his coÌ„maundmentis as it is obeyed to wordly princes maysters Almoste none for a lytell fee or prebende greate iourneys harde labours be take an hande for suche wordly lordes for yâ— etnallyfe skarsly we may any labour or any hardnes suffre So a vyle price is besily sought an excellent rewarde is put vnder For a peny to be gotten or won we wyl lightly put our body soule iÌ„ ieoâ—dy aueÌ„ture for a vaine thynge and a lytell ê“myse we gyue oft our selfe day and nyght to great fatygacyon but alas for god almyghty that is euerlastynge goodnes rewarde of ryght wyse people for the vnspectable iestymable Ioy in heueÌ„ or for the hye honour glory intermynable for to be had in rewarde in heueÌ„ we dysdeyne be slowe to suffer a lytell faty gacioÌ„ Be thou ashamed sayth our lorde god to slowe folke repreuyth them with theyr seruyce that worldly folke be fouÌ„de more dylygeÌ„t to theyr ê‘dycioÌ„ thaÌ„ be to euerlastyng lyfe they ioy more in vanyte than other in trothe or stedfast thynges yet they be ofte frustrate of that that they truste vpon but the promyse of our Lorde god deceyueth no man for he is true faythfull all his wordes behestys to suche folke specyallye that serue hym vnto theyr ende I am sayth he the rewarder of all good folke and the prouer helper of all deuoute men wryte my wordes sayth he in thy herte thynke vpon them they shall be to the right necessary in tyme of trybulacyon Thou shalt vnderstaÌ„de iÌ„ tyme of my vysytacyon these thynges that thou redyst before vnderstaÌ„de nat I am wonte to vysyt sayth our lorde my seruauntis in two maner wyse that is to saye by probacyon and coÌ„solacyon I proue them dayly by rebukynke theyr vyces defautes and I coÌ„forte them agayne by exortacyon to vertu and to the encrese of grace He that hereth my wordes and dispyseth them hath that shall iuge hym iÌ„ the last day ¶ The .iiii. chapter how by prayer we may opteyn to deuocyon THou good lorde arte all goodnes I am nat worthy to speke to the thy excellence is suche I am thy moost poore seruauÌ„t moost abiecte worme moost poore coÌ„temptyble of all other for I am very noughte nothynge hauynge ne nothynge of valoure thou alone good lorde arte god ryghtwyse and holy thou arte almyghty thou geuest all thyng thou fulfyllest all thynges leuynge all onely the synfull voyde of grace haue mynde good Lorde of thy merytes fulfyll my hert with thy grace for thy workynge is neuer voyde Howe may I lyue withoute great anguysshe perplyxyte in this wretchyd lyfe but if thy grace mercy coÌ„forte me wherefore I beseche the that thou turne nat thy gracious face of helpe from me tary nat thy vysytacioÌ„ from me with draw nat thy swete consolacioÌ„ fro me that nat my soule be aryfyed be made as drye erthe withoute the moystoure of grace good lorde teche me to knowe fulfyll thy wyll teche me to lyue humbly and worthely in thy pleasure for thou arte all wysdom iÌ„ the which thou knewe me before the worlde was and before I was brought into this lyfe by naturall byrthe ¶ The .v. chapter how we ought to beleue truthe huÌ„ilite before god here SOn sayth our lorde walke before me alway iÌ„ truth symplicite of herte all doublenes auoyde from the in suche wyse do alway seke me He that walketh before me and alwey in trouth shal be safe from all perellys Ieo berdyes trouth shall delyuer hym froÌ„ deceyuours
be suffered chosen wherfore suffre thou paciently the aduersitees euyls of this worlde or lyfe that thou maist auoide the peynes euerlastiÌ„ge folowiÌ„ge hereafter for syne Trowest thou that wordly men yâ— be in welthe wordly besynesse suffre no aduersite thou shalte nat fynde one suche ye if thou present the most delycate ê‘sone that thou caust finde but thou saist to me agayn They haue delectable thinges pleasures they folowe euer theyr owne wyll therfore they ponder nat theyr trowbles But howe be it that they haue theyr desire in ryches wordly pleasures that they besacyatte with howe longe trowest thou it shall last Sothly such folke as abondeth in wordly goodes plesurs shall soone fayle euanysshe as dothe the smoke of fyre No remembraunce lefte of theyr ioyes before had whiche also whan they lyued was nat fynally without great anguysshe tydyousnes drede ofteÌ„ time they receyue great troubles peyne of suche thynges as they haue great solace pleasure in before for of right wisnes it foloweth to suche ê‘sons yâ— they fulfyl nat withoute great coÌ„fusion peyne the delectacions wordly pleasurs that they haue before sought folowed with great iÌ„ordinate delite plesure how short how vyle fals is the wordly glory pleasurs Suerly they be very fals fikil and yet they be nat perceyued for the blyndnes of mannes soule so that man as a beest vnreasonable for a litel plesure or coÌ„modite of this transetory lyfe renneth into euerlastinge dethe of soule wherfore soÌ„ne fle to folowe thyn owne wyll alway folowe nat thy plesure desire Put thy delite fixe thy loue in god he wyll graunt the thy peticion desyre of hert Fle all wordly inordinate pleasures delectacions and thou shalt haue aboundauÌ„t heuenly coÌ„solacion the more thou preseruest the from the solace of erthly creatures the more swete coÌ„solacions thou shalte fynde in almyghty god But fyrst thou must come to suche gostly coÌ„solacions with greate heuynes lamentacion with great labour stryfe iÌ„ thy selfe ageynste thy sensuall ê‘ties Thy olde synfull custome wyll agaynstande the in suche goostely labour but he shal be vanisshed ouercome with a betâ— custome The flesshe wyll murmoure grutch ageiÌ„st suche labours bur the feruour of the miÌ„de maye refrayne hym The olde euemye to maÌ„nes soule wyll let the but thou maist chase hym away by prayer by ê“fitable occupacion he his wayes shal be let ¶ The .xiiii. chaptre howe an huÌ„ble subiect ought to be obedient after the example of criste SOnne he that laboureth to withdrawe hym fro obedience he withdrawe hym fro grace who seketh to attayne pryuate thynges leseth comon graces giftes he that doeth nat obey to his superyor it is a tokeÌ„ that his flesshe or body is nat subdued yet perfitly to his soule but it ofte grutcheth rebelleth ageynste it Therfore yf thou wylte that thy body be no rebel but subdued to thy soule lerne thou to obeye gladly to thy superior Soner ys thy outwarde enemy ouertome if thy inwarde man be nat distroyed or ouercome There is no worse nor more greuous enemie to man than his body if it be nat accordynge or consentynge to his soule thou must vtterly dispise thy selfe yf thou wylt preuaile ageist thy body But thou louest thy selfe yet inordinatly therfore thou dredest to leue thy selfe to subdewe the fully to other mennes wyl What great thynge is it to the that arte but erthe and nought to subdue the to man for godessake Whan I god almyghty that made al thynge of nought did subdue and submitte me humbly to man for thy sake I was made huÌ„ble that thou shuldest lerne to ouercome thy prid by my mekenes Lerne thou asches to obey Lerne thou erth slyme to humble the to ê“strate the vnder euery maÌ„nesfete by true humylite nothing epÌ„sumynge of thy selfe Lerne to brake