it must nedes folow necessary it is that we laude god of our good dedes and not ourselues Nor no man can be corrected but it must come of God for man hath nothynge that is good of hym selfe nor the occasion or wayes to do well coÌ„meth not of man as sayeth the Prophete Hierime good lorde sayth he I knowe wel that the wayes of man is not sufficyent to ordre his affares that is to saye it is not in mannes power to wauke in the wayes of Iustice yf God lede hym not the which fayleth nomaÌ„ y â— wylduly are hym y e way But there are many y â— deserue to be depryued of y t way And wheÌ„ man hath receyued any gifte of god he shulde requyre nothyng elles but well to vse the same lest be the vsurpyng of another mans offyce he lese the gift that was gyueÌ„ hi before For why he troubleth all y â— hole ordre of y â— body y â— is not content w t his owne office but vsurpeth another maÌ„nes In y â— diuisioÌ„ of goddes gyftes y â— one taketh one y â— other another for they are neuer gyueÌ„ all to one maÌ„ but to dyuers so that by humilite some one may haue that another may maruel at For when it is wryten in Ezechiel that the beastes wynges smyte one vpoÌ„ another be that is sygnified that the holy saites throughe there manifold diuers vertues prouoke and moue eche others affectioÌ„s and that the one through good examples techeth the other O honest virgyn I wolde ye shuld know that with out the grace of god preuenting accompanynge and helpyng of vs we can do nothiÌ„g that good is the grace of god dothe preueÌ„t vs to thentente we shulde wyll that is good and verteous it accompaneth vs bicause we shuld begyn to do that good is it helpeth and worketh with vs to thentent we maye make perfyte and brynge to passe that that is good and verteous Then it is gyuen vnto vs by GOD to wyll well to begynne well and to do well it foâ—t foloweth then that vertue is gyuen vs by god and that vyce and syn coÌ„meth of our selues of god coÌ„meth charite purite and honestye but as for pryde couetusnesse and cupidite is of oure selues for whe can do nothyng y e good is without the ayde help of god and throughe the grace of god whe may do great good without Goddes grace whe be very tradius slouthfull colde to all goodnesse but his grace cadyng vs we be ryght dilygeÌ„t to al vertues operacioÌ„ without God that is without his helpe we be euer more redy to synne and to al noutynesse but by his grace whe be delyuered therof without the helpe of god whe be inclined to loue these wordely thynges more then it becoÌ„meth vs a great dele but by his grace and gracious assistauÌ„ce we despyce these vayne transitoryous and worldly thynges and delyre celestiall we war eâ—ected out of the celestiall paradyse for Adams mistaute but throughe his grace we truste to come thyther agayne throughe Adams wretchednes and syn we descended to hel But by goddes grace we trust to assende to euerlastiÌ„g ioye And not withstandynge we be ryche wyse and stronge yet it is all of his grace And I wolde ye shuld knowe my dere syster that all the good that we haue in this worlde we haue it of hym and that all our aduersytes and sorowfulnesse do come of our mislyuyng god through his great mercye deuydeth his gyftes amonge vs but all euyl coÌ„meth for oure synnes Of the grace of god coÌ„meth all prosperyte and of our syn and wyckednesse all aduersite by GOddes grace we optaine that is necessarye and through vyce the contrary Therfore it is very expedyâ—t and necessary euermore w t thankes accordynge to remember the great benefites of God of the whiche oure holy mother the church speakyng to Chryste Iesu her spouse saythe They that remember thy grace thy mercy and thy benefytes loue the y e is to say they loue y â— y â— are well mynded they are well mynnyd and of good harte y â— ascriue no ryghtfulnesse nor no holynesse to there ê“pre merites but al to the grace of GOD. And they loue y e which are saued and remeÌ„bre thy grace O honest virgyn loke ye remeÌ„ber euermore y e grace of god for al the goodnes that ye haue is by his grace Heare what Paule sayth by the grace of god sayth paule I am that I am Also by the grace of GOd ye are that ye are for that ye haue dispised the worlde and vtterly left your fathers house and are apoynted to serue god and to lyue with the handmaydens of god al these vertues goodnes do onely procede of the grace of GOD and that ye are a pure and a clene virgin and so dothe intende to contynewe it is not of your selfe but of the great grace of god The sisters demaunde GOod brother Irequyre you to tell me what this text of scrypture meaneth There is no man that is good holy or iuste but onely god The brothers answere GOod syster it is euyn so as it is wryteÌ„ For god is alonly good holy iust for he is good onely of hym selfe and by him selfe But men are not good of them selfe but by God and holy and iuste throughe his grace the whiche thynge is well declared in the caÌ„ticles I am the floures of y e feld and the lilies of the valleeâ— for I spred y â— swete sauer of my vertue throughout al the worlde I am the holynesse the goodnes the Iustice of them that humly do truste in me for there is noman that can be holly or good without me as I haue sayde in the holy Gospell without me ye can do nothynge I am the floures of the fleldes and the lillees of the vallees For as the feldes are ornated and goodly beset w t floures so all the worlde shyneth and is ornated with y â— faith and knowledge of Chryst Iesu I am the floures of the feldes lilees of the valles for I gyue abundantly of my grace to such as trust more in me then in there owne goodnesse Therfore I exhorte you that ye attribute nor ascriue nothyn ge to your owne merites nor that ye presume no thyng of youre selfe nor that ye put nor trust nothynge to youre owne vertue nor yet to your audacite or boldnesse but I wyll ye ascriue all to the gyft of god and to his diuine grace And in all your workes thanke god in all your dedes thanke god and in all your conuersacyon thank god let youre hope be euermore in GOD that made you of â—ought Of feare iiij cha MY we beloued siter harken what I saye harken vnto my admonition and to my wordes feare God aboue all thynges and kepe alwayes his commaundementes for the eyes of GOD are alwayes vpoÌ„ those that fere hym and vpon those that fere hym and
