the trespas of negacyon or denyenge / the whiche he dyd to my sone / he wepte full bytterly ¶ Yet neuertheles his we pynge was vnparfyte / so it was vnto the asceÌcyon ¶ And after tyme my sothefast sone came to me in his manhod / than Peter and all other dyscyples dyd hyde theÌ in an house / abydyÌge there mekely the comyÌge of the holy ghoste / as my sothefaste sone dyd promyse before to theym ¶ And all that tyme they for fere abode in an house reclused ¶ For euer the soule dredeth vnto the tyme it come to the very loue ¶ But they were parseuerauntly abydynge in holy wakynge / and in meke and coÌtynuall prayer / vnto the tyme that the holy ghoste came and fulfylled them with plentuousnes of graces ¶ And whan they were fulfylled with that greate grace / than they caste awaye dredes / and so they folowed the steppes of my sothefast sone / in prechyÌge his passyoÌ ouer all ¶ In the same wyse asoule that desyreth to come to this êfeccyoÌ before sayd / after tyme she hathe synned deedly / is gracyously arysen / knowynge herselfe foule wretched / for drede of peyne she begynneth for to wepe ¶ And after that she aryseth fro the drede beholdeth my mercy where she fyndeth delectacyon profyte / yet it is vnparfyte ¶ Therfore lyke as it was done to Peter / to the dyscyples that were closed in / so shall it be do to suche a deuoute soule that is rysen out of synne and cometh to my mercy ¶ That is to saye / after fourty dayes I shal make her to come to parfeccyon ¶ That is after these two states / otherwhyle I shal withdrawe me fro suche a soule not by grace / but by felynge ¶ And so shewed well my sothefaste sone Ihesu / whan he sayde to his dyscyples thus ¶ I shall go / and come to you ¶ What that euer he sayde partyculerly to his dyscyples / it was sayde generally and comynly to all / bothe to them that be now on lyue / to theÌ that be to come ¶ Namely to them that sholde come to hym / he sayde thus ¶ I shall go / and come agayne to you / and so it was ¶ For he came vpon his dyscyples / whan the holy ghost came to them ¶ The holy ghost came not alone / but with my myghte and power he came / and with the wysedome of my sothefast sone Ihesu / the whiche is one with me ¶ And with the myldenes mekenes of the same holy ghoste that cometh fro me fro my sone / in the same wyse I saye to the. ¶ Whan a soule ryseth fro her imêfeccyoÌ / I with drawe me fro her by felyÌge / takyÌge awaye the coÌforte that she had ¶ For whan she was in deedly synne / she wente awaye fro me / and I dyd wtdrawe me thaÌ frome her synne / bycause than she had shyt agaynst me the gate of her desyre / by the whiche the sonne of grace sholde go shyne throwe ¶ This is no defaute of the sonne / but of the creature that shyt the gate of desyre agaynst the that sonne and whan she knoweth herselfe and her owne derkenesse / than she openeth the wyndowes by holy confessyon / castynge out therby the fylthe of synÌe ¶ And thaÌ I come agayne in to that soule by grace / but yet I withdrawe me fro her by felyÌge as I sayde and not fro grace ¶ This I do bycause she sholde waxe lowe and meke / and that she sholde excersyce herselfe / in sekynge me truly ¶ And also that she sholde be veryly proued in the holy lyght of feythe / so for to come to wysdome ¶ Than yf she veryly / without lokynge of ony rewarde loue me with the lyghte of lyfely and quycke feythe / and with holy hate of herselfe / she is ioyful in the tyme of labour / and demeth her ãâã vnworthy rest / and quyetnesse of soule ¶ This is the seconde thynge of the thre / of whome I tolde the before / for thoughe she fele me withdrawe / she wyl not therfore go back warde / but rather she vseth mekely her ghostly laboure / stondynge stydfastly and abydynge enclosed in the house of her owne knowlege ¶ And therfore she abydeth with a quycke feythe / the comyÌge of the holy ghost that is I my selfe the whiche am the fyre of very charite ¶ How abydeth she ¶ Truly not with ydlenes / but with bodyly wakynge / and contynuall prayenge / and not onely with bodyly wakynge / but with intellectuall wakynge ¶ For that eye of vnderstondynge or Intelleccyon is not shytte but it is open and waketh with the lyght of feythe / dystryenge the thoughtes of the herte with holy hate / wakynge in the affeccyon of my charyte / and knowynge that I desyre no thyÌge elles / but her holynes ¶ And that is well certyfyed and made opeÌynoughe / in the blode of my sothefast sone Ihesu ¶ After tyme the eye of intelleccyon waketh thus in knowlege of her selfe and me / she prayeth coÌtynually / offerynge to me prayer with a good wyll an holy ¶ This is the contynuall prayer / and also she vseth her in actuall prayer / that is in suche prayers as be ordeyned by holy chyrche ¶ Thus is a soule occupyed that is departed fro imparfeccyon / and is come to parfeccyon ¶ And bycause she sholde come therto / therfore I went fro her / not put tynge awaye grace fro her / but felynge ¶ I withdrawe me fro her / that she sholde knowe her owne defautes ¶ And in that she knoweth herselfe pryued fro ghostly coÌforte / she feleth peyne and fyndeth herself feble / not stronge for to stonde nor stydfast ¶ By that she fyndeth the rote of ghostly loue in her owne selfe and therfore she fyndeth iÌ them mater of knowlege / and in reysynge vp herselfe aboue herselfe / ascendynge vpon the sete of her conscyence / therfore to ly in wayte that suche felyÌge is not suffred to passe without rebukynge of the conscyence / in dystryenge of the roote of theyr owne loue with ioyfull hate and with the loue of vertu ¶ How he that loueth god vnparfytely / loueth his neyghbour vnparfytely / and of the tokens of his vnparfyte loue I wyll also that thou knowe / that all suche vnêfyte loue / and parfyte loue is soughte in me / by meane and medyacyon of creatures ¶ They that be symple knowe this well that louen oftetymes me and seken me iÌ creatures ¶ Neuerthelesse yf a maÌ receyue purely loue of me / without beholdynge of ony creature / thaÌ doubteles he sholde receyue purely and drynke the loue of his neyghboure / as a maÌ drynketh of a vessell / whiche is tylled in a wel whan it is drawe oute / and the lycour is drunke that was therin / than is the vessell voyde ¶ And yf a man drynke of that vessell whyle it
chapyters of the thyrde parte Ca. i. ALso of the profyte of temptacyons / and how eche soule in his laste ende of this lyfe seeth tasteth or feleth his place or he be departed fro the body that is to saye he shall knowe the peyne or ioye whiche he shall haue here after ¶ How the fende catcheth euer soules vnder colour of some goodnesse / and how they that be sette in the floode and they that go not by the brydge be dysceyued / for they thynke to ascape fro peynes and yet they fal therin ¶ Here is also made mencyon of a fayre vysyon whiche this soule hadde / whiche vysyon apered to her syghte as it had be a tree ¶ Also how the worlde for synne broughte forthe thornes and breres / yet some ther be that be not ynoyed with them / how be it no maÌ maye come to euer lastynge lyfe / wtout that he haue suffered and borne peynes and trybulacyons before that he come thyder ¶ Also the euyll that cometh of the ghostly eye or syghte ¶ Also how good dedes that be not in the state of grace / auayle not to euerlastynge lyfe ¶ Ca. ij THe secunde chapyter telleth how the preceptes may not be kepte / but that a man sholde of parfeccyon kepe the couÌseyles / and howe in euery state the whiche a maÌ choseth so that he haue an holy and a good wyll that state is pleasynge to god ¶ Also how worldely men with all theyr substaunce goodes may not be fulfylled / and of the peyne the whiche they deserue by theyr wycked wâlles as well in this lyfe as after how a drede whiche is bouÌde suffyseth not to optayne the euerlastynge lyfe in heuen / and how with excercyse of this drede / a man maye come to the loue of vertues ¶ Ca. iij. ALso how this soule fell in to a mornyge for that blyndenesse of them the whiche were drenched in the foresayde floode ¶ And also how thre grees be fygured in that foresayde brydge that is to saye in the sone of god Ihesu cryste / bytwene the thre myghtes of the soule / and how these thre myghtes of the soule yf that they be oned togyder / there maye no parseueraunce be hadde without the whiche parseueraunce no man maye come to the ende of parseccyon ¶ Also in this chapyter is an exposycyon of the worde of Ihesu cryst / whaÌ he sayd thus Siquis sitit c. That is to saye / who that thrusteth / come to me and drynke ¶ And also how that euery reasonable creature generally maye kepe a maner gouernauÌce / so that he maye passe out fro the see of this worlde / and go by the foresayde holy brydge ¶ And also here shall be rehersed a repetycyon of some wordes sayde before ¶ Ca. iiij THe fourthe chapyter telleth whaÌ oure lorde wolde shewe so this deuoute soule / that the thre grees of the brydge be fygured by the thre states of the soule / than he bad her lyfte vp her selfe aboue herselfe to beholde this sothefastnesse ¶ Also how that this deuoute soule beholdynge in the myrcoure of god / sawe dyuers creatures go iÌ dyuers wayes ¶ And how the drede of seruage wtout loue of vertues / is not suffycyent to euer lastynge lyfe / and how the lawe of drede and the lawe of loue be oned togyder ¶ And also how that a man that hathe the drede of seruage or thraldome drede / the whiche is the state of imparfeccyoÌ / by the whiche state is vnderstonde the fyrste gre of the foresayde holy brydge / he maye come soone to the secunde gre / whiche is the state of parfeccyon ¶ Also of the imparfeccyon of them that loueÌ and serue god for theyr owne profyte and loue / or for theyr owne comforte Ca. v. ALso how that god sheweth hyÌselfe sometyme to a soule that loueth hym ¶ Also why cryste sayde not O go manifestabo I shall shewe my fader / but he sayd I shall shewe my selfe what maner of gouernaunce a soule shall kepe / that he maye come vp to the secuÌde gre of the holy brydge ¶ How he that loueth god vnparfytely / loueth vnparfytely his neyghbour / and also of the very tokeÌs of this vnparfyte loue ¶ The chapyters of the fourth parte Ca. i. THe fyrste chapyter of the fourthe parte speketh of prayer / fyrste iÌ what maner a soule shall gouerne hym / that he maye come to pure loue and lyberall ¶ And moche of this thyrde parte speketh of prayer and of teeres / but fyrst god sheweth here a doctryne of the holy sacrament of crystes body on the auter that is to saye the holy sacrament of crystes body how that a soule shall come fro vocall prayer to mentall prayer ¶ And here is shewed a vysyoÌ whiche this deuoute soule hadde on a tyme. ¶ Also of a dysceyte that creatures haue somtyme / whiche louen god and serue hym for theyr owne conforte and theyr delectacyon ¶ Also of the dysceyte that they haue / whiche sette all they affeccyon in confortes and ghostly vysyons / and how that suche that delyte them in suche coÌfortes vysyoÌs may be dysceyued receyue a wycked spyryte vnder the coloure of a god spyryte / of tokeÌs how it may be knowe whaÌ it cometh of god / and whaÌ of the deuyll Ca. ij ALso of theÌ that wyll not helpe or coÌforte theyr neyghbours in theyr nede / bycause they wolde not be lette nor leue theyr owne conforte and peas and reste ¶ Also of the dysceyte whiche goddes seruauÌuauntes haue / and locien god with suche vnparfyte loue before sayde ¶ How a soule that knoweth her selfe wysely iÌ sothefastenesse / kepeth her frome all these dysceytes ¶ Also by what maner a soule cometh fro imparfyte loue cometh to êfyte loue ¶ Ca. iij. THe thyrde chapyter is of tokens wherby it is knowe that a soule is come to the parfyte loue ¶ Also how vnêfyte meÌ wyll onely folowe me that fader / but êfyte meÌ folowe the sone Also god sheweth a vycyon / whiche this deuoute mayde had / in the whiche vysyon is shewed of diuers baptyms / of other fayre thyÌges and profytable ¶ How that a soule whan that it is come to the thyrde gree of the brydge that is to saye after the tyme it is come to the mouthe / anone it taketh the doore of the mouthe / and whaÌ the proper wyll of a man is deed / it is a very token that it is come thyder ¶ Also of the workyÌges of the soule / after tyme that it is ascended to the thyrde holy gree ¶ Also of the states of them that be departed fro the thyrde / and of workynges of the soule whiche is come to this state / and how god goeth neuer awaye fro the soule by coÌtynuall felynge ¶ Also how god goeth not awaye fro the foresayde parfyte meÌ by felynge nor by grace / bycause of the vnyon bytwyxe
or dothe satysfaccyon by a feruent desyre of the soule that is to saye with a veraye contrycyon / a dyspysynge of synne ¶ For veraye contrycyon / maketh satysfaccyoÌ to the synne / and to the payne for synne / not for the payne the the soule suffreth for the tyme / whiche tyme hathe ende / but for the desyre that the soule hathe / whiche hathe no ende / and that is for god / whiche is without ende Aske you sorowe in herte for synne without ende / loue god contynually wtout ende ¶ Sorowe it asketh without ende that is to saye without ceasynge in this worlde / and that is in two maners ¶ One is that a man haue veraye coÌtrycyon for his owne offence that he hathe done agaynst his god / and his owne maker ¶ The seconde is that a maÌ haue sorowe for the offence that he seeth or knoweth done to god of his neyghbour ¶ Of suche men / for asmoche as they haue suche contrycyoÌ iÌ bothe maners ¶ Also for they haue suche a desyre that hathe none ende / for they beÌ coupled to me with a desyre of loue / therfore they sorowen whan they offende themselfe / or whaÌ they se / or knowe ony creature offende god / for that contynuall sorowe for themselfe / and for other / for desyre of loue / all the payne of suche men that they suffren bodyly or ghostly / of what euer parte it cometh / that payne deserueth / or shal haue merytes the whiche haue none ende / and dothe satysfaccyon for the synne / whiche synÌe worthely asketh and dyscerneth a payne that sholde haue no ende Not withstondynge the dede of synne had an ende / and it was done suche a tyme that it hadde and ende / and the cause is thus / for that synne parauenture was done with some vertues / with desyre of loue / with contrycyon and with dyspleasaunce of all fautes that were done Therfore the payne of the trespasse that sholde haue no ende was modyfyed and shall haue an ende / and make full satysfaccyon for that synne ¶ Thus sheweth the apostle whan he sayde yf I shall speke with the tongues of men / and of aungels and yf I haue prophecy / and yf that I deale all my goodes in to poore mennes meet / and yf I take or put my body to the fyre / and it to brunne / yet all this profyteth me not / yf I haue not charyte ¶ Seynt Paule also sheweth / that all suche werkes / bodyly or ghostly / the whiche haue an ende in this worlde / ben not suffycyent to punesshe the wretchednesse of synne / nor to gyue rewarde / with out salte or fatnesse / and swete sauour of the desyre of the holy charyte ¶ How desyre contrycyon of herte maketh satysfaccyon for synne / and payne for synne / and somtyme it maketh satysfaccyoÌ for synne / and not for payne Now doughter I haue shewed the how synne in this tyme that shall passe / is not punyssed onely with suche penauÌce that is done here / but it is punysshed with penauÌce inwardely / that is suffred by desyre and with loue oned to god / and by contrycyon of mennes hertes / not by vertu of payne oneli / but throwe the vertu of a feruent dysyre of soules / and as holy desyres and other desyres of vertues haue lyfe / or be acceptable and merytory whaÌ they ben taken and vsed / for the loue of my sone crucyfyed ¶ For asmoche as the