thyn own will to applye to other meÌ„nes wyll Ryse ageynste thy selfe suffre nat pride to rayne in the but she we the so meke that al men may walke vpon the and trede vpon the as vpon clay in the way What haste thou vayne man vyle synner to complayne or to gaine say them that myssayethe the or vexeth the whiche haste so ofte offended thy lorde god and hast so ofte deserued helle by thy synfull lyuynge but my merciful iye sight hath spared the for loue that I haue to thy soule that thou myghtest knowe howe well I loue the that thou shuld ist be kynde gyue the to true humylyte subieccioÌ„ for my sake pacieÌ„ty sufferynge thy propre contempt despytes ¶ The .xv. chaptre of the hyd iugementes of god to be coÌ„sidered for thou repressyon of vayne glory and magnyfiynge of man in graces receyued THou good lorde saith the deuout soule castiste terrybly thy iugementis vpoÌ„ me so that with great fere thou alterest all my body bonis to gyder my soule is troubled with great fere dred I stande astonied rsider that heuynes be nat clene in thy sight if thou founde thy angels defectyue impure and therfore thou didest nat spare theim what shall fall vpon me that am dust asshes yâ— angels fell from heuen what than maye I presume Suche people as in semynge had workes of commendacion haue fall ful lowe suche as were fede with the mete of angels I haue sene be glad of swines mete There is therfore no holynes in man yf thou lorde withdrawe thy hande Noo wysdome maye auayle yf thou withdrawe thy hande of gouernauÌ„ce No sure chastite is if thou defende it nat ne ê“precustodie may ê“fite man if that the helpe of god be nat there For if we be forsakeÌ„ of god almyghty we be drowned we perisshe And if we be viseted and helped we be raysed vp to lyfe Of oure selfe we be vnstable but by the good lorde we be confermed made stedfaste we be colde of oure selfe but by yâ— we be accended kyndled iÌ„ goodnes O how mekely obiect ought I to coÌ„sider my selfe how siÌ„ple litell be my good dedes if I haue any How ê“fouÌ„dely ought I to submytte me to thy hyâ— depeiugementis good lorde wherin I fynde my selfe nothiÌ„g valeÌ„t nought O thou iÌ„mesurable weght O thou iÌ„passable see wherin I can nat fynde me but al perisshed adnichilat where nowe is become al wordly glory what coÌ„fidende may I haue of al vaine glory yâ— I haue be exalted by before Lo al vayne wordly glory is vanisshed by the depnesse of thy hyd iugementis that thou hast shewed vpoÌ„ me what is any maÌ„ in thy sight good lorde but cley or erth what may clay or erthe haue any gloriacion or pride agaynste his maker he that hath his herte truly roted by loue humbles in god may uat be extolled by no vayne flateriÌ„ge ageynst his pleasure ne he shal nat be moued by any flaterynge that putteth his hole hope in god they that vse suche flaterynge be nought euanissheth at the last with the sounde of worbes but yâ— truthe of our lorde shall
may shortly iÌ„ all such offer my selfe to thy pleasure sone sayth god maÌ„ often prosecuteth the thynge that he desyreth whan he cometh therto he begynneth otherwyse to fele therin for maÌ„nys affeccyons desyres about one thyng be nat durable abydynge but now vppon this thynge sette and now vpon that the very ê“fite of man is to forsake hym selfe to coÌ„myt hym holy to God for suche a man is very fre and syker But our enemy coÌ„trary to all goodnes cesseth nat of his teÌ„ptacyons but day nyght he maketh greuous sautes to vs to catche vs at vnwares by his deceytfull snares wake therfore pray dylygently that thou enter nat into teÌ„ptacioÌ„ ¶ The .xlv. chaptÌ„ man hath no goodnes of hym selfe ne any thyng that he may haue any glory or pryde of but all of the goodnes of god LOrde what is man that thou hast suche mynde of or the sone of man whoÌ„ doest vysyte with thy grace what meryte was or is in man yâ— to gyuest thy grace to what may I complayne if thou forsake me or what may I ryghtwysly saye agayne the if thou grauÌ„t me nat that I aske of the seth thou gyuest all goodnes of thy owne goodnes lyberalyte without the deseruynge of man Surely this I may thynke say of my selfe that I am nothynge of valoure that I haue no goodnesse of my selfe but that I am in suffycyeÌ„t and frayle in all thyngê and go to nought euer and but I be holpen of the good lorde and infourmed within iÌ„ soule by the I shal be made all dyssolute thou good lorde abydest alwey one beynge and euery where good rightwys holy werkynge all thynges we le right wysly holyly dysposynge all thy werkys iÌ„ wisdoÌ„ but I wretche that am alwey more prone and redy to fayle than to ê“fyte in vertue and goodnesse am nat abydynge euer in one state for seuen tymes in the day the rightwis man is troubled of synne Ne the lesse it shal be sone wele with me agayn if it please thy goodnes to helpe me for thou alone good lorde mayste without man helpe in all nedys make meso ferine stable that I shal nat be chauÌ„ged hyder thyder or fro this thynge to that but yâ— my herte maye be turned rest in the alonly if I wolde caste away all maÌ„nes ê¯solacion eyther for deuocioÌ„ for to be had or ellys to seke thy socoure goodnes for such nedes as fall to me that I am coÌ„pellyd by to seke the for no man may helpe or comfort me as thou mayst than I myghte well truste to thy grace to ioye of the gyfte of thy newe consolacyoÌ„ I thaÌ„ke yâ— good lorde the auctour and grouÌ„de of all goodnes as ofte as any good chaunce happeth towarde me I am but vanyte and nothynge in thy syght an vnstable man seke wherof may I than be proude or shulde repute me any thynge ê“fytable wheder nat of nought the whiche is moost vanyte truly vayne glory is an ifectyue pestyleÌ„s and moost vanyte for it draweth a man fro very glory remeueth grace spyrytall whyles a man hath a complacens in hym selfe he dyspleaseth god and whan he desyreth maÌ„nys laude vayne praysynge he forgoth very vertues very glory holy ioy to man is to ioy I god nat in hym selfe to ioy in the name of god almyghty nat in his ê“per vertue or strength nor to haue delectacyon in any creature but for God thy holy name good lord be praysed blessid nat myne thy werk be magnyfyed nat myne no laude ne praysynge be gyuen to me by mannes mouthe for any thynge that I do but all be vnto thy pleasure thou arte my glorye the inwarde ioye of my hert I shall by thy grace euer ioye in the and in nothynge perteynyng to me but in my infyrmytes let Iewes with other vayne louers of the worlde seke glorye of themselfe in other I shall only seke the glory and praysyng of god for all maÌ„nes glory praysynge with worshyp teÌ„porall also worldly hyght ê“mocyoÌ„ coÌ„paryd to thy eternall glorye good lorde is but vanyte foly o thou blessyd trynyte my god my mercy and very truthe to the alone be laude vertue honour glory for euer Amen ¶ The .xlvi. chapter how all teÌ„porall honour is to be dyspysed SOne sayth our lorde to his louer be thou nat confouÌ„ded ne heuy whan thou seest other honoured and auauÌ„ced and thy selfe despysed and humyled rayse vp thyn herte to me in to heuen thou shalte nat be heuy though thou be despysed of man