and aboundaunce in syckenes and helth in youth and in age we shulde seke hym and axe for hym with all oure mynde and all oure intentyon to be confyrmed in all deuouce and holye conuersacion and yf we couet to se hym in the kyngdome of heuen we muste clense oure selfe frome all fylthynesse for why at the daye of the generall resurrectyon there shall no man come to eternall blysse nor se the glorye of his deuyne maiestye but they onelye that are clene and pure bothe of mynde and hart The kingdome of heuen shall not be gyuen to ydle personnes nor yet to no vagabouÌ„des but to those onely that seke and demaunde it and that enforce theym selfe to gette it for the Lorde sayth Axe and ye shall haue seke ye shal fynde knocke and the dore shall be opened vnto you Therfore we must go to the gates of heueÌ„ be good prayer and seke theÌ„ by good lyfe knocke at the gate by perseueraunce the contynuall seruyce of God Nor it is not suffycyente to begynne well but we muste study to beginne wel and enforce our selfe so to coÌ„tynew al the dayes of oure lyfe For it were moche better not to knowe iustice then after a man knowethe it not to folowe it And hereof sayeth the Lorde Suche as put to and prepayre theyr handes to do wel and after they haue begun loke backewardes ar not mete for the kiÌ„gdome of heuen Therfore good sister it is greatly necessary that we with great desyre and affectyon do knocke contynually at goddes eares and that we neuer leaue of to do well vntyll heuen gates be opened vnto vs me thynkethe that to contynewe styll in goddes seruyce is an excellent vertue For they y â— leaue his seruyce to be worldly are made moch blacker then coles why so For throughe a certayne feblenesse and vnlustynes of mynde they are dede and cleane withoute the heate and fyre of charyte And of suche sayeth saynt Isodore They that returne from a good lyfe to an euyl ar through â—upedytye be smuttered with the blackenes of vyce and synÌ„e and are remoued farre from the lyghte of charite They that go froÌ„ goddes seruice to the world are seperated from the coÌ„panye of aungelles and assocyated to wycked deuilles They that leaue the holy congregacion to come to a worldly lyfe are put oute of goddes companye and do submytte them selues to the deuylles good grace Good syster take good heed what ye haue done euer more remembre from whence ye came whether ye be come and wherfore ye haue lefte and dyspysed for goddes sake all worldly thiges for his loue ye haue chosen to contynewe dwel in holy coÌ„gregatyoÌ„ ye haue bought heueÌ„ paid your owne body for it laboure therfore with all dilygence that ye lese not this goodly kyngdom the which ye haue thus conquered and gotten Loke ye lese not this kingdome y â— which ye haue bough w t your owne body harkeÌ„ what s paule sayeth There shall no man be crowned but they y t fyght lawfully he fighteth laboreth lawfully that coÌ„tinueth all his lyfe iÌ„ good workê he fighteth lawfully that without fraude or anye dissymulacyoÌ„ coÌ„tynueth in goddes seruyce he serueth god worthely y â— foloweth his good workes begun He laboureth wel in good workes y t finyshethe that he began well And the churche of his membres contynuyng in goodnesse sayeth The beames and the tymber of oure houses are of Cedern the coueryngeÌ„ of Cypers that is to saye the howses of the church are the holye congregacyon of faythfull people and goddes seruauntes that contynewe in suche thiÌ„ges as shall please hym for Ceder and cypers be suche trees as neuer putryfye they syngnyfye the blessed saintes of god the whiche with a marueylous and a contynuall affectyon do desyre hym coÌ„tynuyng in good operacyon and workes as loÌ„ge as they lyue Therfore good syster loke ye be y â— cyper tre in goddes house by the contynuaunce of a good and a deuoute lyfe And also that ye be the Ceder tree in the house of god the whiche thyng ye maye be yf ye wyl gyue y â— example of good lyfe the swete fragraunte sauers of good conuersacyon thus I do wryte because ye shulde with al youre harte and mynde dyspyse the worlde and contynewe in vertue For ye shulde not wyll to leaue vertue to requyre this worldly lyfe Also and agayne I counsayle you to tary styll in goddes seruyce and neuer to retourne to the world agayn why so For in that is lyfe coÌ„templatyfe and in the worlde nothyng but labour iÌ„ that is a holy lyfe in the worlde a synfull lyfe in that a spirituall and a gostlye lyfe in the worlde a carnal and a flesshly lyfe in that a heuenly lyfe in the world a earthly lyfe in y â— is a peaseble lyfe iÌ„ y e world a troubelous lyfe in that is a a quyet lyfe in the world a maÌ„nes lyfe is full of contentyon stryfe in that is traÌ„quylyte and reste in the worlde a lytygeus and a contentyous lyfe full of all reproche in that is a chaste and a perfyte lyfe in the world a luxurious and a vycyus lyfe in that is a life ful of al vertue in the worlde ful of all vyce and vnthriftynesse in that