soule taketh loue of hym / and foloweth his steppes with vertues / fastynges / and prayers ¶ In suche maner suche penaunces done they profyte the and in none other so they make satysfaccyon to the payne for synne / and that is by the vnyon / or knyttynge togyder of that holy loue the whiche is goten and purchased in the knowynge of my amyable goodnesse / and in the bytternesse and sorowe of the herte / and iÌ knowynge and knowlegynge of his owne defautes / whiche knowynge bryÌgeth forthe an hatered of his owne vnworthynesse mysery / and a greate dyspleasaunce of synnes ¶ Wherfore he demeth hymselfe vnworthy ony grace / and holdeth hym worthy to haue tourment and payne And thus the holy sothefastnes spake of all other / whiche suffred all thynges with pacyeÌce / and demed them selfe with mekenesse in all thynges / vnworthy to receyue the gracyous gyftes of god / and worthy to haue punysshemeÌt throwe loue of herte with the ferueÌt bruÌnynge of pasyence and of mekenesse ¶ After this informacyon / forthewith god spake to her and sayde Take hede than intentytly in thy inwarde wytte / in what maner it is sayde to the / how that satysfaccyoÌ is made for synne ¶ Thou does aske paynes of me / the whiche myght make satysfaccyon / for the offences done to me of my creatures ¶ Also thou dyde aske of me whiche am the lyfe of all thynges / to knowe / to loue êfytely ¶ This is the waye / thou shall be in wyll to ascende to the heyght of êfyte knowynge / thou shall be in wyll to taste me / the whiche am euer lastynge sothefastnesse / so that thou neuer go oute of the way of knowynge of thy selfe ¶ And whan thou arte caste downe iÌ to the vallaye of mekenesse / than knowe me in the / of whome thou shall haue all thynges that ben to the necessary / or behourable ¶ There may no vertu stoÌde / nor abyde / but it come of charyte / or that it be grounded in charyte / and mekenes dothe nouresshe most and best / the vertu of charyte ¶ ThaÌ thou shall be made meke in knowynge of thy selfe / yf thou consyder the that thou hase no beynge of thy selfe / but thou shall knowe thy beynge of me / the whiche loued the you all / or euer that ye were borne / of my greate loue whiche maye not be meiured / my wyll was to reforme you agayne to grace / and in my reformynge you agayne / with the brennynge of so greate a loue / the which I had to you / I wasshed you with the blode of my sone / the whiche was shedde for you ¶ The shedynge of that blode / maketh a man to knowe the sothefastnes / the whiche hathe put awaye the cloude of his propre loue / by knowynge of hyÌ selfe / the whiche sothfastnes he myght not elles knowe And thaÌ in the knowynge of me / the soule is closed with suche a feruent loue / that for that brennynge loue / the soule is in contynuall payne / but not in payne whiche greueth the soule / nor maketh it to tall / but rather that payne maketh the soule more vertuous / and refressheth it / and comforteth more the soule / for he suffreth payne / bycause he knoweth my sothefastnes / and his owne synnes and vnkyndenesse / and the greate blyÌdenesse of crysteÌ people And for the greate loue that the soule
fruyte of the blode / the whiche was shed for hym yf he tary ouer the tyme that he haue a fre wyll / than is there no remedy afterwarde / for he brought not agayne the gyfte that he had of me / for I gaue hym mynde / that he sholde haue myÌde of my benefytes / I gaue hym intelleccyon and vnderstondynge / that he sholde well se knowe sothefastnes Also I gaue hym affeccyon of loue and desyre / that he sholde loue me / whiche am euerlastyÌge sothefastnes / by the whiche sothefastnes and clere intelleccyon he seeth and knoweth best ¶ This is the gyfte and the ghostly dowre whiche I haue gyuen onely to you by grace / whiche dowre sholde tourne agayne to me whiche am the fader / but he that is the wycked man selleth that dowre and bytaketh it to the fende / whiche wycked maÌ whaÌ he dyeth / he bereth with hym that he wanne iÌ his lyfe / fulfyllynge his mynde all with delytes / and with thoughtes and remembraunce of his synnes without coÌtrycyon / as with pryde and couetyse / and with his propre loue / and with hatered and dyspleasaunce to his neyghbours / whiche ben my seruauntes / and in all that he maye parsueth and vexeth them greuously ¶ To all suche her reasoÌ and intelleccyon is made full derke with her wretchydnes by an vnornately loue and desyre / and so with theyr synnes / they receyue euerlastynge payne without ende / bycause they were neclygent to do satysfaccyon for theyr synne / with contrycyoÌ of herte / and had no hatered nor dyspleasauÌce for theyr synnes ¶ Therfore doughter now thou maye se that satysfaccyoÌ for synne is not onely by penaunce bodyly / whiche hathe an ende in this worlde / but satysfaccyoÌ for synne is the veraye parfyte coÌtrycyon of the herte / and not onely satysfaccyon for synne / but also sometyme it is satysfaccyoÌ for the payne that foloweth for synne / to all them that haue this parfyte contrycyon / other generall people whiche stonden in comyn charyte / takeÌ mekely all that they suffren as for theyr payne with coÌtrycyon of herte / make satysfaccyoÌ for synne onely as it is sayd before bycause they receyue the gyfte of grace / and ben without deedly synne ¶ Also all they that haue not so full parfyte contrycyon / nor parfyte loue to make satysfaccyon for payne / nor for synne / they shall to the paynes of purgatory ¶ Also take hede and se that throwe the desyre of the soule / whiche desyre is coupled in me / whiche am all good without ende / maketh satysfaccyon more or lesse / or suffycyeÌtly after the measure of parfyte loue / bothe of hym that yeldeth / and of hyÌ that receyueth prayers and desyres And that same mesure of loue / bothe of the yelder of the receyuer / is mesured cometh of my benignite goodnes ¶ Therfore doughter encrease you by the fyre of thy feruent desyre / and bruÌnynge herte of loue / and suffre not that excercyse of so good a trayuale / goodly Iournaye of so greate vertue to ouer passe / but that you call crye to me euermore / for the same encrease of desyres / and for my contynuauÌce of excersyse / with a meke and a lowly voyce / and with a contynual deuocyon ¶ Thus I saye to the to thy ghosty fader / whome I haue ordeyned to the inerth that myghtely ye bere suche trayuayle bodely ghostly for youre selfe and for other for my loue / and that ye put awaye and withstoÌde youre propre sensualyte ¶ How it pleaseth moche oure lord / to let vs suffre for hyÌ A grete and a stronge desyre wyll to suffre all labours paynes vnto the tyme of dethe / for helthe of soules is full pleasynge to me ¶ For the more that is suffred for me / somoche more the token of loue to me is shewed / in the louynge moche more is take comprehended of my sothefastnes / and the more that a man knoweth / the more he feleth a payne intollerable in his soule for offeÌce done to me ¶ Thou doughter mekely dyde aske a wyll to suffre / to bere other meÌnes fautes vpon the. Also thou dyd alke a loue a lyght / the knowyÌge of my sothefastnes / not takynge nor beholdyÌge what I haue sayde to the nowe / that how moche more is the loue / somoche the payne sorowe encreaseth / for where loue encreaseth to me / there sorowe encreaseth for offence done to me ¶ Therfore forsothe I saye to you êetiteet accipietis That is to lay / aske ye shall haue that you aske / I shall neuer denye them that askeÌ in sothefastnes ¶ And thynke well doughter that the brennyÌge of euerlastynge charyte / the whiche is in the soule it is oned to god with a parfyteopasyence / so that one maye not be parted fro the other ¶ Therfore a soule whan she purposeth to loue me / she shall with purpose onely / and ryght symply suffre paynes for the glory of my name / in what maner / or for what cause I haue or dryned it to suffre ¶ For pasyence is not pryued / but in paynés And as it is sayde before / pasyence is oned to charyte / therfore manly and myghtly he bereth suche labours / or els ye myght not be faythfull / nor trewe tasters / nor sauourers of the faythe / nor spouses of my sothefastnesse / nor desyre parfytely my worshyp / nor louers of the helthe of soules ¶ The seconde chapytre is how eche vertu and defaute is by some meane or maner of a maÌnes neyghbour And how vertues ben wroughte in man by some meane of his neyghbour And so forthe of the same mater as it is specyfyed in the kaleÌder Ca. ii ONe thyÌge forthermore I wyll that you knowe / that eche vertu or defaute that is done / it is done by some meane of thy neyghbour / as thus He that hateth me he harmeth his neyghbour / hymselfe generally / he dothe harme to his neyghbour partyculerly to hyÌselfe ¶ Generally / for ye beÌ bouÌde to loue your neyghbour as yourselfe ¶ LouyÌge hyÌ ghostly with prayers / couÌceylynge hym with wordes / comfortynge hym ghostly teÌporally / ye sholde helpe hym in all his nedes with youre wyll / yf ye haue not wherwith to helpe hym / and to socoure hym / for he that loueth not me / loueth not his neyghbour / and he that loueth not his neyghbour / than he helpeth not his neyghbour / and suche a maÌ fyrst of fendeth hymselfe / for he pryueth hyÌ selfe of grace / and after that grace fro his neyghbour / bycause he helpeth hym not ghostly / gyueth hym no prayers nor holy desyres / whiche he is bouÌde to shewe out before for his neyghbour / all the helpe whiche he hathe shall begyn of loue / the whiche a soule hathe to his
neyghboure for my name ¶ Also in the coÌtrary wyse eche faute is done by some meane of a maÌnes neyghbour ¶ For he that loueth not me / he is not in charyte with his neyghbour / of this cometh al euylles wyckednesse / bycause the soule lacketh charyte / and hathe no loue to me nor to his neyghbour / in that he worketh no good / he dothe euyll fyrst to hyÌselfe / to his neyghbour / not to me / for he may not harme me / but for asmoche as I take it done to me / that is done to the neyghbour / therfore he harmeth hyÌselfe by the peryll of synne / whiche synne pryueth hym of grace / so he maye be no worse to hymselfe ¶ He offendeth his neyghbour whaÌ he yeldeth not dewe loue and affeccyon to his neyghbour / wherwith he sholde helpe hym That is to saye / with deuoute prayers holy desyres / whiche he sholde offre before me for his neyghbour ¶ This that I haue sayde nowe is the generall helpe coÌforte / whiche sholde be gyuen to eche reasonable creature ¶ Forthermore a partyculer êfyte is the / whiche is done to theÌ that ben nyghe to thy syghte / for ye be bounde the one to helpe the other in worde and good workyÌge and in ensample gyuynge / and in all thyÌges that the behoueth purely and clerely / and gyuynge counsayle as a maÌ wolde do to hymselfe / without ony passyon ¶ This dothe not he that hath no loue to his neyghbour Also thou sees well that he whiche dothe not so dothe his neyghbour a partyculer harme / and not onely iÌ that he harmeth hym / for asmoche as he dothe hym not the good that he myght / but coÌtynually harmeth hym / and that is in this maner / he dothe synne bothe actually in dede wylfully / or mayn tayneth it in the soule ¶ Synne is done myghtly inwardely in the soule / whaÌ a man conceyueth a pleasauÌce in the soule of synne / an hate of vertue / whiche cometh of his propre sencyble loue / whiche loue hathe pryued hym the affeccyon of charyte / whiche charyte he oweth to yelde to me and to his neyghbour / and after he hathe conceyued / thus by meyntenynge / thaÌ bryngeth he forthe one thynge after another on his neyghbour / by dyuers maners as it pleaseth and lyketh his wycked sencyble wyll ¶ SoÌtyme he bryÌgeth forthe bereth a cruelte generally petty culerly Generally whaÌ he seeth hyÌselfe and other creatures in perel of dethe damnacyoÌ for lacke of grace And therew t he is so cruell that for loue of vyces / for hate of vertues / he gyueth no coÌforte to hyÌself nor other but as a louer of cruelte / he streÌgheth more more his cruelte / that is to saye / not onely he sheweth no vertuouslyuyÌge / but wyckedly takynge on hym the offyce offendes / withdraweth hymselfe and other fro vertues / and with al his myght he bryÌgeth other creatures to vyces / this is the offyce of a wycked cruelte / for he maketh hymselfe an able instrument / to the pryuynge of euerlastyÌge lyfe / to the gyuynge of euerlastynge dethe He vseth this bodyly cruelte with concupyscence / for not onely that he helpeth not his neyghbour / of of his owne good / but turmentyÌge poore êsones / takynge awaye theyr good Sometyme by extorcyon / or lordeshyp / sometyme by fraude / begylynge / or with dysceyte They raunsome them and take of theyr good theyr bodyes / whiche is moche worse ¶ O thou wretched cruelte / saythe oure lorde / thou shall be pryued of my mercy / but thou tourne agayne to venyuolence pyte with thy neyghbour Also sometyme this pleasauce of synne / and hatered of vertu / bryÌgeth sory / wycked / and wrongefull wordes / wherewith ful ofte cometh âââslaughter And sometyme beestly dyshoneste / full of all fylthes / and stynkyÌge wretchednesse / whiche vehemeth not onely one or two / but al those that cleueth tâ hyÌ / draweth to hym by loue or by conuersacyon / be corrupted / or venymed ¶ Sometyme suche a man sheweth pryde to his neyghbour onely / in that he holdeth hymselfe in more reputacyon thaÌ his neyghbour / by his pryde he purposeth wronge to his neyghbour / dothe hym wronge yf he be a lorde / or a man of greate state / by cruelte or wroÌge / he dysceyueth his neyghboure / and dystroyeth hym ¶ Loke here doughter / take hede what is sayd And fro this tyme forwarde sorowe for the offence that is done to me / wepe fore for suche as ben deed ghostly / that by holy prayers they maye come to lyfe Thou sees that in euery place / what wroÌge is done to the neyghbour / that moche euyll is done to man / by the cause of man / so that a mannes neyghbour is meane to euyll Orels no synÌe shoulde be moued at all / pryue / nor aperte ¶ It is pryue / whaÌ it is not done to his neyghbour / that is dewe to his neyghbour ¶ It is opeÌ / whaÌ the vyces ben shewed opeÌly Therfore it is sothe / that eche offence done to me / is by some meanes of a maÌnes neyghbour ¶ How that vertues ben wroughte in maÌ by some meane of his neyghbour And whiche vertues in maÌ ben so dyfferent Now I haue declared to the how al defautes comen by some meane of a mannes neyghbour And the cause is / for they haue no affeccyon of charyte / whiche charyte strengheth all vertues gyueth them lyfe / and coÌfyrmeth them in grace And so a maÌnes proper loue / whiche taketh the charyte loue of his neyghbour / is fundament grouÌde of all euylles ¶ All sclaunders / hatereddes / crueltes / all inconuenyentes / comen forthe of this wycked and venemous rote ¶ This styukyÌge loue deedly hath wounded all the worlde / brought in a sekenes to the pryue body of oure holy moder the chyrche / and to the vnyuersal body of chrysteÌ relygyon ¶ For as I sayde to the / al vertues ben fouÌded in a mannes charyte to his neyghbour / that charyte gaue lyfe to al vertues And sothly so it is For there maye no vertu be goteÌ with out that charyte That is to saye Vertu maye not begoteÌ / yf meryte of vertu maye not be goten ¶ For after tyme / a soule knoweth her self As it is sayde before ThaÌ the soule syndeth mekenes / and an hatered of his owne sensyble passyon Knowynge than / that the wycked lawe of the flesshe / how that it is annexed to his meÌbres whiche lawe euermore impugneth / and contraryeth the spyryte Therfore the spyryte aryseth agaynst the flesshe / with hate / dyspleasauÌce / of the sensualyte / tredynge her downe / vnder the roote of reason The soule also fyndeth the affluence and the greate pleÌte of my goodnes / whan it hathe receyued my