here in erth Lorde sayth the dyscyple we be here in darke blyndenes lackynge the very lyght and therfore we be soone deceyued by vanytes as farre as I can vnderstande I neuer yet suffred any iniurye of any creature wherfore I can nat rightwysely complayne agayne the but for as moche as I haue oftesynÌ„ed agayn the therfore euery creature is worthyly armed ayeÌ„st me i punysshemeÌ„t of my synÌ„es wherfore ê¯fusyon shame to me is dewe with coÌ„teÌ„pte to the good lorde be laude honoure glory and but if I prepare my wyll to be dyspysed forsake gladly of euery man and vtterlye to be reputed noughte I can nat be stablysshed ne pacyfyed wtinforth nor spuÌ„ally to be illumyned ne may nat be fully knytte ioyned to thy goodnes ¶ The .xlvii. chapt how no man ought to put his peas fynally in man SOne if thou put thy peas with any ê‘sone for thy felynge for that they accorde with the yâ— shalt be vnstable vnpeased but if thou haue thy recours to god that is ê‘manent euerlastyng truthe thy frende goynge awey or decessynge fro the shall nat make the inordynatly heuy thou oughtest to loue all thy frendes in me and for me to loue euery ê‘sone that thou accomptyst with good dere to the in this lyfe for I am the begynner the ende of all goodnes without me all freÌ„shyp is nat valent or durable nor no worldly frendshyppe may endure where I ioy nat thou oughtest to be mortyfyed to such carnall affeccyoÌ„s of thy louers that as moche as thou mayst thou shuldest desyre to be without al maÌ„nes coÌ„pany for the more a man wtdraweth hym fro all worldly solace the more he draweth nere to god almyghty the more hye that he ascendeth in loue spuÌ„all ê¯teÌ„placioÌ„ the more ê“fouÌ„dly iwardly he desceÌ„deth in huÌ„ble ê¯syderacioÌ„ of hymselfe vyly peÌ„dynge hym selfe he that ascrybeth or gyueth any goodnes to hym selfe he gaynstaÌ„deth the grace of god letteth it to enter into hym for the grace of god alwey requyreth an huÌ„ble herte if thou man saythe our lorde wolde ê‘fytelye dysprase thy selfe wolde empte clene thy hert fro all erthely loue thaÌ„ wolde I sayth he dystyll entre into the with abuÌ„dauÌ„t grace but the more atteÌ„dauÌ„ce affeccyon thou hast to my creatures the more is
that but alonly to be vylypeÌ„ded or despysed iÌ„ my pleasure honour ouer all desyre that whether thou lyue or dye god alwey be gloryfyed iÌ„ the or by the. ¶ The .lv. chapt a man beynge in heuynes desolacioÌ„ shulde coÌ„mytte hym into the handes of god to his grace sayinge LOrde god holy fader blessyd be thou now euer for after thy holy pleasure so thou hast done to me and all that thou dost is good I besech the good lorde that thy seruauÌ„t may ioy in the and nat in my selfe ne in none other thynge but in the or ordred to the for thou alone art verye gladnesse thou art my hope my crowne of reward thou good lorde arte my ioy honoure what haue I or any of thy seruauÌ„tis that we haue nat receyued of thy goodnes ye without our meryte all be thyne that thou haste gyuen and made I am but pore haue be in trauayle fro my youth often my soule is heuy vn to wepyng some tyme it is troubled agayn it selfe for passyoÌ„s fersly inrysynge I desyre good lorde the ioy of peace I aske yâ— peace of thy chosen chyldreÌ„ the which be norysshed fed of the iÌ„ the lyght of iÌ„ warde eternall ê¯solacyoÌ„ if thou good lorde grauÌ„t me peace if thou graunt me in wardly holy ioy than shall the soule of thy seruauÌ„t be full of louynge and deuoute praysynge of thy infynyte goodnes if thou withdrawe the fro me as thou haste often wonte to doo than I may nat ren the way of thy commaundemeÌ„tys that is to say fulfyll them but more thy seruauÌ„t is then arted to knocke his breste to knele for grace and consolacyon afore had for that it is nat with hym nowe as yesterday the daye before whan thy lanterne of lyghte shone vpon hym illumyned his soule and was defended fro the inwarde temptacyons vnder the shadowe shylde of thy wynges right wyse fader euer worthy to be most loued the hour is come that thy seruaunt shulde be proued in it is worthy father that thy seruauÌ„t suffer this hour som what for the Thou knew in thy eternall presens an houre for to come in the whiche for a lytell tyme thy seruauÌ„t shuld outwardly be ouercome yet withinforth be euer lyuynge ayenst the that he shuld be vy lypended centeÌ„pned and despysed for a tyme in the syght of men by sorys peynes passyon that he a ryse agayne with the in the morne of a new lyght of grace after that be gloryfyed in heuen for allsuch humylyacions holy father thou haste so ordeyned wylled after thy coÌ„maundement so be it fulfylled iÌ„ me This is thy grace yâ— thou good lorde shewest to thy frende to suffer troubles here in this worlde for thy loue as ofte whaÌ„ so euer in what so euer wyse thou dysposest or suffrest it to fall without thy counceyle and prouydence And also without cause nothynge is done here in erthe It is good to me good lorde that thou hast humbled me that I maye thex by lerne the ryghtwyse iugementes and therby caste fro me all pryde and presumpcyon of hert It is very ê“fitable to me that I haue suffred or had such coÌ„fusyon that I by the erudycyon of it shuld rather seke thy consolacyon than mannes in such aduersy te I haue lerned also therby to drede thy inscrutable iugemeÌ„tes whereby thou prouest scourgest the ryght wyse man and the wycked and that nat with out equyte and rightwysnes I thaÌ„ke the that thou haste nat spared my synnes but punysshed me with scourges of loue ye bothe within and without with sores and anguysshes no creature vnder heueÌ„ may coÌ„forte me in myne aduersytes but thou good lorde the very and heueÌ„ly leche of mannes soule that smytest and helyst agayne Thou ledest vs into sharpe peynes of body suffrest vs to be ledde into dedely synne sometyme and thou bryngest vs out therof agayne by thy great grace Thy dyscyplyne be vpoÌ„ me and thy scourge shall teche me the wayes of vertue and mekenes Lo fader I am here in and vnder thy handes I enclyne me vnder thy rodde of correccyon smyte my backe and my necke that I may bowe and refourme my crokydnes vnto thy wyll Make me meke and lowly that I may lyue alway at thy wyll I commyt me to the good lorde with all myne for to be correcte For better it is to be punysshed and correcte here than after this lyfe thou knowest all thynges and nothynge is hydde in mannes soule or concyens fro the afore any thynges be made thy wysdome knoweth theym for to be it is nat nedefull that any man teche or warne the of any thyng that is done here in erthe Thou knowest what profyte or peyne is expedyent to me and moche trybula cyon auayleth to pourge the fylthe and ruste of my horryble Synne and vyces therefore do thou with me after thy pleasure and despyse nat I beseke thy grace my synfull lyfe for thou knowest it best grauÌ„t me good lorde grace to knowe that I am bounde to knowe and to loue that I ought to loue to prayse yâ— thou wolde I shulde prayse and to repute that is pÌ„ cyous iÌ„ thy syght and to refuse all that is vyle afore the gyue me grace good lorde nat to Iuge thynges after myne