is a very deuoute and a holye lyfe in the worlde a lyfe ful of al iniquyte Nowe good syster ye haue hard both of life deth now ye haue set before you both good euyl ye se both ê‘dycyoÌ„ soule helth ye se bothe lyfe and deathe fyre water put forth your haÌ„des take what ye thynke best most necessary ye se before you y â— way to heuen and hell the tone leadeth a man to lyfe eternall the tother to perpetual death Therfore take whiche wayes ye wyll I desyre you onely to take the best ¶ The sisters demaunde WElbeloued brother I wyl accept and receyue youre counsell and chose the best way Also it is moche for my profyte to folowe counsell and to walk in that waye that maye brynge me to eternall ioye and blysse ¶ The brother HOnest vyrgyn I am right glad and thanke god that ye wyll take and folow the best way Therfore loke ye leue not the waye ye haue begon all redy but that ye kepe your purpose of good lyfe as longe as ye shall lyue for then shall youre workes be perfyte yf they coÌ„tynewe God doth promys heuen to those that continew in goodnesse Rewarde is gyueÌ„ to those that contynewe he is not good that dothe good onely but that contynually doth good Therfore yf ye contynewe in fayth good workes ye shal be saued Of virginite the xxi chapi THe prudent and wyse virgyns toke and put oyle in ther lampes Harken vnto my wordes they 〈…〉 are cleane virgyns both of body and mynde are no fooles but very wyse and maye go to mete theyr spouse for they haue
vnto god Therfore my webeloued syster rede this boke willyngly and rede it ouer agayne and agayne for by it ye shall knowe howe ye shall loue bothe god and your neyghbour howe ye shal regard and dispyse these wordly and traÌ„sytory thynges how ye shall desyre couet that is eternall and celestyall howe ye shulde suffer paciently for goddes sake all worldly aduersytes and lytle or nothynge regarde flattery and wordly prosperyte howe that in your infirmytes and sycknes ye shal thaÌ„k god not to be proude of youre health and howe that in prosperyte ye shall not eleuate or exale your selfe nor in aduersyte vnderpresse your self Therfore my welbeloued syster in Chryst it shall pertayne to your wysdome dilygently to study and to rede this boke to ensue and folowe the same Thus god aimyghtye saue you and kepe you from all euyll Of Fayth j. cha THe lorde sayeth that all thing is possyble to hym that be leueth No man can come to etnal blysse without fayth he is ryght fortunate and happye that beleueth well beleuing well liueth wel and lyuing well kepeth well his fayth For. s Paule sayeth that it is impossyble to please GOd without fayth and. S. Isodore sayeth that no man can please God without fayth Men are not constrayned to byleue but they are drawen vnto it by goodly examples and resonable persuasyons for yf man shulde be constrayned to byleue the constraynt and fere onse gone he wolde returne and wax worse then euer he was before Fayth without good and charytable workes is but deade of none effect for he that is not ornared w t good workes let hym truste nothynge to fayth for it is but dead He that beareth the crosse ought to be as ded in this world for why to beare the crosse is nothyng elles but to mortifye himselfe And he that sayeth he beareth the crosse and doth not mortifye hym selfe in this worlde is a very hypocrite and a false dyssembler But he that doutythe not at all but fermly and stedfastly byleueth all y â— is heueÌ„ly and good loke what he demauÌ„deth he shal optayne it He y â— bileueth in Iesus y â— son of God shall optayne etnal euerlasting lyfe who so byleueth not in hym shal neuer come thyther S. Iames sayth y â— as the bodye w tout the soule is but dead so in likewyse fayth is but dead of none effecte w tout good workê My wel beloued syster fayth is an excelleÌ„t a great thing but of no substaÌ„ce w tout charite Therfore loke ye haue good fayth kepe it as pure as net as ye may take hede y â— ye be vncorrupted y t it coÌ„tinue in you And y â— ye coÌ„fesse the selfe fayth w tout any corruptioÌ„ or folish coÌ„municacioÌ„ of christe Iesu suspecte no cruelnes or euyl in hym lest y e so thiÌ„king by him ye offeÌ„de and diminish the loue ye haue or shuld haue vnto hym be iuste in your fayth and loke ye haue Ioyned to ryght fay the holy conuersacyon and that in dedes ye do not denye hym that ye do praye vnto with mouth for an euyll thynge myngled with that that good is doth infecte and mar all as through a lytle pryde all other goodnes and vertues are stayned loke therfore y â— ye the which through grace are perfaith in Fayth do not amis iÌ„ dede nor y t ye besmutter not your faith nor polute not the integrite therof by naughtie lyuynge nor that ye myngle not vyce with vertue nor ioyne yll to good Thus my good syster God preserue you in health Of esperance hope ij c. THe lord sayeth despere not but loke that ye haue the fayth of God in you hope that may be sene is no hope for what Hope is in that thynge a man seyth but yf we Hope that thynge we se not we do patienly tary for it wherupon Salomon sayeth that the abode and expectacion of iust men is ioyfulnes but the hope of euyll men shall peryshe Therfore my ryght wel beloued syster tary for the lorde and kepe his waies that is kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„dementes and he shal so exalte you that ye shall haue heuen for your herytage Dere syster I saye tarry for the lorde and declyne from al euyl and at the day of dome and iudgement he shal exalte you for they y e wyl not leue to doyl do lese but there labour to tary for his mercy of the which they might be sure of yf they wolde leue there