benefytes whiche benefytes she brygeth / gadereth them ofte in her mynde with thaÌkynges / tyll she haue sauour / and parfyte knowlege of the plentuous goodnes of god in herselfe ¶ Ryght as a best ofteÌtymes cheweth his meet to haue sauour therin So the soule gadereth to his mynde my benefytes / and the knowynge of hym selfe ¶ And whan this knowynge is fouÌde by a spyryte of mekenes / he yeldeth al to me / knowynge that with a synguler grace I haue lad hym out of derkenes / and called hyÌ agayne to the lyght of very knowlege ¶ And whan my goodnes is knowen / the soule loueth it / bothe with meane / without meane That is to saye wtout meane of it selfe / or of his propre profyte / and with meane of vertu / whiche he conceyued of my loue / for he seeth well But he haue synne in hate / vertu in loue / he shoulde not be accepted of me / in none otherwyse ¶ But yf he hate synne / loue vertu / he shoulde not be to me louynge and kynde ¶ After tyme he hathe conceyued this knowynge of my goodnes / by affeccyon of my loue / anone he sheweth it to his neyghbour / or elles that he hath coÌceyued / were no vertu But for asmoche as he loueth me iÌ sothefastnes / so he profyteth his neyghbour / or elles he shoulde not proryte his neyghbour For my loue / and the loue of thy neyghbour / ben all one ¶ And the more that a soule loueth me / somoche more he loueth his neyghbour For he hathe suche loue to his neyghbour / as cometh fro me And that is that I haue put to you a meane / that you haue experyence of vertues togyders / and preue vertues iÌ you For you shoulde do profyte to your neyghbour / whaÌ ye maye not do to me that êfyte And that sheweth well / that you haue me in your soule by grace / bryngynge fruyte in your neyghbour / your excercyse iÌ many holy prayers / and in holy and amyable desyres / onely sekynge my worshyp / and helthe of soules ¶ A soule that is enflammed with my sothefastnes whiche sothefastnes / sholde beloued of all creatures in generall And in specyall more or lesse / sholde neuer cease to profyte al creatures / after eche mannes dysposycyoÌ / as he that prayÌeth / asketh of me by a breÌnyÌge desyre / as it is expressed before / where it is declared that bodyly payne onely / it is not suffycyent to punesshe synne / without a greate desyre ¶ Than afterwarde that he hathe êfyted to eche creature / after eche mannes dysposycyon / for the vnyon of loue / whiche he hathe made in me / gyuynge helpe comforte to the helthe of all the worlde / with his affeccyon desyre / whiche he hathe spredde so brode Than he forseth hyÌ fyrst to beholde his owne necessytes ghostly / that is whaÌ he profyteth fyrst to hymselfe / by coÌceyuyÌge of vertues / by whiche vertues he hathe drawen to hym grace to se to put his eye partyculerly to the necessytes / or nedes of his neyghbours ¶ Therfore whaÌ he hathe done thus generally / to eche creature / by the desyre of charyte / than at the laste he helpeth theÌ that ben nyghe to hym / to encrease them in vertues / after the nombre of dyuers graces / whiche I haue gyuen to hym / ordeyned to hyÌ to departe ¶ For to some maÌ I grauÌte the vertu of doctryne / to gyue counsayle to his neyghboure / by reason of worde / wtout ony other mannes techynge ¶ To some man I grauÌte gyue example of good lyuynge Eche maÌ oweth to gyue edyfycacyoÌ of good honest lyuynge to his neyghbour ¶ These ben the vertues and many mo / whiche thou caÌ not nombre / whiche comen of mannes loue to his neyghboure / and I haue put them so dyuersly in man / for I haue not gyuen all vertues to one man alone / I gyue some man one vertu / to some an other / to an other partyculerly Not withstondynge that a man maye not haue one parfytely / but he haue all other vertues / for all vertues ben knyte togyder / but I gyue many vertues specyally / as for the chefe and heed of all other vertues / that is to saye Pryncypally I graunte the vertu of charyte to some maÌ Also to some the vertu of ryghtwysnesse / to some maÌ mekenes / to some maÌ ful saythe and to other dyuersly the vertu of prudence / teÌporaunce / pasyence / to some the gyfte of streynghe These vertues I shall gyue to many creatures / dyffcreÌtly in a maÌnes soule / all be it that these vertues ben put for a pryncypalyte of vertues in a soule / more dysposed or better to the pryncypall conuersacyon with the vertu / than with other vertues / of this / by desyre of that vertu / he draweth to hyÌ other vertues For as it is sayde before / throwe the desyre of charyte / al vertues beÌ knytte togyder ¶ And so many gyftes graces of vertues ben dyuersly departed / bothe bodyly and ghostly I saye bodyly / for necessary thynges bodyly / whiche a maÌ nedeth in this lyfe I haue gyueÌ all thynges so dyfferently / or so dyuersly / for I gaue not all vertues to one man / that by compulsyon ye sholde haue cause to vse charyte / eche to other I myght well haue endowed men after the body the soule / with all thyÌges that to theÌ beloÌge / but I wolde that one sholde haue nede of an other / and that they sholden be my dyspensers and seruauntes / to gyue to deale forthe the gyftes the graces whiche they haue receyued by my goodnes For a man wyll he or not / he maye not auoyde nor eschewe / but that he shal vse the dede of charyte with his neyghboure Neuerthelesse sothe it is / yf suche a dede that semeth in charyte be not done in me / nor for me / it profyteth not hym that dothe it / as to the encrease of grace ¶ Also doughter beholde and se / that I haue ordeyned meÌ my mynystres / to that entent that the vertues of charyte sholden be vsed togyders amonge them / I haue set theÌ in dyuers states degrees / the scrypture sheweth you well / where I sayd In domo mea maÌsiones multe sunt That is to saye In my house there beÌ many dwellyÌge places / I wyll no other thyÌge but loue For in the loue of me / the loue of thy neyghbour is fulfylled ended / whaÌ the loue of a mannes neyghbour is fulfylled / the lawe of god is ended Wherfore he that is ioyned / or knytte / or oned iÌ loue to god / he worketh / or dothe that he maye to that profyte of his neyghbour / after his degre state ¶ How vertues ben preued / streÌghed of
myght I do to do penauÌce for the. And thaÌ in thy soule / in thy myÌde / I answered the and sayde I am he the whidelyte me in fewe wordes / and iÌ many good workes / and that I sholde shewe more largely / and more clerely / that he was not moche acceptable to me / the whiche onely called me with the sowne of wordes / and sayde thus Lorde / lorde / I wolde do somwhat for the. Also nother he that coueteth to greue his body for me with manye penauÌces / without that he forsake his owne wyll But I dyd couet manye workes / in suffrynge manly and meghtly all thyÌges with pasyence / and in other vertues / dyuers and many of the soule inwardly / the whiche I haue tolde and rebersed to the before / and how that all suche inwardly workynges worken bryngen fourthe fruytes of grace ¶ All other workes done in any other maner than is sayde before / I holde them not worthy to be called / but onely the sowne of wordes / for suche workes haue an ende ¶ I that haue no ende / I aske workyÌges whiche haue no ende ¶ My wyll is that the dedes of penaunce / of dyuerse other excercyses the whiche ben bodyly / be take and vsed for an instrument of vertu / but not for the pryncypall desyre nor entent to that / for yf the pryncypall effecte of loue were set ther / than sholde be yelded to me the thynge that hathe ende And that shold be sene therby for as a worde that cometh fro the mouthe / that whan it is passed forthe vndyscretely / it is nought But yf that worde were sayde with effecte of the soule / whiche effecte conceyueth bryÌgeth forthe vertues in sothefastnes ¶ For yf a worke that hathe ende / whiche I call a worde / were oned to me with vertu of charyte / thaÌ were it pleasynge to me / acceptable / for than it sholde not be alone / but coupled with the selyshyp of very dyscrecyon ¶ Reason wolde that ther were a hed / and a begynnynge onely in penaunce / and in ethe other bodyly workyÌge For as it is sayde before / they ben dedes that haue ende ¶ An ende they haue / for whaÌ they den done in tyme / or for a tyme that nathe ende / what for a maÌ that must sometyme leue theÌ / for somtyme he leueth them of necessyte / bycause he mayemot parforme that was begonne for accydentall or casuall Thynges or causes whiche comen in that tyme / as parauenture by obedyence / bycause his prelate wyl not suffre hyÌ / for yf he vred suche penauÌce agayÌst his prelates wyll or suffraunce / he sholde not onely haue no meryte for vettu / but soner rather he sholde do synne / and offende me Therfore thou mayeses that all suche workes haue an ende ¶ A man sholde take them as for to vse them iÌ tyme / but not for pryncypall begynnynge / for yf it were takeÌ so / as for a pryÌcypall begynnynge / than of necessyte / he must sometyme leue it And whan it were forsaken leste of / thaÌ sholde the soule stonde alone / and voyde as of ony meryte ¶ This sheweth wel seynt Paule whaÌ he sayd thus / mortyfy ye youre bodyly lyÌmes whiche ben on the erthe / fornycacyon / vnclennesse / lechery / euyll concupyssence that is to say mortyfy ye so your lymmes / that ye maye refrayne youre body whaÌ it wyl stryue agaynst the spyryte ¶ That wyll of the flesshe must be all deed / soget vtterly to my propre wyll / suche a wyll of a creature is mortyfyed iÌ a dewe maner as it is sayde before the whiche dewe maner / that vertu of dyscrecyon gaue to the soule that is to say dyscrecyon gaue hate dyspleasaunce of that offenses of his owne sensualyte / the whiche hatered he purchased fyrst by knowyÌge of hyÌselfe ¶ This is that sharpe swerde that cutteth and sleeth eche maÌnes porpre loue / that is grouÌded iÌ his owne êpre wyll ¶ Suche meÌ that thus sleen theyr propre loue / yeldeÌ to me contynually not onely wordes but many good werkes in the whiche I haue delyte am pleased ¶ Therfore I sayde to the that I loued fewe wordes / many werkes ¶ WhaÌ a maÌ sayeth many wordes / I noÌvre theÌ not For that loue / desyre of that soule / whiche gyueth lyfe to all other vertues / shall haue that thynge the whiche hathe none ende ¶ And yet I dyspyse not wordes vtterly Neuertheles I sayd I wolde that had fewe wordes shewyÌnge to the that all penauÌce whiche hathe ende / was an actuall doyÌge / therfore I called suche penauÌce / fewe wordes ¶ Neuerthelesse they pleasen me / so they be take or vsed as for an instrumeÌt of vertu / and not for the pryncypall vertu ¶ Therfore a maÌ sholde not deame an other man in hyer degre of parfeccyon / whiche greueth his body with many penauÌces / nor an other man in lesse degre of parfeccyon / whiche dothe lesse penaunce or none ¶ For as I haue sayde / it is not theyr vertu nor meryte ¶ For yl it were than to them / that for reasonable causes beÌ let / done not suche actuall penauÌce ¶ But the meryte abydeth onely in the vertu of charyte / whiche is made fayre with the lyghte of dyscrecyon / or els it sholde not profyte ¶ Dyscrecyon yeldeth to me this loue without ende / and without maner that is to saye nother in this maner / nor in that / but without maner ¶ For in asmoche as I am that souerayne euerlastynge goodnesse / dyscrecyon putteth no lawe / nor terme / nor maner to that loue / with the whiche he loueth me ¶ Neuertheles as agayÌste hig neyghbour / dyscrecyon putteth an ornate loue charyte / for the lyght of dyscrecyoÌ whiche cometh out of charyte / gyueth an ornate loue to his neyghbour / that is gyuyÌge suche a charyte to other / that he gyue hym no cause of synne / but kepeth hym fro synne to his power / that he map êfyte to his neyghbour ¶ For yf a man dyd onely one sytie / so that by that trespas al that worlde sholde scape fro that payne of hell / or els so that some greate vertu sholde come therof / than were not theyr charyte ordeyned with dyscrecyon / but rather it were vndyscrete ¶ For it is not lawfull to do ony vertu / nor vertuous thyÌge to thy neyghbour / with ony medlynge of synne / but holy dyscrecyon is ordeyned in this maner ¶ WhaÌ a soule that is besy / and ordeyned myghtly in all his myÌghte streynghe me to serue / louynge his neyghbour with good affeccyon of loue / dyspyseth his bodyly lyfe for helthe of soules / or to suffre paynes or turmeÌtes a thousande tymes yf it were nede possyble / so that by that his neyghbour myght
receyue the lyght of grace ¶ And forthermore he putteth his substaÌcy all teÌporall good / to do profyte to the bodyes of his neyghbours / all this worketh the lyght of holy dyscrecyon / the whiche lyght cometh out of charyte ¶ Also thou may well se / that dyscretely eche soule whiche desyreth grace whiche is infynyte that is to saye that hathe no ende / shal the elde to me a loue without ony meane that is to saye he shall yelde me a loue / whithe onely shall come of specyal grace and onely for god ¶ He shall loue also his neyghboure with a loue oned to my loue / the whiche hathe no ende ¶ But that loue shall be with a maner / and with a meane / as with the ordre of charyte comynge towarde hyÌselfe / for that profyte of an other wtout ony synne ¶ And of this seynt Paule taught you to begynne fyrst charite at yourselfe / or els it were to no parlyte profyte ¶ For whanne there is no parfeccyon in the soule / althynges ben vnparfyte / bothe he that worketh in hymselfe / and in other ¶ It were not coÌuenyeÌt that I sholde be offeÌded of my creatures / whiche am the goodnesse of all thyÌges / the whiche haue none ende / and than my creatures with suche offens sholde be saued / whiche haue ende / and beÌ made and formed onely of my goodnesse ¶ Se thaÌ well that thou shall in no maner waye do ony syfte / this knoweth well very charyte / for charyte bereth with hym the lyght of holy dyscrecyon / she is the very lyght that lyghtneth all derknesse / doth away ygnorauÌce ¶ Also it maketh all vertu / eche actuall instrument of vertues is made of her ¶ She hathe also a maner prudence / whiche may not be dysceyued / she hathe a streynghe that may not be ouercome ¶ She hathe also a parseueraunce in that ende / whiche draweth fro heueÌ in to drye erthe that is to saye fro the knowynge of me / to a man to knowe hymselfe ¶ Also fro my charyte / in to the charyte of his neyghbour ¶ It gothe aboute with very mekenesse / and throwe her prudeÌce she ouerpasseth that grynnes of feÌdes / of other creatures that is to say with suffrynge of wronges and aduersytes ¶ Also with this gloryous lyght / a man shall ouercome the flesshe and the fende / for by that he knoweth his owne freylte For whaÌ that is knoweÌ / he gyueth hate to hyÌselfe / refrenynge dyspysyâge hymselfe / holdynge hyÌ vnder the fote / so dothe coÌtpnu in dyspysynge of hyÌselfe / than is he made lorde of all that is to saye he hathe vyctory of al / as of the flesshe / of the fende ¶ Here is a repetycyon of wordes spokeÌ of before / how god promysed to his seruauÌtes refresshynge and coÌforte of reformacyon to holy chyrche / with medyacyon of penaunce / and pasyence iÌ aduersyte ¶ Now doughter thou maye se / that I whiche am the hyghe sothefastnes / haue shewed to that a truthe a doctryne / wherby thou shall go to the most hyest parfeccyon / yf you kepe my techynge ¶ Also I haue declared to that before how that satysfaccyoÌ for synne and for payne / maye be fulfylled bothe â that / and in thy neyghbour And there I shewed the / that no penaunce whis the a deedly body maye suffre that is to saye that payne onely is not suffycyent to make satysfaccyon for synne / but it be oned and ioyned with desyre / or with the affeccyon of charyte / and