outwarde syghte ne after the herynge or the relacyon of vncunnynge folke but truly to dyscerne of vysyble thynges spyrituall and aboue all thynges to enquyre and folowe thy wyll pleasure mannes wyttes be often dysceyued in iugement also the louers of the worlde be often dysceyued in louynge all onely thynges vysyble what is a man the better that men repute hym more or better thaÌ„ he is iÌ„ dede a deceyuer deceyueth another one vayne maÌ„ another one blynde man another one sycke persone another whyle he so exalteth hym And yet in trouthe he more confoundeth hym than auaunceth whyles he so vaynly dothe laude or prayse hym for howe great coÌ„mendable holy euery man is in thy syght so worthy great he is and no more ¶ The .lvi. chapter A man shulde gyue hym to huÌ„ble warkes whan he is nat inclyned or dysposed to hye warkes SOne thou mayst nat alway stande in feruent desyre of vertue nor in the hyghe degre of coÌ„temptacion but it is nedefull to the sometyme for the fyrst corrupcion of mankynde to descende to lower thynges and to bere the burden of this corruptyble lyfe with tedyousnes agaynst thy wyll for as loÌ„ge as thou berest thy mortall body thou shalt fele werynes heuynes of thy herte thou must therfore whyles thou lyuest in this mortall lyfe ofte mourne and sorowe of the burden and contradyccyon of thy bodye to thy soule for that thou mayst nat contynually and without cessynge gyue hede and cleue to spuÌ„all studyes and to godly coÌ„teÌ„placyon then it is expedyent to the to fle to lowe and outwarde
thy holy tabernacle and dwellynge place and the sâ—te of thy eternall glorye No thynge be fouÌ„de in me at any tyme that shulde offende thy hye maieste after the greatnes of thy goodnes and thy manyfolde mercyes beholde me and here gracyosly the prayer of me thy poore seruauÌ„t beynge farre exyled iÌ„ the regyon of the shadowe of deth defende and conserue the soule of me thy seruaunt good lorde whyle I laboure amonge the manyfolde perels of this corruptyble lyfe and dyrecte it by thy grace coÌ„tynuallye in this lyfe vnto yâ— fynall couÌ„trey of euerlastyng peace and claryte Amen ¶ Here endeth the thyrde booke of IhonÌ„ Gerson Emprynted in London by Rycharde Pynson in Flete strete at the Sygne of the george at the commaundement and instaunce of the right noble excelleÌ„t princes Margarete moder to our soueraygne lorde Kyng Henry the. vii couÌ„tesse of RychmouÌ„t Derby the yere of our lorde god M. CCCCC and xvii The .vii. day of October ¶ Here beginethe the forthe boke of the folowynge Iesu cryst of the conteÌ„pniÌ„ge of the world In prynted at the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of the most excelleÌ„t prices Margarete moder vnto our souereine lorde kinge HeÌ„ry the .vii. Countes of RychemouÌ„t Derby And by the same Prynces it was traÌ„slated out of freÌ„che into Englysshe in fourme maner ensuynge The yere of our lorde god M. D. iiii ¶ Prologus COme to me saythe our mercyfull lorde all that laboreth and be charged and I shall gyue vnto you refeccyon And the bredde that I shall gyue vnto you shal be my flesshe for the lyfe of yâ— worlde Take ete it for it is my body that for you shal be gyuen â— sacryfice Do ye this in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of me For who soeteth my flesse drynketh my blode he shall dwell in me â— in hym ¶ These wordes that I haue sayde vnto you belyfeâ— and spiryte of helthe ¶ In what great reuerence and feruent desyre we ought to receyue our lorde Iesu crist Capitulo primo O My lorde Iesu crist eternall trouthe these wordes beforesayde be thy wordes Albeit they haue nat ben sayde in one selfe tyme nor wrytten i one selfe place yet for that they be thy wordes I ought feythefully agreably to vnderstande theym They be thy wordes and thou hast ê“ferred them And they be now myn for thou hast sayde theym for my helthe I wyll gladly receythem of thy mouthe to th ende they may be the better so wen planted in my herte Thy wordes of so great pyte full of loue swetnes dileccion greatly excyteth me but lorde my ê“per synes fereth draweth backe my conscience nat pure to receyue so great a mystery The swetnes of thy wordes inciteth ê“uokethe me but the multytude of my synnes charge the sore greueth me Thou coÌ„mauÌ„dest that I shal come vn to the feythfully if I wyll haue parte with the to the ende I may receyue the norysshynge of imortalyte if I desyre to opteyne the Ioy and lyfe eternall Thou sayst lorde come ye to me that labour be charged I shall refresshe you O how swete amyable a worde is that in the Gre of a synner that thou my lorde my god lysleth of thy benygne grace to byd me that am so pore haue so moche nede of the holy coÌ„muny on of thy precyous body O good lorde what am I to presume to desyre yâ— that the heuen erthe may nat coÌ„prehende thou saist com ye all to me who asketh wylleth this right meke worthynesse and amyable byddynge Howe shall I dare come vnto the whiche feele nat that I haue done any good How shall I enterteine yâ— into my how 's whiche so often haue offended before thy glorious ryght benygne face The auÌ„gels arkasâ—gels honour the the holy iuste creatures drede the. thou sayst good lorde yet come ye allvnto me Lorde who shulde byleue thys thynge to be true if thy selfe sayd it nat And who is he that durste approche there vnto If thou dydest not coÌ„maunde it Noe that iust man labored by an hundreth yere to make the arke to the ende be myght be saued with a fewe of his people Howe may I preprayre me than in an howre to receyne the withe due reuerence coÌ„posour and creatour of all thys worlde Moyses thy greate famylier and speciall frende made tharke of tymber nat corruptyble whiche he couered with right pure gold put in the tables of the lawe I a corrupt creature howe shall I nowe dare receyue the that arte conditour of the Lawe and gyuer of grace and lyfe vnto all creatures The right wyse Salamankynge of Israeledifyed a ryche Temple to the praysig of thy name by the space of .vii. yere and by .viii. dayes halowed the feest of the dedicacoÌ„n of the same he offred a thousande hostys to pacifye thy goodnes with and put the arke of alyaunce in the place made redy for the same with the souÌ„ de of claryons and trumpettys Howe dare I than cursed and right pore amonge other creatures receyue the into my howse whiche vnnethe can knowe that I haue well passed and enployed one howre of tyme nouther to my knowelege that I haue deuoutely passed one halfe howre Do my god howe many haue there ben before me that haue studyede to do any thynge that myght please the. Alas howe lytell thing ys that I do albe it the tyme ys shorte Aud yet whan I despose me to receyue thy holy coÌ„munyon I am but losely gadred to gether and full coldly purged from all distraccioÌ„s of mynde And certeinly no cogitacions vnprofitable ought to come into the holy presence of thy deyte Also I ought nat to occupye me with any creature for I shall nat receyue an auÌ„gel but the lorde of aungels in to the secrete of my herte ¶ For there is a greate dyfference betwene the Arke of alyaunce with his relyques and the ryght pure and precious body with hys vertues nat faylynge but euermore duryng ¶ And betwene yâ— sacryfyce of the prefyguratyue lawe that was to come and the true hostye of thy precyous body that ys thaccomplesshement of all the olde sacryfyce ¶ Wherfore than shulde nat I be more inflamed in thy venerable presence and by more solycytude prepayre me to receyue the sacred and holy gyftes and benyfyttes of the. In so moche the holy auncyent patryarkes and prophettes kinges and prynces with all the people hath shewedeso greate affeccion towardes thyne honoure and dyuyne seruyce ityme passed ¶ The ryght deuout kynge Dauid inclyned to the arke of god with all his strengthe knowlegeynge remeÌ„berynge yâ— benefytes don vnto his faders he made orgayns of dyuers maners he composed psalmes instytute that they shulde be songen and he hym selfe sange theym with gladnes of ten tymes with the harpe of the holy goost Thys kynge inspired with the grace of hod hath taught the people of Israel to prayse god with all theyr hertes blessynge