mysse liuing WherupoÌ„ s Isidore saieth that we shuld fere lest y â— through the great hope y e god doth ê“mis vs we contynue in syn And agayne y â— we fall not in dyspere bicause of his iust punishmeÌ„t correctioÌ„ the which are to great fautes y â— is to coÌ„tynew in syn to despere of Goddê mercy And therfore it shalbe best to exchew theÌ„ both y â— is to auoyde to renounce y â— is yll to haue good hope in the great mercy of god for euery good man doth enforse hym selfe through hope fere to come to euerlastiÌ„g life hope eleuathe a man to ioye anone aft the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of euerlastynge payne bryngeth a maÌ„ to feare truly who so desperith to optain remission ê‘don of his synnes doth coÌ„demne him selfe more by desperatioÌ„ then by sin Therfore good syster let your hope be sted fast in chryst Iesu for mercy shal coÌ„pas them y â— trust in god trust stedfastly in hym therfore and do wel inhabite the earth that is y â— holy church ye shalbe nouryshed w t his goodes y â— whiche the church possesseth for y e thing y â— is done w tout y â— auctorite of y â— church is of no valure nor yet of no merite Good syst leue of all varyghtfulnesse y â— is all workes which are coÌ„trary vnto god or your neyghboure and trust in goddê mercy leue of al iniquite and specyally all pryde the whiche is called iniquite and truste in thy sauour chryst Iesu ameÌ„d your selfe and hope in the great mercye of god put away all prauite and all noughtynesse and hope to haue pardon correcte your lyfe and trust to haue lyfe eternall to the whiche I desyre hym to bryng you that hath chosen you before all worldes Of grace iij. chap SAynt Paule say the where hath ben moch sin there hath ben moche grace so that where syn hath reygned vnto death grace may also reygne through pardon to come to eternall lyfe for the salare and rewarde of syn is no nother thynge but deathâ— but the grace of god is eternall beatitude god hath distributed giuen grace to euery man accordynge to the measure of y e gyft of christ Welbeloued syster the profyte of a spirituall man as sayeth s Isidore is a gift of god then yf whe profyte throughe the grace of god
GOd this feare is also caulde chyldly feare for it feareth not god as a seruaÌ„t fereth his cruel maister but as a child feareth his swete father But what meneth Dauid be this sayenge y t feare of god remayneth for euermore When saynt Iohn layeth that perfet charite dothe repell and chace feare awaye This is that we tolde you before that he hathe chast feare in hym that fereth not GOD bycause of the paynes of hell nor for the tormeÌ„tes of the fyer but for the reuerence loue he hath vnto GOd and this reuerent louynge feare to God shall endure for euermore He that feareth god for the paynes of hell hath not this chast fere but the feare called seruyle nor he hath no perfyte charite for yf he loued god perfetly he wolde haue ê‘fyte iustice in him selfe shuld not feare god for feare of the paâ—es of hell but onely for reuerence and good loue therfore the fere of payne is not in charite for perfyte Charite putteth all feare awaye A seruaunt feareth his maister after another sorte then the chyld the father The seruant feareth his mayster with dispeare and hatred the childe fereth his father with all loue and reuerence Therfore I aduyse you to feare god with all loue and reuerence I wyl not ye shuld be euermore vnder the yoke of feare but that ye shulde lyfte vp your selfe vnto god the father that made and created you as his owne doughter Also I exhorte you to loue god chastely and that ye prefar nothynge aboue his loue but y â— for his sake loue ye esteme lytle all worldly thynges Ferthermore honest virgyn I desyre you to amende your liuyng as moche as ye maye possible in such maner that your wordes and coÌ„municacioÌ„ may be pudyke chast youre pase all honest your couÌ„tenauÌ„ce huÌ„ble meke your tongue affable your soule replenished w t the loue of God your handes ful of good workê the lorde helpyng you without whose ayde it is impossible to do well My deare syster in chryst yfye feare GOd withall youre harte ye shall haue great abouÌ„daunce of ryches not onely in this preseÌ„t lyfe but also in tyme to come Of charite v. cha THe king hath brought me into his wyne celler hath ordayned charite in me This wine celler is y â— church in the whiche is the wyne of prechyng of y â— gospel Into this celler is brought y e louer of y e spouse y â— is y â— deuoute soule of maÌ„ wheriÌ„ charite is ordained set for eueri thynge ought not to be equally belouyd but in diuers maners we shulde not loue all thynges alyke and with one affectioÌ„ but one more and another lesse for why to know what we ought to do and not to knowe howe to order it is no perfite science for yf we loue not such thynges as we shulde loue or yf we loue suche thynges as we shulde not loue our charite is not well orderde or yf we loue any thynge more or lesse then we shulde do oure Charite is not well ordered for Charite well ordered wylleth y â— we feare god aboue all thyng we shulde loue god with al our harte that is with all our vnder standyng and w t all our mynd that is with all our wyll and with all our thought that is w t all our memory we shulde also eâ—alte and lyft vp vnto god all our vnderstandynge all oure thought all oure lyfe of whome we haue althynge And beware that there be no part of our lyfe in ydelnesse but what soeuer y â— coÌ„meth to our mynde redresse it vnto hym from whome finally all feruentnes of loue dothe descende and flowe Therfore my dere syster it is a ryght worthy thynge a very necessary that we loue