with very trewe contrycy on / and greate dyspleasaunce of synnes ¶ Whyle that penaunce is knytte to charyte / than that penaunce maketh satysfaccyon / not by the vertu onely of actual payne / whiche a maÌsuffreth / but for sorowe that a man hathe for synne / and for the meryte of his charyte / the whiche charyte a soule hathe purchased with a lyght herte / with a lyberall / fre lyght of intelleccyoÌ / beholdyÌge in me whâthe am that charyte ¶ All this I ordeyned to be shewed to the / for mekely and feruently thou vyde aske a wyll to suffre penauÌce bodyly for thyselfe for all other ¶ Therfore I haue shewed to the / that thou and my other seruauntes sholde knowe how and in what maner ye shall make sacryfyce of yourselfe ¶ For that sacryfyce must be actuall / and oned togyder by myght Ryght as a vessell is oned to the water / the whiche shall be presented to a lorde ¶ For that water may not be presented without a vessell ¶ Also yf that vessell be presented to a lorde wtout water / it is not acceptable to the lorde ¶ Ryght so I saye to you / that ye shall offre vp to me / a vessell ful of actual labours in suche maner as I wyll graunte you that ye shall offre / not in suche maner as you wyll youre selfe / but by suche maner as I wyll put it to you / ye not chosyÌge place / nor tyme nor labours / this vessel shall be ful / for all men shall be supported of you with very pasyence / affeccyoÌ of loue / suffrynge supportynge defautes on your neyghbours / with hate dyspleasaunce of synne ¶ Than maye these be take for labours / called labours / whiche I purposed to the. For a vessell full of the water of my grete grace / shal gyuelyfe to soules ¶ And than I take to me this presente of my amyable spouses that is to saye of eche soule whiche saythefully dothe me seruyce ¶ I receyue of theÌ theyr ferueÌt desyres / theyr teeres / theyr syghyÌges / theyr meke coÌtynuall deuoute prayers / whiche beÌ in a maner that meane waye bytwyxe theÌ me ¶ For throwe that loue the whiche I haue to theÌ / they maken theÌ wrothefull vpon myne enemyes that is to saye vpon wycked men / whiche euery day full greuously offeÌdeÌ me ¶ Therfore shode ye stydefastly / suffte myghtly vnto the dethe / and that shall be a tokeÌ that ye shall loue me in all trouthe sothefastnes ¶ Ye shall not tourne the heed behodynge the ploughe backwarde / for no drede of ony creature / or of ony aduersyte / but ye shal rather Iope in trybulacyoÌs ¶ The worlde maketh ioye iÌ moche wroÌge that is done to me / but ye that ben yet in the worlde / shall be sory of the wronges / and of the offences done to me / throwe the whiche ye all offâden me And they that ben wycked men offendeÌ you Your offence done to me / whiche is myne offence / for I am made one with you ¶ Thou maye well parceyue in thy wytte / that whan my ymage / symylytude / or lykenesse was gyueÌ to the / whaÌ grace was lost by dute for synne / whyle I lyued in that / with that / I hydde my nature iÌ
¶ Holy god bowe downe thâ mercy / to thy ghostly flocke of shepe / as a good a very crewe shepeherde ¶ Lorde hye the fast to helpe all the worlde / tary not to gyue them mercy / for now they latken grace ¶ O gracyous lorde the sothefastnesse withouten ende / it semeth that man is pryued of thy charyte that is to saye of the loue the whiche sholde be grounded in the charytably louynge themselfe togyder / and the aboue all ¶ How that god made a compleynt on his reasonable creatures / and specyally for theyr owne êpre loue / whiche reygneth in them / where he styrreth the soule to prayers / and teeres THaÌ our lorde was fore styrred to mercy and for oure hèlthe / he ordeyned in this soule / how her loue and sorowe myght be encreased to helpe mannes soule / shewynge her with how greate loue he had mad the worlde as it is sayde before and sayde to her thus Thou sees howe the euery man offendeth me / I of my goodnesse made them of nought / with the flamme of greate loue / and how I haue endowed theÌ with the gyfte of plentuous graces / and gyftes with out noÌbre / onely of my specyal grace of no dewte ¶ Beholde doughter how that they gone agaynst me / with dyuerse / many / and vnnumerable synnes / and dayly done offende me / and namely with theyr owne wret chydnesse / synfull lyuynge of theÌselfe / of the whiche wycked loue / cometh out all synne and wyckednesse ¶ With this this wycked loue / all the worlde they haue venymed ¶ For ryght as my loue the is onede to theyr loue / with the loue of theyr neyghbour / holdeth and kepeth all sothefastnesse iÌ them as it is shewed before ryght so the sencyble loue holdeth in them / all euyl and vntruthe that loue cometh of pryde ¶ So in the contrary wyse / as my loue cometh of charyte / so that fals loue coÌteyneth in theÌ all euyll ¶ And this euyll they do by the mene of some creature / that is not in very charyte of his neyghbour / for they louen not me / and they loue not theyr neyghbour ¶ For those two loues muste be knytte togyder ¶ Thus I sayde to the before / the euery good thynge and euery euyll thynge / is done by some mene of his neyghbour ¶ In many other wyses I maye make my compleynt on man / for he receyued nothynge of me but good / and he yeldeth to me agayne hatered dothe all euyll ¶ Therfore I sayde to the / the I sholde aswage my wrothe / by the shedynge of my seruaun tes terres / and so I saye to the now agayne ¶ Therfore ye that ben my seruauÌtes / tourneÌ my dyuyne dome with youre deuoute prayers / greate desyres / and with sharpe with byt ter sorowes / for offenses done to me and to theyr harmes and so my wrothe shal asswage ¶ How no maÌ maye scape the handes of god / but he must abyde his ryghtwysnesse / or his mercy DOughter knowe it for a truthe / that no man may scape my handes / for I am he the am euerlastynge beynge / ye beÌ not nor haue no beyÌge of your selfe / but asmoche as ye haue beynge of me / the whiam maker former of all thynges the haueÌ beynge / out take synne that is nought ¶ Bycause it is not made of me / therfore in no maner it is byloued Therfore a creature that is blynded he offendeth / for he loueth that whiche he shold not that is to saye synne / and hathe me in hate / whome he is bounde to loue ¶ I am all good / and I gaue to man be ynge / with a feruent loue / he may not scape frome me / for of my ryght wysenesse / he shall abyde here in my handes and power for his synnes / or here by my mercy pyte ¶ Ther fore open thyne eyen of intelleccyon and beholde my power / and thou shall se / that it is trewe that I sayde to the ¶ Than she lyfte vp her gostly eye / to obeye to the fader in heuen / she sawe iÌ his honde all the worlde closed ¶ Than oure lorde spake to her and sayde Go doughter and se that no man maye be take fro me for as I sayde al those that abyden here / abydeÌ of my ryghtwysenesse / or els of my mercy ¶ For al they beÌ myne al of me they haue brought forthe and I loue them more than may be spoken ¶ Therfore not wtstondyÌge theyr wyckednesse / with the helpe good menes of my seruauntes / I shall gyue them mercy ¶ And for thy greate loue / also for thy greate sorowe / I shall fulfyll thy peryeyon ¶ How this soule whan she swette water for a brennynge desyre / in the tyme of prayer / desyred that she myght swete blode THis soule than for greate enerese of hely desyre / was made blyssed / and fulfylled with an holy sorowe ¶ Blyssed she was / for the oneheed she made iÌ gody tastyÌge and sauourynge his goodnesse / all fulfyled woith Ioye in his mercy ¶ She was also fulfylled with sorowe whan she knewe the hyghe maieste of god / so greately offended ¶ And than she gaue thaÌkynges to the good nesse of god / and knowynge the same goodnesse / and the manyfolde defautes of maÌkynde / she rose quyckly as it had ben fro dethe / throwe a greate desyre ¶ And after this whan she knewe in herselfe / the selynge of her soule / so woÌderfully renued in that euer beyngt godheed / that her holy loue / and delectable brennyÌge was somoche eÌcresed / the she swette water throwe the myght and vyolence / the whiche the soule dyd to the body ¶ For the oncheed whiche the soule made in god / was more parfyte than is the bonde of the oneheed / bytwyxe the soule and the body ¶ Therfore of the streynghe of loue / she had that swetynge hete / but she dyspysed the swerynge / for the affeccyoÌ that she had / was with greare desyre to haue swe tynge to come oute of her body all of blode ¶ And in that desyre she spaketo her selfe / and sayde Alas my soule that thou hase lost thus the tyme of this wretched lyfe / and for the losse of thy tyme / many harmes wyckednesses out of nombre haue sall in all the worlde / bothe partycu lâtly / and in comyn / and specyally iÌ all holy chyrche ¶ Wherfore I wyll and desyre / that thou remedy ouer all these harmes / with the sroetyÌge of blode ¶ Beholde systren and se / how swetely that soule hathe kepte in my ndâ / the noble doctryne / e whiche euer beynge sothefastnesse had raughte her / and betake her that is to saye in knowynge herselfe and the goodnesse of god in her / and spedefull remedyes for reparacyon of all
the floode beforesayde / by the waues of trybulacyoÌs comyÌge agaynst hym ¶ And by the couetous thornes of worldely comforte / the whiche be very thornes pryckynge the soule / and loueth them vnornately / and kepeth them ¶ How the drede of seruage wtout loue of vertues / is not suffycyent to euer lastynge lyfe / and how the lawe of drede and the lawe of loue be oned togyder I Sayde to the that ther maye no man go by the brydge / nor passe out of the floode but nedes he must ascende vpoÌ thre grees ¶ And sothe it is / that some asceÌde vnparfytely / some parfytely and some with greate parfeccyon ¶ All suche therfore that with seruyle drede ben onely lad and gouerned / ascende vnparfytely gaderyÌge togyder the myghtes of the soule ¶ That is whaÌ the soule seeth peyne folowe synne / for fere of that peyne it ryseth out fro synne / and asceÌdeth vp and gadereth the mynde togyder / therby to pull awaye the remeÌbrauÌce and mynde of synne ¶ The ¶ The vnderstoÌdyÌge also is drawe to for to se and beholde what peyne is ordeyned for synne / and than his wyll is moued to hate synne ¶ And thoughe this be the fyrst ascencyon / and the fyrste gaderynge togyder of the myghtes of the soule / yet muste the soule excersyce and vse the same ascencyon and gaderynge togyder of the same myghtes / by the lyghte of the inwardely vnderstoÌdynge in the clere syghte of very feythe / not onely beholdynge the peyne for synne but also and rather the dede of vertu / the loue that they sholde haue to vertu / so that theyr affeccyoÌ may ascende vp with the fete of loue / put tynge away seruyle drede ¶ Yf they do thê° / thaÌ they be made my trewe seruauntes / and not vntrewe / seruynge me onely for loue / and not for drede ¶ To this they maye come / yf they myghtely orawe vp by the rote and put awaye with hate / the roote of theyr owne propre loue ¶ And also yf they be wyse and prÌudent / styd fast / and parseueraunt ¶ But ther be many suche begynners / the whiche begynne to asceÌde / that be so dul and full of slothe / and so feyntly yel den to me my dewte / with suche neclygence / and ygnoraunce / that they feynt and defayle / anone rennynge to the sayle for the lest wynde that cometh ¶ And so they gone backewarde / for they dyd ascende vnparfytely / toke the fyrst gre of the brydge of my onely fothefast sone / and most byloued Ihesu crucyfyed / therfore they maye not come to the secoÌde gre of the herte of loue ¶ How a man that hathe excersysed hym in the drede of seruage whiche is the state of imparfeccyoÌ / by whiche state is vnder stoÌde the fyrste grees of the foresayde holy brydge / he maye come so to the seconde gre / whiche is that state of parfeccyon SOme there be that be become trewe seruauÌtes / that be those whiche seruen me trewly / without ony seruyle drede or bondage / that serueÌ not me for drede of peyne / but for loue / and with loue ¶ That maner of loue by the whiche men serueÌ me for theyr owne profyte auauntage / and for loue plesaunce that they fynde in me / is vtterly vnparsyte / and that maye well be knowen in this wyse ¶ As sone as my comfortes be withdrawe fro theÌ / anone they gyue of theyr loue / therfore it is vnparfyte ¶ By suche maner of loue vnêfyte / they loueÌ theyr neyghbours / therfore suche loue is not suffycyent nor durable / but rather suche loue ceaseth ofte tymes fayleth ¶ It ceaseth anendes me / for this cause / oft tymes I wtithdrawe fro them ghostly coÌfortes of the soule / that they may the soner aryse from imparfeccyon / and be excersysed in vertues / suffrynge theÌ to haue tourment and heuynesse of herte / that they maye the more purely come to me ¶ The whiche is done also bycause they sholde the soner come to the parfyte knowlege of themselfe / for they knowe not themselfe / nor they haue no grace of themselfe ¶ And also that in tyme of trybulacyoÌs they myght lerne for to renne to me / that am theyr refute and comforte / knowynge me to be to them gyuer of al goodnes graces / so to serche me feythfully with very mekenesse / and for this cause / all suche trybulacyons to fall to theÌ / withdrawynge fro theÌ ghostly coÌfortes / but not my grace ¶ All suche maner of meÌ go than full sloly with greate vnpasyence of soule ¶ And otherwhyle they leue forsake theyr ghostly excercyses in many maners and dyuers / and ofte tymes vnder colour of vertu / they say within theÌselfe thus ¶ This ghostly excercyse workynge is nothyge profytable to me / and that is whan they fynde them and fele them faylynge lackynge of inwarde ghostly comforte ¶ Suche one holdeth kepeth the condycyon of an vnparfyte man / for he hathe not yet ryght well lyfte vp and put awaye the veyle and the clothe of his ghostly loue / fro the clere syghte of the eye of very bryssed feythe ¶ For yf he hadde well lyfted it vp / put awaye that clothe / in sothe he sholde severyly / that all the tryÌbulacyons comen fro me to proue hym / for the leest lefe of a tree maye not fall downe without my ordynauÌce êuydeÌce ¶ And therfore all that euer I graunted to them by suffrauÌce of suche trybulacyons / I suffre it to come to them for theyr encrease oâ vertu ¶ That is that they maye haue a good ende / to the whiche ende I haue made theÌ Â¶ This they sholde beholde and se and veryly knowe that I desyre nothynge of them / but vertu and good / in the precyous blode of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / in the whiche blode they be wasshed fro all theyr wyckednes in the same blode they maye knowe my very truthe ¶ For that I wolde gyue to them euerlastynge lyfe / I made them to the ymage and symylytute of me / and haue made theym freslhe and quycke to grace as chyldreÌ of grace / in the bloode of my onely sone Ihesu ¶ But bycause they be vnêfyte / they do to me seruyse onely for theyr owne profyte / wtdrawynge theÌ in the same wyse fro the parfyte loue of theyr neyghbours ¶ The fyrste âo fayle for drede the whiche they haue for suffcynge of peyne ¶ The secoÌde withdrawynge of theÌ fro the profyte / that they sholde shewe and do to theyr neyghbours / and so withdrawe theÌ fro charyte / bycause they parceyue in them that they be depryued / as they thynke fro ghostly comforte / whiche they were vsed to haue / and that is for theyr loue is not parfyte ¶ But with the same imparfeccyon that they loue me onely for theyr