to be my swetnesse consolacoÌ„n my mete drynke my loue and all my ioye so that my wyll be chaunged enflamed and brenne allvnto the So that I may be made a spirite inwardly vnight vnto yâ— by grace brennynge loue and suffre me nat blessed sauyour to deê‘te from the fastynge drye with hunger thurst but do with me mercyfully as often as thou hast done meruelously in thy holy seruauntes what meruele is it vnto me that am nat all enflamed in the seynge that thou arte the breÌ„nynge fyre alwey illumynynge and lyghtnynge the vnderstandynge of thy creatures ¶ Of the breÌ„nynge loue great affeccion that we shulde haue to receyue our sauyour crist iesu CapÌ„ .xvii. O Lorde god iÌ„ soueraine deuocoÌ„n brennynge loue and all feruent offeccion of herte I desyre as many other holy deuoute ê‘sones haue desyred to receyue which hath ben greatly pleasauÌ„t vnto the holynes of their lyfe by great deuocyon O my god and eternall loue my eternall felicyte I by ryght greate desire wysshe to receiue the as worthely and as reuerently as euer dyd any of thy holy seruauÌ„tes All be it that I am nat worthy to haue so greate felynges of deuocion yet offre I vnto the thaffeccions of my hert asverely as though I had all the brennynge flamynge desyres that they had Also I gyue and offre vnto the insoueraine reuerence veneracoÌ„n all that a good debonayer herte maye conteyne And wyll nat nor couete to reserue any thynge to myselfe but offre and make sacryfice vnto the with fre and ê‘fyght wyll myselfe with all my good is Lorde god my cre +ature redemer thys day I desire to receyue the with suche affeccion reuereÌ„ce praisynge honour worthynes and loue suche feith hope puryte as thy right holy moder glorious virgyn Marye conceyued the whanne she answerede mekely deuoutly vnto thauÌ„gell yâ— shewede vnto hir the holy mystery of the incarnacion of the the sonne of god ¶ Se here the hande mayde of god so be it done as thou hast said And the right excellent precursor saynt IohnÌ„ Baptyste that wyth great Ioy sprange in thy presence by inspiracion of yâ— holy goost thanne beynge wythin the wombe of his moder And afterwarde beholdynge the Iesu walkynge mekely amonge men he greatly mekinge hymselfe to the same wyth a deuout mynde sayde The freÌ„de of the spouse standeth and harkeneth wyth coÌ„forte Ioyes for to here the voyce of the spouce And so I wische to be enflamed with great holy desyre with all my herte present me vnto the for that I gyue offre vnto the for me for all theim that be recoÌ„mended vnto my prayers all the IubylacoÌ„ns of deuout hertis wyth brennynge affeccions that excessyue thoughtis the hye and spuÌ„all illumynacoÌ„ns the heuenly vicoÌ„ns wyth all the vertues praisynges as well celebrate as to be celebrate of all yâ— creatures of heuen erthe to th ende that thou lorde be worthely praysed ê‘petually gloryfyed of all creatures besecheynge the lorde to receyue my praiers desyres of thy infinite benediccions praysynges without ende which right wisly be due vnto the after the greate habuÌ„daunce multytude of thy inestymable magnyficence And so my desyre is to yelde vnto the at all houres all momentis of tyme so I desyre beseche all the heuenly spirites with all feithfull cristen creatures for to yelde vnto the praisynges with effectuous prayers all the vniuersall people prayse the. All generacyons kyndes magnyfie the holy and swete name in great Ioye brennynge deuocion that they that celebratys that ryght hye and holy sacrament receyueth it in playne feythe and great reuerence deuocyon may merite towardis the and fynde grace mercy And for me wretchede synner I mekely beseche the whan I shall haue a tast of that swete vnyon deuocoÌ„n so moch wysshed desired that I may be fulfylled fed so meruelously at that heuenly holy table that at my deê‘tinge from thens thou good lorde wyll haue me pore siner in thy pyteous remembraunce ¶ That a man shulde nat be to curious a iÌ„quisitor of yâ— holy sacrameÌ„t but a meke folower of crist iesu in submittynge his reason felynge to the holy feyth Ca .xviii. IT behoues the to kepe the from to curyous iÌ„quysicyon of the ryght profounde sacrameÌ„t if thou wilte nat be coÌ„fouÌ„ded in thy proprevyce and drowned in the deppeth of opinyons For he that wyll inquire of the hye maiestye of god he shall anone be oppressed thrust downe from the glory of the same God may open more than man maye vnderstande The deuoute meke inquisicyon of truthe ys alwey redy to be doctryned and taught And yf thou studye to god by the holy true and entyer seÌ„tences of holy faders it ys nat reprouable but well to be praysed And that symplenesse ys well to be praysed that leuethe the wayes of dyfficultyes question 's and goeth by the playne and ferme pathe of the coÌ„maundementes of god Many haue lost theyr deuocyon in sechynge so besily the hye inspekeable thynges ¶ It ys ynoughe to demaunde of the fast feythe pure and clene lyfe and nat the hye and subtyll profounde mysteryes of god for yf thou may nat comprehende and vnderstande that that is within the howe mayste thou thanne vnderstande thynges that be aboue the. Submytte the thanne mekely vnto god all thy vnderstandynge to the feythe of holy churche and the lyght of true science shall be gyuen vnto the as shal be to the moost necessarie and profytable Some be greatly tempted wyth the feythe of that holy sacrament but that is not to be reputede vnto theym but rather vnto that cursed ennemye the fende And for that lette not thy good wyll nor dyspute nat in thy thowghtes nor answere nat to the doubtes that the ennemye of helle bryngeth before the but fermely trust in the wordes of god and beleue in sayntes and holy prophettes and than shall that cursed ennemye soone â—â—e frome the. It is often ê“fytable that the seruauntes of god suffre susteyne suche assaultes For the ennemy tenpteth nat the mys creauntes vnfeythfull people nor also the greate synners that he surely holdeth possedeth but he tempteth trayuaileth and tormenteth in dyuers maners the good feythefull and crysten creatures And