God aboue all thynge for he is the soueraine goodnes then to loue the souerayne goodnesse is souerayne beatitude the more a man loueth god the more he is fortunate he that loueth god is reputed to be good and yf he be good it foloweth y â— he is fortunate Of the whiche thynge it is wryten in the canticles The loue of god is as stroÌ„ge as death that is well sayde for as death doth violently seperate the soule from the bodye so the loue of god dothe violently seperate man from all carnall and worldly loue and verely the loue of GOD is as stronge as death for wheÌ„ that through the loue of god we be mortified froÌ„ vice then what soeuer death dothe in mannes body the same dothe the delection of god in the cupidites and pleasures of this worlde God shulde be beloued for his owne sake for he is the souerayn goodnes of all goodnes and he that hathe created vs of nought Charite is the delectioÌ„ by the which the lorde is loued for his owne sake and a mans nyghbour forgoddê sake Aboue all thing fyrst god ought to be beloued as I haue shewed you that is before all other thynge and secoÌ„darely your neyghbour in god that is in all goodnesse Charite hath two coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes and preceptes The fyrst pertayneth to the dilection of god the whiche is y â— principall point of all The seconde pertayneth to the dilection of your neyghbour the which is lyke vnto the fyrst as it is wryteÌ„ Thou shalt loue thy lorde god thy neyghbour as thy selfe as thoughe he wold say y â— shuld loue thy neighbour for y e thiÌ„g to y â— ende y â— dost loue thy selfe y e iâ— y e he maye be good come the blysse of heuen And of this godly neighbourly dilection chryst in the Canticles sayeth vnto his spouse charite for if charite were in him god shuld be in hym for God is charite Also we shulde loue our neighbours kynsfolke yf they be good goddes seruaÌ„tes but yet we shuld rather loue a strauÌ„ger copelyd vnto vs by charite then our kynsfolke that neyther loue nor serue GOd Why so For the coÌ„iunction copulatioÌ„ of men by charite is of a more ê‘ fectioÌ„ holynesse then onely bodely coniunction We shulde loue all faythful people but for asmoch as we caÌ„not profyte theÌ„ all we ought principally to profyte theÌ„ the which by reasoÌ„ of in habitatioÌ„ tyme other oportunites are straytly ioyned vnto vs by charite but yet w t lyke loue we shuld desyre euery mans saluattoÌ„ loue al maner of people charitable that is we shulde loue them to thentent they may loue God and be saued yet we ought not to shewe the workes of mercy egally to euerye man but to some more to some lesse My welbeloued sister yf we kepe trewe and perfyte charite by GODdes helpe and grace we may come to saluation and for the loue of god we shulde loue our enemyes as it is wryten Loue your enemyes do good to those that hate you and pray for them that persecute you that euen so ye maye be the chyldren of GOD. Then good
deme nour to coÌ„serue kepe vs froÌ„ al sin vnthriftines of y â— which thiÌ„g sait Paule wryteth sayng Be obedyent to youre superyours and subiecte vnto them for they watche to gyue acountes for your soules The superiours prelates of the churche shuld take hede rule Christes people with al solicitude and diligence of the whiche thynge it is wrytten in the Canticles Thre score of the most stroÌ„gest valyanstes of all Israell stode aboute Salomons bed holdiÌ„g swordes iÌ„ theyr handes wel a poited to fyghte and euery one had his sworde hangynge vpoÌ„ his thygh for the fere of y â— night The trewe SalomoÌ„ is christ hâ— selfe for he is very peasyble and hath made peace concorde betwyxte god maÌ„ By SalomoÌ„s bed is vnderstaÌ„ded y â— coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of faythful people w t whom god doth dwell rest The valyauÌ„t and stronge men which do compasse aboute Salomons bedde be the prelates of the church the whiche be reprouynge correctynge and exhortyng of men to vertue do compasse and defende goddes churche agaynst vyce other enimys both vysible and inuisible the whiche prelates are therfore called stronge bycause they are or shulde be perfet in the obseruauntes of goddes coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes holdyngâ— theyr swordes in theyr handes that is the worde of god for in theyr prechynge they shulde represse the vyce and synnes of theyr subiectes And they are very wel apoiÌ„ted to warre for it is nedefull y â— they be alwayes redy to withstande all spirituall battelles And they haue theyr swourdes vpoÌ„ theyr thyghes that is they shulde fyrst represse and correct theym selues of all carnall and flesshly luste and then theyr obediences and subiectes They do all this for y â— feare of the nyght that is agaynste the secrete tem tatyons of the deuyll the which in the nyght of this world doth proue and attempte the forsayd prelates verye sore to this entente that after they haue deceyued theym they maye the more easlyer bespot and defyle the for sayd Salomon that is the forsayd congregacyon of faythfull people goodes seruauÌ„tes in the whiche throughe grace the trewe Salomon Christe Iesus do the reste Welbeloued syster I haue declayred these thynges vnto you bycause ye shulde knowe that humbly we oughte to obey our prelates and superyours Obedyence is the onely vertue that bryngeth all other vertues to the soule and wheÌ„ they be there it kepeth theÌ„ there of the which obedyence the wyse man sayeth Obedyence is better then sacryfyce For by sacryfyce other straunge fleshe is deuoured and slayne but by obedyence a mannes proper fleshe and wyll is ruled He that is obedyeÌ„t speketh