owne profyte / with the same imêfyte lour / they loue theyr neyghbours ¶ And but yf they dyd know theyr owne imparfeccyon by grete desyre of parfeccyon / they must nedes go backe ¶ Therfore it is ryght nedefull for them / yf they wyl haue that durable lastynge loue / for to loue without beholdynge of ony maner rewarde ¶ It is not ynoughe for to fle synÌe for drede of peyne / nor for to lyue vertuously onely for his synguler auauÌtage and profyte ¶ For these be no grete thyÌges for to wynÌe therby heuen blysse / but it is spedefull for to eschewe synnes onely for they dysplesen me / and onely for my loue for to loue vertues get them ¶ Neuerthelesse the fyâste callynge of euety creature is that for fyrste a soule is vnparfyte / rather thaÌ parfyte / and fro imparfeccyon it sholde come to parfeccyoÌ Â¶ Whyther euery vertuous soule lyuynge in this lyfe hathe alwaye loued me onely with out beholdyÌge of ony other thynge / or yf that it haue in the houre of departynge fro the body in this lyfe desyred / yf it hadde be tyme or space to serue me better than euer she dyd / withoute beholdynge of ony other thynge than of me alone / knowynge than her owne vnparfytenes or imêfeccyon ¶ Suche soules I trowe there be many / so lyuynge in vnparfyte loue ¶ Of the whiche Peter was one / that loued my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryst for his blessyd bodyly conuersacyon in this lyfe / but whan tyme of trybulacyoÌ came he sayled in his loue / and he fell in to suche an inconuenyente / that for very drede of peyne he denyed hym sayd that he knewe hym neuer ¶ And therfore a soule that ascendeth vpoÌ these grees onely with seruyle drede hyred loue / she falleth in to greate incomodytes and inconuenyence ¶ All they sholde therfore aryse as very trewe chyldren / seruynge me wtoute ony bâholdyÌge of theyr owne profyte / for I am the rewarder of euery laboure / and yelde to euery man after his estate excersyce ¶ And therefore yf they leue not the excersyce of good and holy prayers and of other good werkes / but moche rather encreasen in vertues with parseueraunce / than they showe come worthely to the very loue of my sothefaste sone Ihesu ¶ And I shall thaÌ loue theÌ with suche loue / as I loue my owne very dere chyldren / for with suche lour as I am loued / I shall loue agayne ¶ Yf I be loued with suche loue / as a seruaunt loueth his lorde / I as a lorde as he hathe deserued / shall rewarde hym his dewte ¶ But I shall not make myselfe open to hym by my specyal graces / for to a trewe frende and a trewe louer / my pryue secretes be made opeÌ and shewed / the whiche is made one with me that am his frende ¶ Neuerthelesse a seruaunte maye encrees with the vertues and loue that he bereth to his lorde / in somocbe that he may be made a ryght dere freÌde ¶ Ryghte so it happeth of suche that loue me as hyred seruauntes done to thyr lordes / to suche I make me not open ¶ But yf suche pull vp by the roote with a maner of hate theyr owne ghostly loue fro themselfe / asceÌde vp aboue the sete of theyr owne coÌscyence / not leuynge this seruyle drede hyred loue vnchastysed and vncorrecked with the lyghte of very deuoute feythe / than maye they be to me tyghte kynde and come to my very frendely loue ¶ And so shal I than shewe me gracyously to them / as my owne sothefaste sone Ihesu sayde whan he was conuersaunt iÌ this worlde / he that loueth me he say the shall kepe my worde / my fader shal loue hym / and we shal come to hym / and make a dwellyÌge place in hyÌ Â¶ Also he saythe in an other place thus / he that loueth me / shall be loued of my fader / I shall loue hym / and shewe hym myselfe gracyously ¶ This is the very knowlege of dere louers / for in theym loue is transformed in the louer / by affeccy on loue / so ther be two bodyes one soule / yf two haue but one soule it maye not be hyd fro that one / but it is knowe also to that other ¶ And therfore my sothefaste sone Ihesu sayde thus / we sholde come make togyder one dwellynge place ¶ Of the imparfeccyon of them that loueÌ and seruen god for theyr owne profyte and loue / or for theyr comforte DOughter wyl thou knowe how I shal make myselfe open in a soule that in truthe loueth me / shewynge the techyÌge and the doctryne of my sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / here nowe in many maner wyses ¶ I shewe my vertu in suche a soule / after the desyre the suche a soule hathe ¶ Neuertheles thre pryÌcypal shewynges / I made to be had in a dere louynge soule ¶ The fyrste is / that I shewe the affeccyon of my charyte / by medyacyon and meane of the roorde of my ryghte well byloued sone Ihesu cryste / the whiche affeccyon is made open in the blode of hym shed oute by the feruent fere of brennynge charyte ¶ In two maner wyses this charyte is shewed / one is generall comune to all / dwellynge and abydynge in comune charyte ¶ To suche it is shewed the whiche do se and haue experyence of my charyte / for many dyuers benefytes that they haue receyued of me / and in dyuers maners ¶ The other maner of shewynge is partyculer to theym specyally that be made truly and feythefully my frendes ¶ The shewyÌge of this comune charyte that they do taste / they knowe they haue experyence / and they fele it parfytely in theyr soules ¶ The seconde shewynge of charyte is at the tyme that I do make me open to them by affeccyoÌ of loue not for I am a specyall rewarder of one more than of an other / but makynge me frely open in theyr soules / onely by holy desyre / in the same parfeccyon that they seke ¶ Other whyle I make me open to them by another maner of wyse / and this is the maner of the other shewynge / gyuynge to them spyryte of prophecye / for to knowe thynges that be to come / and that is in manye wyses and dyuers maners / after the indygence and nede that I aspy in suche a soule / and other creatures ¶ Other whyle also in the thyrde wyse / formynge in theyr soules / the presence of my truthe / that is the sothefastnes of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu in dyuers wyses and many maners / as a soule desyreth the whiche hathe grete thruste or drynes ¶ Other whyle they seke me in holy prayers / desyrynge for to knowe my myghte / and than I do suffre theym to taste the very vertu of my myght / other whyle I am sought in the wysdome of my sone
stondeth in the well / it is neuer ydle nor voyde / but euer ful ¶ Ryght so loue of neyghbours / bothe spyrytuall temporall / wyll be drunke in me wtout beholdynge and rewarde of ony creatures ¶ I aske not that of you that ye loue me with the same loue that I loued you / for that maye ye not do / bycause I loued you / whan I was not loued of you ¶ All maner of loue that ye haue to me / ãâã it to me of dewte / not of grace / bycause ye sholde do it / but I loue you of grace / and not of dewte ¶ Therfore that loue whiche I aske of you ye maye not yelde it to me / and for that cause I haue put a meane bytwyxe you and me that is to saye youre neyghboure that ye do to hym / that ye maye not do to me / and that is that yÌe loue hym of grace / without ony beholdynge / and without ony abydynge ¶ For I holde it done to me that is done to hym for thy loue / this shewed well my sothefast sone to seynt Paule whan be parsued me sayenge thus ¶ Saule Saule why parsues thou me ¶ This he sayde holdyÌge me parsued / in that he parsued my trewe seruauntes ¶ And therfore suche loue wolde be pure / for lyke with the same loue that ye sholde loue me / ye sholde loue them ¶ Yf thou wyll knowe the tokeÌs of vnêfyte loue / I shall declare them to ye. ¶ Yf a man loue an other ghostly fele payne that tourmenteth hym / in asmoche as the creature that he loueth is not sene to hym for to satysfy to his loue / iÌ louyÌge hym agayne as he loueth hym / his louyÌge is vnparfyte ¶ Also yf he se his conuersacyon be withdrawe or pryued / or desolate fro ghostly comforte / or yf he se an other beloued more than he hymselfe ¶ All these be takens and many mo / that his loue bothe in me in his neyghbour is vnparfyte / and this is for to drynke of the vessell wtout the well ¶ All be it he toke the lycoure of loue of me / yet his loue was not abydnge parfytely in me / as in the well of loue ¶ Therfore it sheweth tokens of imparfeccyon in by / whom he loueth ghostly ¶ And all this maye be the cause / for the rote of his owne propre loue / was neuer yet pulled vp wel ¶ Therfore I suffre loue ofte tymes to be had / that he maye knowe his owne imparfeccyon / by my wtdrawynge of felynge fro hym / that he maye shutte hym vp and enclose hymselfe in the house of his owne knowlege ¶ In the whiche knowlege / he shall get al maner of parfeccyon ¶ And thaÌ shall I entre with a greate lyght / with very knowlege of my truthe insomoche that he shall holde it for a synguler grace / to mortyfy or sle for my loue his propre wyl ¶ And he shall cease neuer to cutte awaye the superfluytes of his vyne / to pull vp the thornes of his thoughtes / and buylde edyfy very myghty stones of vertu / grouÌded set in that blode of my sones passyon / the whiche be founde by goynge vpon the brydge of my onely sone crucyfyed before sayde / grounded vpon the doctryne of my truthe in the vertu of his blode ¶ For by vertues ye lyuen in the strengthe of his passyon â And here nowe mdder systren thus endeth the seconde parte of this orcharde / in the whiche all we be shewed the very way to heuen / and in that same boke we be shewed how to cut of the supfluytes of our vynes / and how we shall pull vp the pryckynge thornes of oure thoughtes / with dyuers maters / as it is rehersed in the kalender before ¶ The fourthe boke ¶ The fyrste chapytre of the .iiii. party / speketh of prayer / fyrste in what maner a soule shall gouerne her / that she maye come to pure loue and lyberall / and moche of this .iiii. partel speketh of prayers and of teres ¶ But fyrste god sheweth here a doctryne of the holy sacrameÌt of crystes body And how a soule shal come fro vocall prayer / to mentall prayer with other maters as it is rehersed to you in the kalender before Ca. i. AFter tyme a soule hath entred and gone by the doctryne of cristes passyon / crucyfyed with very loue of vertu / and hate of vyces / it stondeth with parfyte parseueraunce / namely suche a soule that is parfytely come to the house of his owne knowlege / abydynge myghtely and coÌtynually in holy watche prayer / drpted fully fro the coÌuersacyoÌ of the worlde ¶ Wherfore hath suche a soule closed her in the house of her owne knowlege ¶ In certayne for drede / knowynge her owne imparfeccyon / and also for desyre that it hathe / for to come to a pure and a lyberal loue / and also bycause it seeth well that it may come in no otherwyse therto ¶ Therfore with quycke feythe she abideth the comyÌge of me / by encrease of grace iÌ herselfe ¶ But wherby shall a man knowe quycke feythe ¶ Truly by parseueraunce of vertu / and not goynge abacke for nothynge that falleth / nor for to cease nor leue iÌ dewe tyme fro holy prayers / but yf it be for charyte / or for obedyence or els not for ofte tymes by vnordynate tyme of prayer / that fende cometh by many heuynesses and batayles / more than she were founde without prayer / that he dothe for to dysceyue her / for to make her to leue holy prayers ofte tymes sayenge to her after this maner ¶ This prayer profyteth that not / for thou sholde take hede to no thynge elles / nor thynke nothynge elles but to that and of that thou sees / thus he saythe to make thy prayer to be heuy to the / and for bycause thou sholde cease of the excercyse of holy prayers / the whiche is an armure by the whiche a soule is defended and kepte frome all her aduersytes with stretchynge forthe of the honde of loue / and with the arme of fre choyse / defendyÌge her selfe with the same armure / and with the lyghte of very feythe ¶ God sheweth here a doctryne / of the holy sacrament of the auter that is to saye of the holy sacrament of crystes body / and how a soule shall come fro vocall prayer / to mentall prayer / and here is shewed a vysyon / whiche this deuoute soule had on a tyme. THou knowes well dere doughter / that in meke contynuall prayer and feythfull with parseueraunce / a soule wynneth all vertu / and therfore she sholde parseuer and neuer leue it / nother for yllusyoÌ of the fende / nor for theyr owne freylte that is by thoughte or mouyÌge that cometh iÌ theyr owne flesshe / nother by spekynge of no creature / for ofte tymes
is / whome I haue so greately offended / and what I am / that haue so greuously offended hym ¶ Than the fende not suffcynge suche mekenesse of the soule / and the hope of my goodnesse / sayde agayne to thou thus ¶ Cursed be thou / for I may nothynge auayle in the / yf I do my greate labour to throwe the adowne in to lowe thynges by confusyon and shame / thou lyftes vp thyself to mercy / and yf I wolde enhaunce the to hyghe thynges by pryde / thou descendes lowly by mekenes and parsnes me in to hell / so that I shall neuer tempte the more / for euer thou smytes me with the staffe of charyte ¶ In all suche maners a soule sholde medle the knowlege of herselfe / with the knowlege of my mercy / my knowlege with her knowlege ¶ And after suche maner vocal prayer is profytable to a soule that vseth it / and lykynge to me / and fro suche vnparfyte vocall prayer with excersyce parseueraunce / she maye come to parfyte mentall prayer ¶ Neuerthelesse yf the entent be set symply for to fulfyll the nombre of the psalmes / or pater nosters ytaxed / or leuyÌge mental prayer for vocall prayer / I tell the for truthe suche one shall neuer come to mental prayer ¶ Otherwhyse suche a soule that whan she sholde praye and saye her nombre of psalmes or pater nosters / it is so vnsauory that her tongue is lothe and dull to say / and otherwhyle she hathe suche a conscyeÌce of leuynge vnsayde the psalmes and the pater nosters / whaÌ I vyset her somtyme one wyse / somtyme an other wyse as somtyme by the lyght of my knowlege with contrycyon of her synnes / somtyme by largenesse of my ryght greate habundaunte charyte / somtyme by manye maner wyses makynge open before the clere lyghte of her soule / as it is lykynge to me / the presence of my very truthe after the deuoute and holy desyre of the same foule / yet she wyll not leue vnsayde the nombre of psalmes or pater nosters / but moche rather she wyll leue my specyall vysytacyon that she feleth iÌ her soule / and so she sholde not do / for that is one of the dysceytes of the fende ¶ But anone as she parceyueth her soule touched with my specyall vysytacyon / than she shold leue vocal prayer tourne therto ¶ And whan that mental vysytacyon is withdrawe fro her / thaÌ to tourne agayne to vocall prayer yf she wyll make an ende of her psalmes and pater nosters that she was in purpose for to saye / yf she haue no tyme / she sholde not charge it nor be heuy therfore in her soule / but yf it be dyuyne seruyce / to the whiche bothe prestes / clerkes / and all relygyous people be bounde for to saye / and yf they saye it not they offende / for vnto the ende of theyr dethe they be bouÌde ther to / yf they be in he le / and yf they were touched by specyall vysytacyon in dewe tymes and houres whan they sholde say theyr dyuyne seruyce / they sholde puruaye an other tym other before or after for to say theyr dyuyne seruyce / so that it be not lefte vnsayde / that sholde be sayd of dewte ¶ Suche vocall prayer sayd / as it is before rehersed / bryÌgeth a soule to parfeccyoÌ / therfore vocall prayer sholde not be lefte / than with excersyce and parseueraunce the swetenesse of prayer shall be tasted in truthe / also the blessyd ghostly meet of the body of my sothefaste sone / as it is rehersed ¶ And therfore I tolde the that some receyue chrystes flesshe his bloode vertuously / some sacrameÌtally comunynge that blessyd sacramente with affeccyoÌ of charyte / for he that gothe to that sacrament with affcecyon / he fyndeth moche swetenesse / and he that goeth ther to more of custome