therfore kepe the alweyes wyth meke true feythe doubte the nought but come vnto thys holy sacrament with lowly reuerence And that thou mayst nat vnderstande coÌ„mytte it vnto almighty god for he shal nat disceyue the But he shall be dysceyued that to moche trusteth in hym selfe God walked wythe the symple people and shewed hym selfe openly vnto the meke He gaue vnderstandynge vnto theym that were pore in spyrite And he hyd his grace and secretes from theym that were proude high curious For the humayne reason may lyghtly erre be disceyued but the true feyth may neuer dysceyue nor fayle All reason and naturail inquysicion ought to folowe feythe wtout farther reasonynge ¶ Fast feyth and true loue surmoÌ„teth all curious inquysicion pryncypally in thys mater and meruelously openeth to vnderstandynge in secrete maner of thys holy and ryght excellent sacrament ¶ O eterdall god and withoute mesure of myght and bounte which hast made the infinite greate and wounderfull thinges in the heuen and erthe whiche none ys sufficyent to enquyre vnderstand or fynde the secretes of thy so meruelous werkes and therfore they be called in estymable for mannis reason no wther may nor can comprehende thy werkes To whome god lorde almyghty be gyuen laude and praysynge wytheouten ende Amen ¶ Thus endethe the forthe boke folowinge Iesu Cryst the coÌ„tempnynge of yâ— worlde ¶ This boke Inprinted at londoÌ„ in Fletestrete at the signe of the George by Richard Pynson Prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace Richard Pynson Deo gracias
thou shalt wel perceyue that if thou haue those thiÌ„ges aforsaid thou hast nat them of thy selfe but if thou wylt applie thy selfe haue coÌ„fidence in god he shall sende the fro heuen that thou shalt haue these vertues also thy sensuall part â–ª with the worlde shal be made subiectes to the yf thou wylt arme thy selfe with yâ— quycke feith the crosse of iesu cryst thou shalt nat nede to fere the enuious subtylte of the fyende than prepare thy selfe as a feithfull seruaunt of iesu criste to bere his crosse coÌ„staÌ„tly coÌ„sideringe howe he thy lorde dyd bere it for the peinfully mercifully order thy selfe to suffre mani aduersitees iÌ„iuries wroÌ„ges iÌ„ this miserable life so thou shalt haue hym with the where so euer thou be also thou shalt fynbe hym where so euer thou hide yâ— Than if thou desire to be dere a frende to thy redemer haue ê‘te of his coÌ„solacion desire affectually to driÌ„ke with hym of his chalys of trybulacion desire no coÌ„solacion ne ê“sperite but at the wyll of god order thy self to suffre tribulacions repute them as the moste speciall consolacyons for they be yâ— redy meanes to come tho the heuenly ê‘petuall coÌ„solacions whan thou comest to that degre of pacyeÌ„ce that tribulacion is swete pleasaunt to the for yâ— loue of god than exteme thy selfe in goode state and that thou hast founde paradise in erthe And as loÌ„ge as it is greuous to the to suffre enforceth thy selse to fle tribulacion so longe thou arte nat in the ê‘fite state of pacience whersoeuer thou fleest thou shalt fynde trybulacion nere folowethe If thou order thy selfe euer to suffre paciently to haue remeÌ„braÌ„ce of thy dethe than thou shalt ê‘ceyue thy selfe iÌ„ good state also in qÌ„etnes reste If thou were so ê‘fite that thou were rauysshed spiritually with Paule into yâ— thyrde heuen thou shuldeste nat be sure therbye to be without aduersyte For owre sauy our spekyng of Paule saythe I shall shewe hym howe manye thynges he shall suffre for my name Than if thou wilt serue and loue thy lorde perpetually thou must nowe suffre saye manye tymes to thy selfe wolde to god I were able for to suffre for the name of my swâ—te lorde Iesu For therby thou shuldest gyue occasion of specyall edificacion of thy neyghbour great glory to thy selfe exaltacion of gladnes to the holy aungels All people in maner recoÌ„mende pacience but there be fewe that wyll vse it Thou that takest great labours suffereste moche for the loue of the worlde and wordly thinges by greate reason thou shuldeste be glad to suffre a lytell for the loue of the moste true louer criste And euer the more thou mortifie discretly thy selfe the more thou begiÌ„nest to lyue in the sighte of god There is no ê‘sone apt to coÌ„prehende heuenly thiÌ„ges withuot they submit their selfe to suffre aduersite for the loue of criste There is no thinge more ê“fitable for thy selfe acceptable to god thaÌ„ to be pacient glad to suffre for the loue of hym And if ê“sperite aduersite were put in thy eleccion thou shuldest rather chese aduersite than desire to be recreate with many coÌ„solacions For bi aduersite thou arte made conformable vnto cryste all his seyntes Our meryte ê‘feccion of state staÌ„deth nat in great plesaunt delectable coÌ„solacions but rather iÌ„ greuous teÌ„ptacions tribulacions and penalyte of life If there had be any more expedient meane to the helthe of man than to suffre peyne tribulacion our lorde criste wolde haue shewed it bi wordes examples But he exorted hys disciples all other that wolde folowe hym to heuen to take yâ— crosse as the moste mediate meane to folowe hym sayinge who that will folow me to heuen thei must denye theyr owne selfe forsakiÌ„ge theyr ê“pre wyll take the crosse of peuaunce folow me Afâ— all these thiÌ„ges redde perfitly serched it foloweth as a fynall coÌ„clusion that it is behouable to vs ta entre into the kyngdome of heuen by wany tribulacions ¶ Here begynneth the .iii. boke ¶ The fyrste chaptre coÌ„teyneth the inward spekeynge of our lorde Iesu criste to maÌ„nis soule that he hath specially chosen _â—Oo saith suche a feithful soule I shall atteÌ„de here what our lorde shal speke iÌ„ me blessed is yâ— soule which herith our lorde god speke iÌ„ it that conceyueth of his mouth a worde of rsolacioÌ„ Blessed be the eris that here the styll spekynge or rownynge of almyghty god and pondereth nat yâ— disceytefull callynge or priue mouynge of the worlde blessed be the ere 's that rest nat in the flaterynge or wordly voyce outwarde flowynge But rather heringe trouthe that speketh enformeth maÌ„nis soule in wardlye Blessed be the iyen that be shytt to the delectable syght of outwarde or wordly thynges that gyue hede deuoutly to gostely thynges Blessed be they that by grace by the lyght of soule perceyue the true inly entent of scripture that â—pare them dayly by exercise os soule to conceyue the celestiall priuetees Blessed be they that labour besilye iÌ„ soule to beholde loue god almyghty his plesure iÌ„ all thynges for that auoyde frome them al wordly besines or desires that let suche deuocioÌ„ O thou my soule attende gyue hede to the premysses and shyt thy senses or sensuall partes that thou mayste here gostely what thy lorde speketh in the in warde inspiracion The lorde louer saith to the I am thi helthe peas lyfe euerlastynge Ioyne and knytte the suerly to me thou shalt fynde rest and peas of conscience and after this euerlassynge peas lyfe Forsake the loue of foule transetory erthly thinges and dilygently seche euerlastiÌ„ge thiÌ„ges what be all