of vyctory for who so mekelye is obedyent to another mannes worde ouercommeth hym selfe Adam fel bycause he was inobedient Chryst mounted vp to heuen bycause he obeyed his father euen to deathe and as by Adams inobedyence there are many synners so be the obedyence of Chryste there are many iuste men And as by Adams mysfaute and synne euery man and woman is in the way of daÌ„nacyon so by y e iustyce of chryst euerye man is in the way of iustyfycacyon And as the inobedyence of oure fyrste father ingendred deathe so the obedyence of chryste ingendred lyfe Therfore my sister if for the loue of god ye be obedyente and buxum to youre superyours ye shall obtayne the kyndome of heuen saye nothynge nor be neuer rebellyous agaynste theym Loke y t iÌ„ no case ye speke agaist those y â— be ordred to rule you honoure those y e ar better theÌ„ ye in scyence and in good lyuynge honoure euery maÌ„ as his good lyfe dothe requyre and deserue do reuerence to those that are in hyghe degre do them reuerence after youre possibylyte be obedyente to your elders and humble at theyre commaundement gyue place to those that be iÌ„ authoryte and do condige seruyce to youre superyoures be obedyente to euerye man in all good workes and godlye commaundementes O Chrystes spouse obey maÌ„ so that ye offende not the wyll and pleasure of God be neuer obediente in euyll be not obedyente to hym that shall commaunde you to do that is noughtes nor neuer consent to euyl dede be obedyente to no man in euyll of what power or authorytye so euer he be notwithstandynge he commaunde you vnder payn of deathe it were better to suffre death theÌ„ at any maÌ„s coÌ„mauÌ„demente to do euyll or agayne goddes coÌ„maundementes better it were to be hanged with al abhominacyon and shame then to be dampned etenally We owe oure obedience to god onely nor to no nother maÌ„ but onely for his sake our pÌ„lates our superyours are in goddes rowme and for his sake we be obedient vnto theÌ„ Therfore good syster loke ye be to them obedient and god shall gyue you y â— crowne of euerlastynge lyfe Amen Of ê‘seuerauÌ„ce xx cha WEelbeloued Syster harken vnto saynte Hieromes wordes Men do not seke among chrysteÌ„ meÌ„ for theyr beginynges but for theyr ende and theyr contynuaunce Saynt Paule begaÌ„ but easesly yet he made a good ende Iudas Skaryot began well but he made a shrowed ende Iudas beginiÌ„g is alowed but the ende of his lyfe is reproued And sait Gregory saith y â— perseueraunce coÌ„tinuance is the vertue of al good workes he laborth iÌ„ vayn that begynneth wel and leueth of and Saynte Isydore sayeth God doth not iudge a maÌ„ after his lyuynge in tyme paste but after his ende For it is written as I fynde the so shall I iudge the. And gloryous saynt Magdalane because she contynued styll sekyng of Chryst she after his resuscytatyon deserued to se hym fyrste of all other it is also written in the Canticles In my lytle bed be nyght I sought him whome my soule doth loue Therfore I exhort you good virgyn to seke Christ Iesus iÌ„ your bed that is in rest and quietnes and in conteÌ„placyoÌ„ of y â— mynde and ye shall seke hym by nyght that is in this worlde sythynge vnto hi desiriÌ„g hym y t ye may ê‘fytely fynd hi in time to come se hi reigne iÌ„ his fathers sete seke hym contynually be good life y t ye may se his blissed face in y â— celestial kingdome of heueÌ„ I praye you good syster to saye with Dauid my soule is maruelously a thyrste that is it hathe great desyre to come to god the fountayne of lyfe And when shall I go and apere before the face of god Uerely youre soule dothe desyre god yf it loue hym aboue all thynge truelye youre soule doth desyre god yf for his loue it dispyse all earthly thynges certaynly youre soule doth desyre god and doth loue hym yf it desyre to se hym syttyng in heuen vpon the ryght hande of his father And the prophet Dauid exhortynge vs sayth Seke the Lord and ye shalbe confyrmed seke to come to his face y â— is in prosperyte in aduersyte in pouertye
oyle in there vessels that is they haue chastyte in theyr soules but suche as ve onely virgyns of body not of mynde be very fooles nor can not go to mete theyre spouse for they haue no oyle in theyre vessels y e is they haue not chastite in theyr soules And s Isodore sayeth She y e is a virgyn in bodie not in soule shall haue no remuncracyon ne reward And y â— lorde speakynge of these foolysh virgyns sayeth I knowe not what ye be Wherfore I exhorte you to be a virgin both in soule body y â— hereaftÌ„ ye may be set in the celestial rhaÌ„bre of your spouse christ iesê° Uirginite is not coÌ„mauÌ„ded but yet our holy fathers do couÌ„sell vs to kepe it as a thynge most excellent The gyfte of virginyte is double for it hathe no carefulnesse in this worlde and in tyme to come it shalbe excellently rewarded without doute they that continew chast and in virginite shalbe egal with goddes angelles And the prophete Izaye doth beare wytnes that virgyns aboue all other shalbe most fortunate iÌ„ the eternal beatytude be sayeth those wordes speakynge vnto the Enuques that is to those that be chaste lyue chastly for goddes sake I wyll gyue them my house a place within my walles and a better name then hath my chyldren a name that shall dure for euermore and neuer perysshe All maner of synne through penaunce deserueth pardon forgyuenesse but virgynite once peryshed and lost can in no maner of wyse be recouered for not withstandinge a man by penance doth optayne pardon therof yet he by no maner of meanes can retourne to his fyrst estate purenesse O my good syster bodely virginyte is of no valure where is no integrite of harte