and vse than for affeccyon / he fyndeth lytle swetenesse / for he that enforceth hym with all his soule to make open his affeccyon in me / knytteth it to me with the very lyght of intelleccyon he knoweth moche / and he that knoweth moche loueth moche / he that loueth moche tasteth me swetely ¶ By this thou maye knowe the parfyte prayer is not goteÌ with many wordes / but with affeccyon of desyre reysed in me of me with knowlege of hymselfe of me ¶ And he that prayeth thus / he shall haue bothe mentall prayer vocall prayer / for they dwell togyder / lyke as actyue lyue and contemplatyue done ¶ By many maner of wyses / vocall and mentall prayer ben vnderstoÌde ¶ For asmoche as I sayd to the and tolde the that holy desyre is contynuall prayer / that is for to haue an holy desyre and a deuoute wyll / the whiche wyll and desyre do aryse actually in tyme and place ordeyned / with the addâcyon of actu / all prayer ¶ And so a soule shall vse in tyme sette and ordeyned with an holy wyll vocall prayer / and neuer oute of tyme ordeyned for to vse it namely contynually ¶ Parauenture sometyme it muste be lefte for mynystracyoÌ of charyte vsed to the helthe of neyghbours / somtyme for other necessary and nedeful causes / as the state besynesse axeth / that I haue sette a creature in ¶ Euery man sholde laboure to the helthe and necessytes of soules / after the state that he is called to / for what that euer he laboureth actually to the ease and helthe of his neyghboure / is for to praye vertuously ¶ For as seynt Austyn saythe / he ceseth neuer to praye well / that ceseth neuer to do well / and therfore it was that I sayd / that prayer is in many maners ¶ For actuall prayer done / as it is before sayde is done by affeccyon of charyte / for with the affeccyon of charyte is coÌtynual prayer ¶ Thus I haue tolde the / howe thou maye come to mentall prayer / that is by excersyce and parseueraunce of vocal prayer / how thou sholde leue vocall prayer for mentall prayer whan I vysyte thy soule ¶ I dyd saye to the also what is comune prayer / for I sayde it was prayer of good wyll / that is excersysed of charytable besynesse / bothe in the and in thy neyghboure the whiche sholde be do with a good wyll ¶ Thus a soule sholde neuer be ydle frome prayer / but other actually or meÌtally she sholde praye / lest she fall in to duldesse of spyryte / and in to an vnparfyte loue / for the more that she loueth / the more she shal fele profyte and loue bothe in me and in her neyghboure ¶ And here shal be shewed of a dysceyte that creatures haue somtyme / whiche loueÌ god and serue hym / for theyr owne comforte delectacyon Of the whiche imparfyte loue somwhat shall I tell the / of a certayne dysceyte that is goten
awaye fro her all suche maner delyte / she is anone take by the deuylles hoke iÌ to his hondes / and yf she with very mekenesse dyspyse suche delectacyon and with loue betaketh her in to the affeccyon of me / the whi am a louer and not the gyfte / the fende for his owne pryde / maye not suffre that mekenes of suche a soule ¶ Now yf thou wyll knowe a tokeÌ how they ben dysceytes of the fende and not my reuelacyoÌs / I shal tel ye. ¶ This is the token of suche a trasformacyon of lyghte that vysyteth the soule / be of the fende / anone the soule in the comyÌge of it loseth her ghostly gladnesse / and is lefte nothynge but heuynesse and derkenesse and sharpe pryckynge in the soule / yf it is veryly vysyted of me that am sothefastnesse euerlastynge / the soule in the fyrste apperynge receyueth an holy drede / and with the same drede she receyueth ghostely gladnesse and sykernesse / with a maner of swete prudence / for she dredeth / and dredeth not / but in her owne thoughte / she holdeth her vnworthy suche vysytacyoÌs / saythe thus to me ¶ Lorde I am indynge and moche vnworthy to receyue suche ghoostly vysytacyons / and sythe I am not worthy / howe maye this be that I am thus vysyted / thaÌ she tourneth her to me / consyderynge the wonderful large brede of my charyte / and seeth inwardely therin / that I consydre nothynge her worthynes / of no meryte that she deserueth to hane suche vysytacyoÌ / but onely my owne dygnyte and worthynesse / by the whiche I make able and worthy / whome it lyketh me to receyue suche vysytacyoÌs bothe of grace and of felynge / for I dyspyse neuer that desyre that calleth to me / and this is the cause that she receyueth suche vysytacyons mekely sayenge thus / beholde the haÌdemayde of god / in me be thy wyll done / and thaÌ she goeth forthe to prayer / euer ryghte mekely holdynge herselfe indynge and moche vnworthy suche holy ghoostly vysytacyons / onely as I haue sayde / consyderynge that it cometh of me ¶ This is a very token for to knowe whether that a soule be vysyted of me / or of the fende / for as I haue sayd in the fyrst apperynge / they fynde a greate drede / parceyuynge bothe in the myddes and in the ende hongre of vertu ¶ Also an other whyle a soule whan that it is blynded of the wycked fende / fyrst it receyueth gladnesse and ioye / and at the laste it is broughte in to confusyon and derkenes of the soule ¶ Lo thus haue I shewed the a token / for to knowe the dysceyte of the fende / that yf a soule wyll be meke go wysely / she maye not be dysceyued / and yf she wyll algates go rather with vnparfyte loue of her ghostly comfortes / than with the êfeccyon of my loue as I haue sayde / she must nedes be dysceyued of the fende ¶ This seconde chapytre telleth of theym that wyll not helpe nor coÌfort theyr neyghbours in theyr nede / bycause they wolde not be letted nor leue theyr owne coÌforte / pease / nor rest ¶ Also of the dysceyte the whiche goddes seruauntes haue / that loueÌ god with suche vnêfyte loue before sayde / and other maters as it is rehersed before in the kalender Ca. ii I Haue tolde the of the dysceytes of them that wyll receyue me and taste me iÌ theyr soules / after theyr owne maner and delectacyon / and nothynge after my wyll ¶ Nowe shall I tel the of the secoÌde dysceyte of them / that al theyr delectacyon is set for to receyue ghostly comfortes / insomoche that oft tymes thoughe they se theyr neyghboure in greate nede spyrytually or teÌporally / ryght vnder the coloure of vertu they excuse them thus they saye yf they sholde tende to suche outwarde besynesse / they sholde lose rest pease of soule / and also leue theyr houres vnsayd in dewe tyme / therfore they charge not to helpe them / leste they lose theyr ghostly comforte / and offende me / as they thyÌke they sholde do ¶ All such be dysceyued of theyr ghostly delectacyon of soule / they offende me more in that they wyll not helpe theyr neyghbours iÌ theyr necessytes / thaÌ in leuyÌge of all theyr ghostly coÌfortes / for all maner ghostly excersyce / be it vocall or mentall / was ordeyned of me / whiche a soule sholde vse for to come to parfeccyoÌ / and to the charyte of his neyghbour / and that the neyghboure sholde be kepte in charyte / so that a man offendeth me more / leuyÌge vndone the charytable mynystracyon of his neyghboure in tyme of nede / for his actuall excersyce and reste of soule / than for to leue suche actuall excersyce and reste of soule for his neyghbour / for he fyndeth me in the charyte of his neyghbour and in the loue of hym / and yt they be not charytably mynystred iÌ tyme of theyr nede / in that they losen theyr charyte / whan charyte of neyghbourehode lacketh / my affeccyon is lessed / my ghostli coÌforte is lessed insomoche that that they wolde wynne / they lose / and that that they wolde lose they wynne / that is by mynystracyon to theyr neyghbours / in tyme of nede / leuyÌge therfore ghostly comfortes / they receyue and wynne bothe me theyr neyghbour / so in all tymes / they maye because of theyr mynystracyon / taste the swetenesse of my charyte / and if they do it not / they stonden in peyne as thus yf they must nedes do them some mynstracyon / other by very force / loue / bodyly or ghostly infyrmyte / that they do suffre / it shall be done so heuyly with suche peyne of conscyence and tedyousnesse of soule / that the one vnneth maye suffre or bere the other / and yf ony man aske them why / it is so peynfull to them / that they sholde answere and saye / that as them sementh / they lose therby bothe pease and tranquylyte of soule / and many thynges that they sholde do / they leue vndo therfore / so offende god ¶ It is not so / but bycause theyr inwarde syght is set vpon theyr owne delectacyon / therfore they can not se nor dyscerne in truthe where theyr offence is / for offence stondeth not in leuynge of ghostly thyÌges / or excersyce of prayers in tyme of nede of theyr neyghbours / but it stondeth whaÌ they be had wtout charytable mynystracyon of neyghbourhode / whom they sholde loue for the loue of me / and in tyme of nede for to serue them charytably ¶ Thus thou maye se and knowe / how a man is dysceyued onely by his owne ghostly delectacyon in hymselfe ¶ Of the dysceyte which goddes seruauÌtes haue and loue god with suche vnparfyte loue / as is beforesayde ALso my seruauntes often tymes be dysceyued / all
that peyne the whiche ye haue receyued of me / is infynyte / and that is in the vertu of my dyuyne nature that is ifynyte / and oned with the nature of man / the whiche was fynyte and hadde an ende / the whiche nature of man suffred peyne / arayed clothed in your manhode / therfore my workynge maye well be sayde and called infynyte / not for cause the peyne is infynyte / nother the actuall peyne that I suffred in my body / nor also the peyne of my desyre the whiche I had for to fulfyll complete youre raunsome / for that I fynyshed and ended in my cros / whan the soule went out of that body / but the fruyte the came out fro the peyne / and of the desyre the whiche I suffred for your helthe is infynyte / and therfore infynytely ye sholde receyue the fruyte therof ¶ For but yfthat fruyte were not infynyte / all man kynde sholde neuer be restored / nother they that be now present / nor they that be passed / nor they that be to come ¶ Nor also a man that hathe offended / he sholde neuer haue myghte nor power for to aryse / yf this moste blessyd blode were not gyuen to you infynytely ¶ This shewed I well to you mopenyge of my syde / where that I shewed to you the priuites of my herte makynge so to be knowen to you / that I loue you more than I can shewe you with this fynyte peyne ¶ Also I shewe to the infynyte loue / with what thynge trowes thourtruly with haptym of blode oned medled with the fere of my charyte / the whiche blode was goteÌ out by loue / in generall baptym also the whiche is gyuen to crysten men / and to whome that that wyll receyue it is water medled with blode fere where a soule tourneth her wyndeth her in my blode / and that was the cause why I wolde the blode water sholde reÌne out of my syde ¶ Now haue I answered to the that thynge / that thou dyd aske me before ¶ How a soule whan it is come vp to that thyrde gree of that brydge that is to saye after the tyme it is come to the mouthe / anone it taketh that dore of that mouthe / whan the propre wyll of a man is deed / it is a very tokeÌ that it come thyder ALso thou knowes well all that I haue tolde the now / my sothefast sone hathe colde the before / yet neuerthelesse I haue rehersed the same to the agayne / spekyÌgem his persone / that thou myght the better knowe the worthy excellence in the whiche a soule is set in / that hathe ascended this seconde gree / wher she knoweth seketh somoche fere of loue / by the whiche she cometh to the thyrde gre that is to the mouthe where is well shewed that she is come to the stare of parfeccyon / comynge thyder by the myddes of the herte / that is in hauyÌge mynde of the blode in the whiche she is baptysed / leuyÌge vnparfyte loue / by the knowlege that she drewe oute of the hertely loue seynge and tastynge and felynge by experyence the breÌnynge fyre of my charyte / all suche be come to the very mouthe / and therfore they excersyce and shewe openly the offyce of the mouthe ¶ For ryght as the mouthe speketh with the tongue that is in the mouthe / and the taste tasteth / the mouthe receyueth yeldeth that is receyued to that stomake / that tethe chewe breke that is receyued / for it may not elles be swalowed ¶ Ryght so a soule speketh with the tongue of his holy contynuall prayer / suche a toÌgue yeldeth to me bothe actually meÌtally / for belth of soules ryght swete ghostly desyres mery ¶ Actually it speketh in shewynge / admonyshynge / couÌseylyÌge / knowlegyÌge the doctryne of my very truthe / wtout ony fere of peyne / what peyne that euer the worlde gyueth / but boldely hardyly before euery creature she knowlegeth the truthe before all creatures / to euery creature after his estate iÌ dyuers wyses maners ¶ Suche a soule eteth the meet of the helthe of soules / takynge that same meet vpon the ryghte blessyd table of the cros / for otherwyse / nor vpon no other table she maye in no wyse parfytely ete it iÌ truthe / but it be vp on the table of the cros ¶ Also I saye that suche a soule eteth it breketh it with her tethe / for elles she maye neuer chewe that same ghostli meet / that is with holy hate and loue / the whiche two be two orders of tethe in that mouthe of holy desyre / the whiche receyueth ghostly meet / brekynge etynge it with hate of herselfe with loue of vertu / dystryenge brekynge bothe in herselfe in her neyghbour almaner of miuryes wronges / that is derysyons / repreues / refrenynges / with many other parsecucyoÌs / suffrynge hongre thruste / colde and hete / heuynesse and waylynges / defyres / wepynges and werynesse for helthe of soules ¶ All these she breketh and dystroyeth for the loue of me / supportynge and susteynynge her neyghbour charytably ¶ And after tyme the meet is thus broke and the taste hathe tasted it / that is that it haue sauoure in suche ghostly laboute and loue of suche meet of soules / tastynge it in the fere of my brennynge charyte / and in the loue of her neyghbour / so that this meet that cometh in to the stomake / the whiche stomake is dysposed for to receyue suche meet of desyre helthe that it hadde to soules / the whiche stomake is nothynge elles / but an hertely wyll for to receyue delectacy on loue of charyte with her neyghbour / desyrynge chewynge hym in herselfe by habundaunte charytable loue ¶ Suche a soule gyueth no force of the tendernesse of the bodyly lyfe / but rather set her with her myght for to ete that meet before sayde receyued and taken vpon the table of the cros of doctryne of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesucryst ¶ ThaÌ is suche a soule made fat in very ryall vertues / and somoche made fat of the abundaunce of that meet / that the araye and clothyÌge of her owne sensualyte that is of her body breketh of as the sencyble appetyte / and yf it breketh it / it dyeth / for what that euer it breketh dyeth / and thaÌ with that dyeth the sencyble wyl / that is bycause the ordynate and well ruled wyll of the soule leueth arayed and couered in me with a parfyte and a very blessyd endelesse wyll ¶ And therefore the sencyble wyll is deed / and al this dothe the parfyte soule that is come in truthe very sothefastenesse to the thyrde gree of the mÌouthe ¶ And the token that it is come is this that she fyndeth her owne sencyble wyl mortyfyed / whaÌ she tasteth the