temporall thynges but disceiuable and what may any creature helpe the if thy lorde god that made the forsake the wharfore refusest thou al wordli thynges ioyne and cleue by clene and stidfast loue and seruice to almighty god thy redemer that thou maist hereafter attayne the eternall felicite i heueÌ„ ¶ The seconde chaptre howe treuthe spekerhe inwardly to mannes soule without noyse A Deuoute soule after that it hathe herde the swete instyllaunt spekynge of his lorde god as a man inflamed with loue desireth more longer speche with our lorde sayinge withe the Prophete Samuel thus Speke good lorde for thy seruauÌ„t is redy to here the I am thy seruaunt gyue me vuderstandynge to knowe thy coÌ„maundmeÌ„tes sayinges Bowe make my hert soule to fele folow thy wordes instyll in to my soule thy holy techige wordes as the dewe droppethe vpon the grasse I say nat as the chyldren of Israell sayd to Moyses Speke thou to vs we shall here the gladly let nat our lorde speke to vs lyste we dye for drede So be it nat with me good lorde But rather I besech the humbly desirously
wyltvnderstaÌ„de thou ought neuer to be heuy for the aduersytes that I seÌ„de the but rather to thaÌ„ke me to repute it a synguler ioy that I spare the nat in suche peynfull afflyccioÌ„s that I sende the for I sayde to my dyscyples I loue you as my father dyd me though I seÌ„de you iÌ„to the worlde nat to haue ioyes of the world but great batayles nat to haue worldly honours but despytê nat to be Idle but to labour nat to haue rest but to gader moch frute of saued people into the barne or church of god lyke as I was sent to also haue miÌ„de sone also of these wordê ¶ The .xxxvii. chapt how all creaturis shuld beset a syde that we may fynd god LOrde god sayth a deuout soule to our lorde I haue nede to haue more grace thaÌ„ I haue yet if I shuld come thyder where no man ne creature shall let me for as loÌ„ge as any creature reteyneth me by lokynge of thy loue I may nat fle to the frely He desyred to fle frely that sayde these wordes who shall gyue me wynges as a doue that I may fle rest where perfyte rest is what thynge is more quyete restfull thaÌ„ is a symple iye who fleyth more frelye into the knowelege and loue of God thaÌ„ he that desyreth nothynge here in erthe he therfore that wyll staÌ„de in eleuacyon of mynde so beholde the good lorde maker of all thynge he must ouer passe euery creature forsake hym selfe with other ê¯syderyng his lorde to haue nothynge lyke hym but that he pÌ„cell all creatures in thy loue and but if a man be fre lowsed from mordynate loue of all creaturê he may nat frely lyft hymvp by coÌ„teÌ„placioÌ„ loue of heueÌ„ly thynges therfore fewe folke be fouÌ„de coÌ„templatyue for fewe be fouÌ„de that fully sequestrate theym selfe fro erthly thynges that be but traÌ„sytory to ê¯teÌ„placioÌ„ is great grace requyred for by grace a man must iÌ„ the dede of coÌ„teÌ„placyon be lyft aboue hym selfe but if he be lyft vp in spyryte aboue all creatures erthelye be holly vnyte to god almyghtye what so euer he can or hath of vertue is but of lytle pryce afore god he shall longe be lytle in vertue lye loÌ„ge in erthe that reputyth or prayseth any thynge but onely eternall goodes which he had of god almyghtye and what so euer thynge is nat god almyghty or to hym referred is nought to be acouÌ„ted for nought great differens is betwene the wysdom of a deuout and illumyned ê‘sone of god the cuÌ„nynge of a lettred clerke or a student for that doctryne is more worthye better that cometh by the influence of god than it that cometh by the labour of mannys wyt many desyre to come to ê¯teÌ„placioÌ„ but fewe study for suche thiÌ„ges as be reqÌ„red therto iÌ„ erercyse a great iÌ„pedyment therto is that we stande iÌ„ sygnes in seÌ„syble thyngê labour nat to mortyfye vs fro them ne to despyse theym parfytely before as we shulde do howe is it and with what spyryt be we led I wot nat that be reputed spuÌ„all ê‘sons yet we laboure more about vyle transytory thynges thaÌ„ about spuÌ„all about the which scarsly at any tyme we laboure or thynke inwardly with suspeÌ„synge of our outwarde sensys so that we wey nat our warkes straytlye or euenlye as we ought to do for wherupon our affeccyon resteth we do nat attende ne we lament nat oure vyle and vnclene dedes therupon foloweth that whan our inwarde affeccyon is corrupte that the dede folowynge ê“cedynge therof is necessaryly corrupte for of a clene herte cometh good dedys and vertuous lyuynge euery man seketh the dede of what howe moche he may do or doth but howe vertuous a man is it that is nat so dyly gentlye soughte for a ryche man or a stronge man for a good labourer a good wryter a good synger a fayre man or womaÌ„ or for an able persone euery man dyly gentlye seketh but howe meke in soule is suche a persone how pacyent how deuout or well idsposed inwardly is he no questyon is made nature sheweth the outwarde goodnes of man but grace torneth itselfe to the inwarde vertues of man nature with gyftes naturall is ofte dysceyued but the soule trusteth in God that he be nat disceyued ¶ The .xxxvii. chapiter how man shuld forsake hym selfe and all couetyse SOne sayth our lorde thou may nat haue ê‘fyte lyberte but if thou vtterly forsake thy selfe all ê“prietaries louers of them selfe be fetered and nat fre as couetous folke curious vaynglorious that seke alway ryches honours delectable thiÌ„gê nat suche as ê‘teyne to iesu cryste suche folke ofte feyne coÌ„pouÌ„de suche thynges as be nat stable but faylynge for all thyng shall perysshe that is nat begon caused of god holde well this shorte worde forsake all thynges for god thou shalt fynde all thyngê forsake couetyse thou shall fynde rest degest this thyng in thy mynde busyly thou shalt vnderstaÌ„de all thynges lorde this is nat one dayes werke nor a lyght thynge to attayne for all ê‘feccyon of relygyoÌ„ is coÌ„prysed therin sone thou shuld nat soone be aduerted ne cast downe by dispayre whaÌ„ thou herest yâ— wayes of ê‘fyte folke but rather to be prouoked to hyer thynges at the leest to inforce the by deuoute desyre to theym I wolde thou come there to that thou loued nat carnally thy selfe but that thou wolde folowe my couÌ„ceyll in all thynges than thou shuld be as I sayde all thy lyfe shuld be led with ioy peas thou hast yet many thynges to be forsake lefte the which but if thou holy leue and resygne to me thou shalte nat attayne that thou desyrest I couÌ„ceyll the to bye of my bryght golde the is to say heuenly wysdome the which despyseth all erthely thiÌ„ges that thou may be very ryche lay thou a syde all erthelye wysdom and all inordynate pleasure of thy selfe or any other thou shalt haue heueÌ„ly wysdome therfore the which wysdome though it be reputed lytell worth iÌ„ erthe of erthly folke yet it is a pÌ„cyous margarete hydde fro many greatly desyred of many ¶ The .xxxviii. chapyter of the vnstablenes of the herte of man how man shuld fynally lyfte vp and order his hert and mynde to god SOne sayth our Lorde truste nat to moche to thyn owne wyt affeccion the which is now here now there soone chauÌ„gid from one thing to an other for as longe as thou lyuest thou shalt be chauÌ„geable subiecte of mutabylyte ayeÌ„st thy wyll now shalt thou be glad now heuy now well pleasyd coÌ„tent soone discoÌ„teÌ„t now deuout soone vndeuout now busy in mynde werke now sleuthfull nowe thou arte lyght mery soone after sad troubled but a wyse man well taught in soule standeth stable in all such mutacyons nat attedynge what he felyth in hym selfe