mynde All suche virgyns as glorifye them selfe of theyr merytes are compared to Ipocrytes the whiche requyre exteryor glorye for theyr good workes and dedes the which they shuld haue inwardly and in conscieÌ„ce And this is it that is wrytten Howe the foolyshe virgyns had no oyle in theyr vessels that is howe they kepte not inwardely in theyr conscyence the testimony of good workê but that they wolde be glorifyed heare in this worlde amonge men and not in harte with God Saynt Austen sayeth that the virginyte of the bodye helpeth not where that anger dothe rule And there is a great difference betwyxt pure virginite of the soule the which is not poluted ne defyled with contagyousnesse and that that hathe ben subiecte to many bodely pleasures Good sister I pray you harken vnto Saynt Hierom wordes sayenge That it profyteth nothynge that the bodye be chaste yf the mynde be maried Also it is as nothynge to kepe the bodye chaste yf man refrayne not his eyes from concupiscence wanton lokes Norvirgynyte profyteth nothynge yf theyr be in the mynde no charite nor no humilite Wherfore good syster I wold counsel you to take the oyle of good workes with you and that ye garnyshe your lampes with good cleane maners and that ye kyndle and lyght them with good and goostly vertues that when so euer ye shall heare that the bryde grome is commynge ye maye go and mete hym that is to saye ye maye go and mete with Chryst Iesus youre spouse and be receyued and set in his celestyall chambre ¶ Of continence the .xxij chapitur Good sister I pray you to harken with all deuocyon vnto my admonicyon The nomber of thyrte is the fyrst noÌ„bre and it sygnifyeth the coÌ„federatyon of maryage The noÌ„bre of thre score is the seconde degre of noÌ„bres it sygnifeth the coÌ„tyneÌ„ce of wydowes A hundered is the thyrd degre of nombers the which is deputed vnto virgyns for the glorye and crowne of theyre virginyte Saynt Isodore sayeth y â— ther be which in there youth lyued luxuriusly in age do inteÌ„d to lyue chastly and that wyl liue then in continence and chastite when voluptuousnesse bodely pleasure hath forsaken left them but suche men shall haue litle or no reward for they haue taken no payne to resyste temptacyoÌ„ They shal be rewarded the crowne of glorye appertayneth to them that valyaÌ„tly haue foughten and warsteled for it the fruyte of chastite is swetnesse Chastite is the sauegard of the soule and the health of the body Luxuriousnesse dothe feble a mans body and causeth man to seme olde and aged before his tyme continuall and longe chastite is reputed for virginite Therfore good syster the beutifulnesse of chastite oug ht to be loued and myche made of They that lyue continently and chastely prepare them selfe as and humble synner is more to be laudyd a great dele then the proude iust man Therfore dysprayse no womeÌ„ for many a holy womaÌ„ hath ben maryed and haue had chyldren truely yf ye blame or accuse any such ye are culpable before god For the holy prophete saynt â—n was maryed Yet neuerthelesse she prophesyed of Chryst and deserued to se hym Also Mary Magdalene was a secular woman and yet she sawe chryst after he was rysen from death to lyfe and deserued to be chrystes messenger to his apostles we shulde neuer haue them in coÌ„tempte the whiche god hath chosen to be his seruantes Wherfore I exhort you that for the loue of chryst ye do them the seruyce and pleasure ye maye or can and that ye loue them as mothers And good syster ye ought to loue them as your owne chyldreÌ„ for god hath conuerted and drawen them froÌ„ the worlde to his seruyce Yf ye then despyse them bycause they be his handmaydeÌ„s and seruantes ye do hym iniure O good syster in Chryst Iesu neuer say or thynke your selfe a drye stock or an vnfrutefull tree For yf ye loue the lorde as ye shuld do ye haue seuen goodly chyldren The fyrste is called shamefastnesse the seconde patyence the thyrde sobernesse the fourth teÌ„peraunce the fyfte is charyte the syxte humilyte the seuenth chastite Behold nowe good syster how that by the great grace of GOD without any grefe or corporall corruptyon ye haue brought forthe to GOddes honour seuen fayre chyldren And so ye haue fulfylled that is wrytteÌ„ The barreÌ„ hath brought forthe seuen chyldren Therfore good syster ye muste nouryshe repast confort and chasten these your goodly chyldren ye muste nouryshe them with good maners with deuoute contemplacyon with the mylke of eternall swetenesse ye must repast them with the loue of heueÌ„ly pasture ye muste conforte them with the breade of the worde of God Ye must chasten them with the roddes of the feare of god and commaunde them to flye and auoyd all pryde and lyghtnesse that they neuer transgresse his commaundementes and that they neuer go ne departe from you Nowe ye se then howe that virgyns fynd out and optayne the moost excellentes and moost souerauÌ„ce place of the kyngdome of heuen not without a great cause for they haue dispised this present worlde And therfore they are