teres / be as a maner of swete oyÌntment / the whiche casteth out a ryght grete smell of swetenes ¶ O my ryght swete doughter how gloryous is suche a soule / that so ryally can passe out of this troublous see of the worlde / and come to me that am the greate peaseable see / and fyll the vessell of the herte in the see of my euerlastynge souerayne godheed ¶ What that euer the soule be that can do so / her eye the whiche is the cundyte of the herte / is aboute to sasatysfy the herte by shedynge out of teres This is that last state / in the whiche a soule stondeth bothe blessyd doleful / she stondeth blessyd by vnyoÌ / that she feleth in me hy tastyÌge of my dyuyne charyte ¶ She stondeth also dolefull of offence that is done to me / bothe of herselfe and of her neyghbours ¶ This state of vnyon is not therfore let / the whiche shedeth teres of loue / for the knowlege of herselfe of her neyghbour / of whome she fyndeth coÌpalsyoÌ / for to wepe with wepers / for to ioye with ioyers / but rather encreaseth glory ioye to my name ¶ Thus the fyrste wepynge the thyrde let not the last / but eche of theÌ medleth with other / for yf the last wepynge / iÌ the whiche a soule fyndeth so greate vnyon / toke nothynge of the fyrst of the seconde state of charite of neyghbourheed / it were no profyte ¶ Therfore it were full necessary that one were medled with an other / els it sholde tourne to presuÌpcyon / by the whiche sholde entre a sotyll wynde of elacyon / and of her owne reputacyon / and so it sholde fall frome heyghte / to the infyrmytâ of the fyrst vanyte ¶ For this cause it is ryght necessary for to kepe coÌtynually with very knowledge of theyr self charite of neyghbourheed ¶ In this wyse she sholde sende out to me the feruent fyre of very charyte / for the charyte of neyghbourheed is raken of my charyte / that is of the charyte by the whiche a soule knoweth herselfe my goodnes iÌ herselfe / wherby also she consydereth wel / that she is loued of me meruaylously / therfore with the same loue / she loueth al maner reasonable creatures / and this is the cause why she extendeth herfelf as soone as she knoweth me for to loue her neyghbour / by the whiche she knoweth wel that the most prolyte the whiche she maye do to me is for to yelde to me pure loue / by the whiche she feleth that she is loued of me / therfore she dysposeth her to yelde to me suche loue by mene and medyacyon of neyghboureheed / the whiche is that same mene to whom suche a soule sholde shewe charytable mynystracyoÌ as I haue sayde to the before the whiche sholde be loued with suche pure loue / as I loue you / for lyke as I haue loued you loue you without ony maner beholdyÌge of merytes / therto my owne increate loue without ony mene styrred me to make you of nought to my ymage symylytude / the which loue ye may not yelde to me wtout mene ¶ Therfore ye muste yelde the same loue to resonable creatures / louyÌge theÌ without ony rewarde of louyÌge agayne / and also without ony beholdynge of theyr owne profyte ghostly or bodyly / but onely for to loue theÌ for the glory of my name / bycause they be loued of me ¶ And so shold ye fulfyl the byddynge the precepte of the holy lawe / wher it is wryteÌ that ye sholde loue me as aboue all thynges / and your neyghbour as your selfe ¶ It semeth well thaÌ that a soule maye not come to the hyghe êfyte loue with teres wtout knyttyÌge togyder of the secoÌde and the thyrde state before ¶ And yet though she be come therto / she may not kepe it / yf she go fro the affeccyon therof / by the whiche affeccyon she cometh to the secoÌde kyÌde of teres before sayde ¶ So that without the same affeccyoÌ to neyghbourheed / the lawe of me that am endeles god may not be fulfylled ¶ For there be two fete of affeccyoÌ / by the whiche bothe the preceptes the couÌseyles be obserued kept as I haue tolde the before ¶ Ryghte so these two states of the whiche two states is made one by loue / norysheÌ the soule iÌ vertues / encresyÌge the same vertu in parfeccyoÌ by the state of vnyon / so that it encreseth ryches of grace by newe dyuers gyftes meruaylous lystynges vp of the soule / with a maner knowlege of veri sothfastnes as a deedly creature may haue in this lyfe / for the felynge of one sensualyte / and also his wyll is mortyfyed by suche vnyon that he hathe fouÌde in me ¶ O how swete is suche oneheed and vnyon to a tastynge soule / for that soule that tasteth seeth my secretes and pryuytes / by the whiche secretes / ryghte often tymes she receyueth a spyryte of prophecy for to knowe thynges that be yet to come ¶ All this is done by my endelesse goodnesse / and thoughe it so be that a meke soule sholde alway eschewe / not the gyfte of affeccyon of my dyuyne charyte / but the appetyte and desyre of theyr owne ghosty comfortes / yet she sholde deme herselfe vnworthy for to haue suche rest peas of soule / by the whiche meke Iudgement / she may noryshe inwarde vertues / and encrese therin / for there is none so parfyte a soule in this lyfe / but that it may encrese to more parfeccyon / that is to parfeccyoÌ of loue ¶ My ryghte swete and onely sone Ihesu cryst was and is youre heed / to whome maye encrese no parfeccyon / for he was and is one with me / and I with hym / his soule was and is blessyd by vnyon of dyuyne nature ¶ But ye that be pylgrymes his membres / be able euermore for to encrese in to greater parfeccyon ¶ I do not saye that ye maye encrese to an other state after tyme ye be come to the laste / but I saye that ye may encrese in the same last estate with suche parfeccyon as it is lykynge plesynge to me for to gyue to you / by meane medyacyoÌ of my grace ¶ A shorte repetycyon of the mater before / and how the wycked spyryte fleeth a waye fro them / the whiche become to the fyfthe teres / and how the angers of the fende be trewe wayes for to come to this holy state of teres NOw hase thou seen the states of teres and the dyfference of them / as it lyketh my goodnesse for to do satysfaccyon to thy desyre ¶ Fyrste I tolde the of the teres of them / that do lyue in deedly synÌe / wher I sayd that the teres of them come out of the herte / as al maner of teres done / for the greuauÌce of
felynge of swetenesse the whiche he had of me ¶ I wyll also yf thou sholde be of wyll / bothe thou and all my other seruauntes / that ye knowe êfytely yourselfe / by the whiche knowe lege ye maye come parfytely to my endeles goodnes / reserueth to me bothe this other maner of Iudgementes / for to me it longeth / and for saketh the Iudgement that loÌgeth to me / and take vpon you compassyon with hoÌgre of the honour of me / and helthe of soules / and with loue longynge desyre / sheweth telleth vertu / and repreueth vyces in you and in them / in the maner that it is sayde before ¶ In suche maner thou maye in sothe come to me / so shall thou wel shewe that thou hase kepte in thy soule the doctryne that was gyuen to the of my sothefast sone Ihesu cryst that is for to Iudge my wyll / and not the wyll of men ¶ Thus sholde thou do / yf thou wyll haue purely vertu / and stonde in the last / most gloryous / and most parfyte lyghte / fedynge thyselfe at the table of holy desyre / with the meet of heâthe of soules / to the glory and praysynge of my holy name ¶ How bodyly penauÌce shall not be take for a pryÌcypall fouÌdament nor for a pryncypall desyre / but the desyre loue of vertues shall betake for a pryÌcypall fouÌdameÌt I Haue sayd to the dere dougeter of two thynges that thou sholde vse / now shal I tell the of the thyrde / to the whiche I wyll that thou take ryghte good heed / and repreue and withdrawe thyselfe therfro ¶ Yf otherwhyle the feÌde / or thy owne coÌceyte haue enuy at the somoche / that they wolde styrre the for to aspy / se where all my seruauntes to go by the same waye that thou goes iÌ or wolde go in / thou myght well knowe that it were a dysceyte / for it is agaynste the doctryne whiche is gyuen to the by my sothefastnesse ¶ For ofte tymes it happeth the thou sholde se many creatures walke by the waye of ryght greate penauÌce / and to some it were ryghte heuy for to se them walke that waye / for as they seme they do not well ¶ Sees thou not how al suche be dysceyued / wyl thou se howmoche ¶ Certayne it is sometyme that suche one so lyuyÌge in greate penauÌce / dothe better thaÌ he that semeth he dothe amysse / for he dothe more penaunce and also is more vertuous / than he that grutcheth of hym / and therfore I sayde to the before / that they the whiche feden them at the table of penaunce / yf they do it with very mekenesse that they sette not suche peynfull lyuynge in penaunce for theye pryncypall affeccyon / but for an instrumeÌt of vertu / ofte tymes suche grutchynge turneth them in to greate parfeccyon / and therfore they sholde not be vncuÌnynge / but knowe wysely that parfeccyon stondeth not onely in mortyfycacyoÌ of the body / but in destroyenge and mortyfyenge of the propre wycked wyll ¶ This is the doctryne of lyghte comynge and procedynge of that gloryous lyghte wherin a soule renneth in rapte in loue / and is arayed with my truthe ¶ I dyspyse not therfore penaunce / for penaunce is good to mortyfy the body / the whiche wyll stryue agaynst the spyryte ¶ But I wyll therfore dere doughter that thou knowe this for a generall rule / that some in doynge of penaunce / be more myghtyer of kynde than some / and therfore they may suffre the more and please god ryghte vertuously / yf it be done as it is sayde before and also some it happeth that penaunce whiche is begonÌe must somtyme beleft for many causes that may betyde / orelles the foundament whiche is set in that and in other of my seruauÌtes sholde defayle / for suche penaunce excercysed / and so sholde the foundameÌt be vnparfyte / and you bothe ghostly comforte sholde defayle / also vertu of the soule ¶ And where that ye be so depryued of suche thynge that ye loue by suche synguler affeccyoÌs by doynge of penauÌce / it sholde seme to you that ye were depryued fro me and so sholde ye come to greate heuynesse and bytternesse and confusyon ¶ And also in suche a wyse ye sholde lose the excercyses of deuocyon and feruent prayer / the whiche ye were wont to haue / to some that haue longe vsed this penaunce ¶ This sodeyne chaungynge sholde tourne them to greate heuynesse / so for to leue that they haue so longe vsed / why it is that trowes thou ¶ Certeynly for the grounde worke or fundacyon was sette in affeccyon for to do penaunce / and not in loue loÌgynge desyre ¶ Therfore wher penauÌce is vsed / as it is to me plesaunte that it be vsed / it muste be sette on a good grounde ¶ Thus thou may se that there sholde be no grutchynge agaynst none of my seruauntes that done penaunce / thoughe it semeth to you they gone not in the same waye that ye gone in ¶ For I wyll be serued of infynyte goodes / that am endelesse infynyte good / and ymonge al other mortyfycacyoÌ it is good to dystroye euermore and mortyfy the propre wyl and than with that wyll so made subiecte to my wyll / ye sholde yelde to me swete hongre infynyte desyre / sekynge the worshyp and honour of me / and helthe of soules / so sholde ye noryshe and fede youreselfe at the table of desyre / the whiche desyre is neuer sclaundred / nother iÌ hymselfe that hathe it / nor in his neyghbour / but it is ioyfull of all states / and it draweth out fruyte of euery dyuers maners of lyuynge that I gyue to dyuers soules ¶ Thus wretches done not / the whiche do not folowe this swete doctryne / and the ryghte waye gyuen of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / but they do the coÌtrary / deme after theyr owne blyÌde couetyse / and therfor they do walke as wode men / and depryuen themselfe fro the good of charyte of heueÌly vertues and as I haue sayde before they taste in this lyfe the ernest of hell ¶ A shorte repetycyoÌ of wordes that be sayd before / with an addycyoÌ of the loue of oure neyghboure LO dere doughter thus haue I satysfyed to thy desyre / I haue declared to the of the thynge that thou dyd aske of me / that is how thou sholde loue thy neyghboure that thou be not dysceyued of the feÌde / nor of thy owne conceyte ¶ And there I sayde to the that thou sholde loue hym generally not specyally / where that thou had it by specyall shewynge of me in thy soule of his synnes / and than I tolde the that with mekenesse and in the maner as I tolde the / thou sholde repreue iÌ loue bothe thy neyghbour and thyselfe ¶ Also I sayde and yet I saye that in nowyse
the temptacyoÌs of the fendes / and agaynste the wretched worlde ¶ And thus thou maye se that ther remayneth alwaye a prynte or an ymage of grace / after tyme that ghostly mater of the sacrament of the auter is receyued ghostly consumed ¶ This ghostly mater thus receyued and ghostly consumed / thaÌ this very sonne tourneth agayne to his whele and roundell / not that it was departed fro the same whele / but that it was and is euer oned and knytte with me togyder in one ¶ But the depenesse of my dyuyne charyte for your helthe / hathe gyueÌ to you meet in this lyfe / in the whiche lyfe ye be pylgrymes and strauÌgers / for to receyue you / and for ye sholde not lose the myÌde of my benefites of my sones precyous blode ¶ Also therfore it is gyueÌ to you in to your ghostly meet by my dyuyne dyspensacyon / for helpynge of youre necessytes or nedes ¶ Thus than beholde howmoche ye be bounde to me / for to yelde me loue agayne / for so greate loue that I haue shewed to you / and also for bycause that I am endelesse most souerayne sothefastenesse / worthy to be loued of you ¶ How the wordes that be sayde of the excellence of the sacrament / ben sayde of the dygnyte of preestes that sholde better knowe / and how god asketh more purete clennesse of body soule of theÌ / than of other of his creatures ALl this haue I tolde the dere doughter that thou maye the better knowe the dygnyte in the whiche I haue sette my mynysters ¶ And also that thou haue that more compassyon of theyr wretchydnes / for yf they themselfe beholde theyr owne dygnyte / they wolde neuer dwell in the derkenes of deedly synnes / nor they wolde neuer defoule the faces of theyr soules with that spottes of deedly synnes / and not onely that they sholde ascape withoute offence of me and theyr owne dygnyte / for thoughe y they betake theyr bodyes to the fyre it sholde be ryghte lytell satysfaccyon of the trespas / to so grete grace / so greate a benefyte as they haue receyued / for in this worlde they myght neuer come to so grete a dygnyte ¶ They be onely my anoyÌted people for I call them my crystes / and to them haue I betake myselfe for to be mynystred to you / and also I haue sende them in to the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / as ryght swete smellyÌge floures ¶ This dygnyte hathe not an angel / but I haue gyuen it to meÌ / to suche as I haue chosen for my mynysters / whome I haue ordeyned iÌ erthe as angels / and they sholde be called angels of erthe in this lyfe / for as angels they sholde be ¶ In euery soule I requyre purete and charyte / by the whiche he sholde loue me pryncypally his neyghboure / also for to helpe hym in that he can and maye / other by temporall good / or by mynystracyon of prayer / and so for to dwell togyder in the loue of charyte / as I haue vpon this same mater tolde that iÌ an other place ¶ Moche more therfore I requyre purete and loue iÌ my mynystres / bothe anendes me and also anendes theyr neyghbours / mynystrynge bothe to themselfe and to theyr neyghbours / the body and the blode in the sacrament of the auter / of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / with the fyre of charyte / and hongre of helthe of soules / for the glory and laude of my name ¶ For ryghte as my mynysters wyll haue clene chalyces for to put in that blessyd sacrament / so I requyre in them the purete of herte / and clennesse of soule in them ¶ I wyl also that the body of them the whiche is an instrumeÌt of the soule be kepte in parfyte purete and clennesse / and I wyll not that they noryshe it in the fylthe of