thy coÌ„maundement withe meke hope an reuerence And truely I belyue that thou arte here presente in thys holy sacramente very god and man And thou wylte I shall receyue the and Ioyne me vnto the by charyte wherfore I humbly pray and requyre that it may plese the to gyuevnto me thy specy all grace so that I may be all relented and flowe in thy loue in suche wyse that I shall not desyre any other consolacyon For thys hygh worthye sacrament ys the helthe of soule and body It ys the medycyne of all spyrytuall sekenes in the whyche my synnes be heyleed passyons be refrayned temptacioÌ„s be ouercome and mynysshed more greate graces be gyuyn the vertue begonne increased faythe ys enestabysshed hope ys made stronge and fortyfyed charyte ys brannynge spred abrode ¶ O my god the defender of my soule and the repayrer of the weykenesse of man and the sender of all Inwarde comforte Thou hast gyuen and dayly gyueth vnto thy well beloued frendes in thys holy sacrament deuoutly receyuynge it many commodites For thou infusest into theyr soules grete comfort agaynst dyuers trybulacions and frome the depnesse of theyr owne ouerthrowynge thou areysyst them to the hope of thy dyuyne helpe And with a newe grace thou inwardely renewest and lyghtnest theym in suche wyse as they that fele theym before the receyuynge of the Sacrament heuy and dull and ouerthrowen and without affeccyon and moyster of deuocyon ¶ After that they haue ben fedde wythe thys heuenly mete and brynke they haue founde them selfe chauÌ„ged into a merueylous Ioye whiche thynges thou doest vnto thy chosen people by dispensacion of thy pure bounte so that they mayeveryly knowe by open experyence that nothynge they haue nor may haue of them selfe and what grace or goodnes they haue it cometh of the. For of theym selfe they be colde harde vndeuoute but of the they be made feruent Ioyous deuoute For who ys he that cometh mykely vnto the fountâ—yne of swetnes and shall not brynge some litell quantite of swetnes therfrom I shall alwey put my mouthe vnto the hole of the heuenly pype of that founteyne that I maye at the lest take a lytell droppe to satysfie my thyrste so that I be nat all drye And though I may nat be heuenly enflamed as yâ— cherubiÌ„s ceraphyns yet wyll I enforce me to deuocioÌ„ and prepare my herte mykely to receyue thys holy louynge sacrament shall desyre to be enbraced with a lytell flame of that goodly loue O good Iesu holy right pyteous sauior what so euer vertue or goodnes yâ— fayleth in me I benigly beseche the graciously of thy pyte to supplye it by thy greate mercy Thou that hast called all feithfull creatures iÌ„sayiÌ„ge vnto theym â–ª come ye all vnto me that labour be charged I shall refresshe you But alas good lorde I pore synnerlabour in theswette of my vysage am tormented with sorow of my hert I am charged with siÌ„nes and trauailed with teÌ„p tacyons entryked and oppressed with many yuell passions And lorde there is none that may delyuer me or make me safe but thou my only god and sauyour to whome I commytt me and all my causes to th ende thou kepe me and lede me to the lyfe eternall Receyue me vnto the praisynges of thy name that hast made redy vnto me thy precyous body blode to mete and drynke My lorde god and sauyour grauÌ„te vnto me by thy greate bounte that in customable receyuynge of thy holy mysterye the affetcyon and desyre of my deuocyon may be encreased ¶ Of the dygnite of the sacrament of the aulter of thordre of presthod CapÌ„ .v. IF thou haddest the puryte of aungels and the holines ofsaynt IohnÌ„ Baptyst thou shuldest nat be worthye to receyue or trete of that holy sacrament for that is nat due to the merites of men that a man shulde consecrate treate of the sacrament of thys blessed body of Iesu crist aud take in mete the brede of aungels O great mysterye and the meruelous dignyte of prestys vnto whome is gyuen that that is nat graunted vnto the aungels For the prestis only duely ordred in the churche of crist haue power to do and to consecrate the holy dody of Iesu criste Certeynly the preest is the mynyster of god vsynge the worde of god by the coÌ„maundement and ordynaunce of god But god is the pryncipall iÌ„uysible werker to whome be submytted all creatures to be ordred after his wyll and all to obey vnto hys coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t Than thou oughtest more to beleue in almyghty god i yâ— right excellent sacrameÌ„t than to thy ê“pre will or any othervisible tokeÌ„ And therfore to thys holy werke thou oughtest to come with great drede and reuerence Take hede than and se from whome thys mysterye is gyuenvnto the and that is by the puttynge to of the handes of the Bysshoppe thou arte admyttede vnto that hye cometh Beholde nowe thou arte made a preste and sacreyd to do this holy mistery Se than that feithfully and deuoutly and in due tyme thou offre thy sacryfice vnto god and shewe thy selfe irreprouable wyth oute defaute Thou hast nat loused thy charge of lyuynge but hast bounde the wyth a more strayte bonde of discyplyne and arte holden to a more great parfeccyon of holynes The preeste ought to be adnowrded wyth all vertues and gyue all theyr example of good and holy lyfe Hys conuersacyon ought nat to be wyth comon people or the weyes of comon men but with the aungelles in heuen or wyth the perfight men in the erthe ¶ The preeste clothede wythe holy vestymentes occupyeth the cometh of Iesu criste to th ende that he may humbly praye vnto god for hym selfe for all other For he hath bothe before hym and behynde hym the sygne of the crosse that he may contynually remembre the passion of our lorde iesu crist Before hym he bereth the crosse to the ende that he dilygently beholde the traces and the examples of our lorde Iesu criste and that he feruently studye to folow theym Behynde hym also is signed with the crosse to the entent he shuldesuffre for the honoure of god all aduersytyes Iniuries done vnto hym of other Before hym he bereth the crosse for that he shulde be wayle ê“pre hys sines And behiÌ„de hym lyke wyse by great compassyon to sorowe the sinnes of other and to knowe hymselfe that he is a man betwene god and the synner And that he depart nat from oryson and froÌ„ yâ— holy oblacion to the tyme the he deserue to purchase the grace of god whan the preste sayth masse he honoureth god he gyueth ioy vnto the aungels he edyfieth the churche he hel peth the louiÌ„ge people he gyueth rest to them chat be passed and maketh hym selfe partyner of all good werkes ¶ A inwarde remembraunce and excercyse that a man ought to haue afore the receyuiÌ„ge of the body of our lorde Iesu crist CapÌ„ .vi. LOrde whan I thynke