his mother yet at y â— time of Chrystes byrth she was iÌ„ such pouerte y t she had nother mydwife nor yet maide to helpe her her goodes were so skarce that she was fayne to laye her dere chylde iÌ„ a crybbe and yet not w t standyng her husband Iosephe was a very good a iustmaÌ„ yet throughe pouerte he was fayn to labour for his lyuyng For it is wrytten that he was a carpeÌ„ter Also we rede of the holy apostles y t they serued god in great huÌ„ger thyrste of y â— which thiÌ„g saynt paule saythe In huÌ„ger thryste in fasting in colde barenes great watche ye haue many examples by y â— which ye may lerne to despyse these worldly ryches desyre celestiall For such as couet to be rych abuÌ„dant in this world do fal into many teÌ„ptacions in to many giÌ„nes snares of the deuyll in to such hurtful desyres as doth brynge theÌ„ to euerlastyng daÌ„natioÌ„ But they y â— wyllyngly ê‘fytely trust to optayne celestial ryches set litle by worldly substaÌ„ce for wylfulpouerte bryngeth a maÌ„ to heueÌ„ We come not into this world to lyue in pleasure But that by great watch fastyng prayng feyghtyng agaynst our aduersare the deuyl we may by the ayde of god come to the euerlastynge blysse of heuen And therfore we come bare into the worlde are borne bare to y â— font of bapteme that we in like maner may come bare and w tout any impedymeÌ„t to ioye euerlastynge O what a shame and howe incoÌ„uenient a thyng were it for maÌ„ y â— coÌ„meth bare in to y â— earth to enter in to heueÌ„ w t great treasure ryches Yt is moch more easy to nedel a gabell of a shyp theÌ„ for a ryche maÌ„ to come to heueÌ„ Yt were better to haue to lytle theÌ„ to moche He is to auaricius y e god caÌ„ not coÌ„tent satisfye Good syster yf we suffer for goddes sake huÌ„ger thryste barenes in this world we shalbe w t him for euermore in his ê‘ petual kingdome of blisse ¶ Of murmuracion the rlvij cha THe maÌ„tion dwelliÌ„g place of our harte is sanctifyed by the grace of almyghtye god by the iÌ„habitacioÌ„ of y â— holy goste y t is when charite peace goodnes humilite concorde w t other lyke vertues are in vs. These are our ryches y t is good maners and vertue are our ryches But yf we begin to stryue to murmur in coÌ„tinent we lese these spirituall vertues and remaine clere without them Why so For vertue and vyce can not dwell togyther And a litle dow marthe a great dele of leuent And therfore euerye good seruaunt of OOD shulde thynk and reuolue in his mynde howe greuously he offeÌ„deth that murmurth for these worldlye gooddes for he iÌ„poueresheth hi self of that he shulde be ryche of Why what is our ryches Uertue theÌ„ yf we murmour eyther for meal or drynk or for any other thyng we lese vertue for murmuracioÌ„ is a haynus a greuous syn and s Gregore sayeth That he that murmurthe shal neuer coÌ„e to heuen No man y t murmurth shall optayne the celestial court of heueÌ„ the harte mynde of a vnwyse maÌ„ is coÌ„pared to y â— cart whele that caryeth hay murmurth of this coÌ„dicioÌ„ are many chrysteÌ„ men whomeÌ„ the whiche beyng subiecte obedient to carnall desyre neuer cease to mutter Therfore good sister s paules counsel is very necessary sayng Ye shall not murmour as some of the chyldreÌ„ of Israell dyd in wyldernesse to theyre destructioÌ„ So then it is a very dauÌ„gerus thynge to murmur Least we perysh here as they dyd in wyldernes Let vs therfore charme and tempour our tongues y â— in tyme to come we misfare not as they dyd in this world let vs not murmur lest we suffre iÌ„ soule y t they suffered in body And S Paule giuyng vs couÌ„sel sayeth Let vs not teÌ„pte god as some of theÌ„ did the which were destrued w t serpeÌ„tes he teÌ„pthe God that murmurthe other for meat or drynk or cloth And agayne it is wrytten They mourmurde in theyr tabernacles wold not harken to goddes saynge He tempthe god that w t murmuracioÌ„ requyreth y â— is superfluus They were destrued w t serpeÌ„tes why so By cause they were full of venym poyseÌ„ so there toÌ„gues y â— murmur are infected w t deuyllysh poyson s Iames saieth the tongue is a shrode a vnquiet thiÌ„g full of deadly poisoÌ„ and therfore we shulde exchue al murmuracyon beware y â— we be not smytten that we perish not by such deuellyshe poison Welbeloued syster harkeÌ„ what god sayeth I woldye shulde neyther care for foode nor yet for clothyng sayng these lyke wordes what meat shall we eate or wher w t shal we be clothed As thoughe he wolde saye more playnly God y â— hath gyueÌ„ you lyfe wyl puyde ye shal lack neyther meat nor yet cloth to sustayne your bodes withall He sayeth also Beholde the byrdes of the ayre the whiche neyther so we nor thresh nor make no maner of prouisioÌ„ yet God dothe nourysh theÌ„ that is yf god nourysh the poore byrde the whiche is mortal how moch more dilygeÌ„tly shall he nourysh maÌ„ his soule the whiche is immortall to whome he hath promysed the kyngdome of heueÌ„ And agayne he sayeth CoÌ„syder loke how y â— goodly lyles grow they neyther spyn nor carde yet y â— lord doth clothe them Howe moch more shall he clothe you his seruaÌ„tes and handmaydes God wyll neuer vndo his seruantes for lack of meat drynke or cloth Ferther more he sayeth Seke for y â— king dome of heueÌ„ his Iustice ye shal lacke nothiÌ„g of al these for sayde thynges as thoughe he wolde saye serue God in al melody feare he shall minyster vnto you all that shall be necessarie for they that seke god shal lacke nothynge ¶ Of prayer the .xlviij. ca HArkeÌ„ vnto my wordê good syster To pray or necessite compelleth man is called prouydence to pray at tymes apoynted is called obedieÌ„ce But to let passe the tyme of prayer is called negligeÌ„ce The more ê“fytable y â— prayer is the more ofte it shuld be vsed The lorde sayeth Loke what soeuer ye demaunde by prayer beynge in good stedfast bylyue ye shall haue it And S. paule exhorteth vs to praye coÌ„tinually And. s Iames saieth That the coÌ„tinuall prayer of a Iuste maÌ„ is moch worth Good syster or euer ye begyn to praye prepayre your hart vnto it and be not as one y â— wold teÌ„pte god Prepayre your selfe to prayer opeÌ„ your harte coÌ„science that ye may haue cause to optayne y â— more of his grace AmaÌ„ prayeth truely wheÌ„ worde harte accordeth togyther And y â— soner y e the synfull maÌ„ leueth his