vncleÌnes / nor that they be proude nor hyghe of herte / sekynge grete prelaces / nor that they be cruell anendes theÌselfe theyr neyghbours / for they maye not vse theyr owne cruelte without harmynge of theyr neyghbours / âor yf they be to themselfe cruell / they be cruell in receyuyÌge of synne / and so they be of the soules of theyr neyghbours / bycause they gyue to theym no ensample of lyfe ¶ Nor all suche haue no fere âor to pull âute soules out of the fendes hondes / nor for to mynystre to them the body and the blode of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / also me very lyghte as I haue sayde nor also none other sacrameÌt of holy chyrche ¶ And thus all the whyle they be to theÌ thê° cruell / they be in the same wyse to other so cruell ¶ How that sacramentes sholde neuer be soulde nor boughte / they that receyue the sacramentes sholde helpe the mynystres with theyr temporall goodes / whiche goodes the mynysters sholde dyspose ordeyne for to be dysposed in to thre partes ¶ I wyl that they be large and not scarse / that is nother for couetyse nor auaryce / they sell the grace of the holy ghost / so shold they not do / nother I wyll that they do so / but rather of the gracyous gyfte and the wydenes of charyte that they haue receyued of my endelesse goodnes / for to gyue it frely of large herte by affeccyon of loue for the worshyp of me and helthe of soules / to euery reasonable creature the whiche asketh it mekely / they sholde nothynge take therfore / in asmoche as they boughte it neuer / but they dyd receyue it of me by grace / for to mynystre it to you ¶ Also they maye and sholde well by the waye of almes receyue / so sholde the subiecte do that receyueth the sacramente / for on his syde he sholde gyue that he myghte for almes som what gyue / for in asmoche as they sholde be ghostly fedde of them / therfore they sholde helpe them at theyr nedes of temporal goodes ¶ I wyl that ye were that without ony comparyson / they gyue to you more thaÌ ye gyue to them / for there maye be sette no comparyson bytwyxe thynges that haue none ende / as transytory thynges of the whiche ye helpeÌ them to me endelesse god that am infynyteâ whome by prouydence and dyuyne charyte I haue ordeyned for to mynystre to you ghostly thynges and graces / that is the sacrameÌt of holy chyrche / and not onely of suche mynysters / but also of other ghostly graces prayers / and of other ghostly thynges / of what preest that euer it be that it be gyuen to you / for that ghostly good maye not be lykened to no maner of temporall good / the ye gyuen to theÌ Â¶ Also now shal I tell the how they sholde departe that teÌporall good that they receyue of you / I saye that they sholde departe the substaunce of those temporall goodes
¶ Pryde begynneth and spryngeth and is noryshed of poore sencyble loue / of the whiche loue I tolde the that it was and is the grounde and fundament of al these thre pyllers / and also of all maner euylles that creatures do / for he that loueth hymselfe with vnordynate loue / is depryued fro the loue of me in asmoche as he loueth me not and in that he loueth not me / he offendeth me / bycause he kepeth not the commaundymentes of the lawe / the whiche is for to loue me aboue all thynges / and theyr neyghbours as theÌselfe ¶ This is the cause why that they loue not me nor theyr neyghboure / for they loue themselfe with sencyble loue / so they maye no ther well serue me nor loue me / but rather they serue and loue the worlde ¶ All suche sencyble loue the worlde maye not acorde with my loue nor with me / and they that haue none acorde with me they be fer fro me / for they that louen the worlde with sencyble loue and serueth hyÌ sencybly / must nedes hate me / and he that in sothe loueth me / muste nedes hate the worlde ¶ And therfore my onely sothefaste sone sayde / there maye none serue two contrary lordes / for yf he serue the one / he shall be hated of the other ¶ Thus thou maye se that propre loue pryueth a soule fro my charyte / and arayeth hym with the vyce of pryde / of the whiche all maner defautes do sprynge of euery reasonable creature that is in those defautes / it is for to sorowe wayle and namely of my mynysters whiche sholde be meke as wel so meke that they myght noryshe charyte ymonge theyr neyghbours / as for to be meke in mynystracyon of the body of my sone that vndefouled lambe ¶ And they be not ashamed of theyr pryde / for to se me comen mekely to mankynde / in to the flesshe of my onely sone ¶ Yet thoughe the same body renne to the dethe of the crosse lowly mekely by obedyence / he boweth there his heed to salute the grete ye. ¶ He spredeth his armes abrode there / the for to clyppe and brace to hym / he stretcheth forthe his feet for to stonde with the / agaynste thy ghostly enemy ¶ And thou wretched man that arte made his mynyster flees and shoues hym / and thou byclyppes and enbraces to the vnclene creatures ¶ Thou sholde dwell stable and stydfaste / shewynge the doctryne of my onely sothefast sone Iheso / and fastnynge thy herte and thy soule in hym / and thou arte vnstable and vnstydfaste as the wynde / for euery thyÌge reÌneth aboute vaynly ¶ Yf thou haue ony prosperyte / thou arte moued with all mysse ruled gladnesse / and yf thou haue aduersyte / thou arte moued with vnpasyence / and so thou drawes oute the mary and the pythe of pryde that is vnpasyence / for ryght as charyte hathe mekenesse / for his pythe and mary / so is vnpasyence the pythe mary of pryde for of al thyÌges most proude meÌ be troubled / sclauÌdred / yrous more thaÌ other ¶ Pryde asceÌdeth neuer to heuen / but plungeth downe into hel therfore my onely sothefast sone sayd he that exalteth hyÌ in pryde shall be broughte lowe / and he that meketh hym shal be exalted ¶ In euery kyÌde of folke pryde hyghly dyspleaseth me / and moche more in my mynysters / for them I haue sette in a meke state for to mynyster my meke lambe / and they do the coÌtrary ¶ And why is not suche a wycked and wretched preest ashamed / seynge meke so me lowly iÌ my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / for whom I haue ordeyned theÌ to be mynysters / and my sone meked hymselfe by obedyence vnto the dethe of the cros / he bowed his heed corowned with thornes / and this wretched mynyster arayseth his heed agaynste me agaynste his neyghboure ¶ And there as he sholde be a lambe mynystrynge to my very lambe he is a ramme with hornes of pryde / and he smyteth all those that cleueÌ to hyÌ Â¶ O wretched man thynkes thou not that thou arte in my seruyce / is thy offyce for to smyte me with thy hornes of pryde / doynge bothe me wronge thy neyghbours wronge / and so for to lyue ymoÌge thy neyghbours with wronge / is this thy mekenesse with whiche thou sholde saye masse / and mynyster the body and blode of my sone ¶ Thus thou arte made in sothe as a wood beest and a cruel without ony drede of me / thou deuoures thy neyghboure / and ledes thy lyfe with dyscencyoÌ and debate / and thou arte made accepter of parsones ¶ They that do scrue the and do the profyte thou acceptes / or suche as flater and please the / those that lyue as thou dors / them thou loues and acceptes and none other / whome thou sholde hate correcke theyr defautes ¶ But thou does the contrary / for thou gyues them ensample to do the same or worse / yf thou were good thyselfe / thou wolde correcke them / but bycause thou arte a wycked man / thou wyll not vndernyme them / nor be dyspleased with theyr defautes ¶ Thou dyspyses meke / pure / and vertuous people / thou goes awaye fro theÌ / neuerthelesse thou hase a cause to fle fro theÌ / thoughe thou sholde not fle fro theÌ Â¶ For thou flees theÌ / bycause the slynke of vyces may not suffer the swete smell of vertu ¶ Thou holdes a grete reprefe to the / for to se at thy dore poore men stoÌde / thou eschewes for to vyset them in nede / thou sees them peryshe for hoÌger and wyll not helpe them ¶ All this dothe the hornes of pryde / whiche wyl not bowe for to vse one lytel dede of mekenesse ¶ Why wyll they not bowe ¶ For theyr owne propre loue whiche norysheth pryde / they put not away fro them ¶ And therfore he that wyll not coÌdescende mynyster poore folke nother of teÌporall goodes nother spyrytual without a thanke therfore ¶ O cursed pryde grouÌded set in thy owne loue / how hase thou so blynded the eye of thy intelleccyon in suche a wyse that whaÌ they wene they loue theÌselfe and be teÌder of theÌselfe they be ryghte cruell / and whaÌ they wene they wynÌe they lose / whaÌ they wene they stoÌde in delyces / ryches / grete hyghnesse / they stonde in grete pouerte wretchednesse / for they be depryued fro the ryches of vertu / be come downe fro the heyghte of grace / to the sekenesse of deedly synnes / they thynke they se they be blynde / for nother they knowe theyr selfe nor me ¶ They knowen not theyr owne estate / nor theyr dygnyte that I haue set them in / nor they knowe not the freylte of the worlde / nor theyr owne lytell stablenesse / for yf they knewe
of my sone Ihesu / wher ye shal fyÌde al maner vertu ¶ How obedyence is a keye wherwith heueÌ is opened / how the keye must haue a thonge and be borne by a gyrdell Sy then I haue tolde the where thou shall fynde the vertu of obedyence fro wense it cometh / who is her felowe / and of whome it is noryshed / therfore nowe shall I tell the bothe of them that be obedyent / and also of theym that be inobedyent togyder / and of obedyence bothe in generall and in specyall / that of obedyence / all the commaundymentes / all the couÌseples / all youre feythe is grouÌded vpon obedyeÌce / for in the vertu of obedyeÌce / ye shewe youreselfe feythful and trewe / generally of my sothefastnesse be put to you the preceptes of the lawe ¶ The pryÌcypal coÌmauÌdyment of the lawe is to loue me aboue all thynges / youre eueÌcrysten as youre selfe / and these two be so knytte and coupled togyder with other / that one of these maye not be kepte / but all other be kepte / for he that kepeth this kepeth all other / and is bothe to me and to his neyghboure feythefull and trewe / he loueth me stondeth in the loue of my charyte / and therfore he is obedyent / he maketh hymselfe so get to the commauÌdymentes of the lawe / and to reasonable creatures for me / and with mekenesse pasyence he suffereth all maner labour detraccyoÌ of his neyghbour ¶ This obedyeÌce was and is of suche excellence / that all ye therof haue take and receyued grace / lyke as of inobedyence ye toke and receyued dethe / it hadde not be ynoughe for you that that same obedyeÌce had be soly in my sone / and you yourselfe had not excercysed it ¶ I tolde the ryghte nowe of that obedyeÌce was is a keye wher with heuen is opened / whiche keye my sone he hathe putte in his Vycars hondes / his Vycar hathe putte the same keye in the hondes of them that haue take the sacrament of holy baptym / in receyuynge of the whiche baptym / he promytteth to forsake and renouÌce the deuyll / the worlde / delyres / and all his pompes / and so in suche promyse for to obeye / he receyueth the keye of obedyence / thus eche man hathe it in specyall / and it is the same keye that my sone had ¶ Therfore yf a maÌ go not with lyghte of feythe and with the honde of very loue for to open with this keye the gate of heuen / he shall neuer enter therin / thoughe my sone haur opened it by his asceÌcyoÌ / for thoughe I made you without you / and loued you or that ye loued me / yet wtout you I may not saue you ¶ Therfore ye muste bere youre keye of obedyeÌce in your honde / and ye muste be euer goynge and no syttynge / that is goynge by the doctryne of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu and not sytte that is not settynge youre affeccyon in thynge that shall haue ende / as fooles do that folowe after the olde man / that is theyr fyrste fader Adam / doynge and workynge as he dyd / whiche threwe fro hym the keye of obedyence in the fenne and fylthe of vnclennes / brekynge it with the hamer of pryde / and made it rusty with his owne proper loue / and ther it laye rusted vnto the tyme my sone came whiche toke that keye of obedyence out of the fenne / and clensed it in the fyre of his dyuyne charite / washed it in his precyous blode / he made it bryght with the swerde of ryghtwysenesse / rubbynge awaye youre wyckednesse vpon the Anuelde his blessyd body and there he shope it made so parfytely / that as ofte as a man dystroyeth the keye by his owne fre choyse / by medyacyoÌ of my grace he maye yf he wyll with these instrumentes make it and shape it newe agayne ¶ O blynde man and more than a blynde man / that after tyme thou hase dystroyed the keye of obedyence / takes thou no hede nor charge for to make it agayne / byleues thou not that ryght as inobedyeÌce hathe shutte and closed heueÌ / ryght so obedyence maye open it / trowes thou that pryde whiche fell fro thens shall ascende thyder agayne / trowes thou for to come in thyder to the weddynge feest with thy foule torne cote / wenes thou that yf thou sytte bynde thyselfe in the bonde of deedly synne / that thou maye come thyder open the gate without the keye of obedyeÌce thyÌke it not for thaÌ thy thought is dysceyued / thou must be vnlosed out of deedly synne by holy confessy on and contrycyon of herte / and satysfaccyon with an holy purpose neuermore so to offende ¶ Than shall thou caste thy foule ragged cote in to the erthe / and thou shall renne with thy weddynge cote with lyght of feythe and with the keye of obedyeÌce in thy honde for to open the gate of heuen haÌge therfore this keye by the thoÌge of abieccyon bylyte / dysplesauÌce of thyselfe and also of the worlde / of the whiche dysplesaunce thou shall make the a gyrdell / than gyrde the faste that thou lose not thy keye of obedyeÌce ¶ Knowe well dere doughter that there be many whiche haue take this keye of obedyence / for they knowe well and se with the lyght of feythe / that they maye none otherwyse ascape endelesse dampnacyon yet withoute gyrdell gyrde to them they holde it in theyr honde / and also without thonge with inforthe / that is that they araye them not within with the cote of my plesauÌce / but rather plesen themselfe / al suche haue not yet the thonge of abieccyon and vylyte / desyrynge to be most abiecte and vyle / but they haue more delyte of the presynge of meÌ / these be ryght able for to lose theyr keye of obedyeÌce / whan there cometh neuer so lytell trybulacion be it bodyly or ghostly / and but that they be ryghte well ware by foly of the honde of holy desyre they lose it the whiche losse is nothynge elles / but a maner forsakyÌge for all that wyll serche therafter / they fynde it as longe as they lyue / and those that wyll not serche therafter / they may neuer fyÌde it ¶ But how maye it be knowen whan it is loste ¶ Certayne by impacyence / for pacyence is knytte with obedyence / he that is not pacyent / it sheweth well that there is no obedyeÌce in the soule ¶ O how swete in this vertu of obedyence and how gloryous in the whiche be all heuenly vertues / for she is conceyued and borne of charyte / in her is grounded and set the stone of holy feythe / she is a quene / for he of whome she is a spouse / feleth neuer no euyll / he feleth euer peas and quyetnesse /
for there maye neuer no teÌpestes of the see greue hym nor noye hym / he feleth neuer wronges / for he wyll euer obeye as it is commauÌded to hym / he hathe no peyne / for his appetyte is euer ful / in asmoche as obedyence hathe made hym well ruled ordeyned onely for to tast me that maye / can / wyll fulfyll his desyre ¶ He hathe also dyspoyled hymselfe fro worldely ryches / and so iÌ alother thynges whiche were to loÌge to tell / he fyndeth peas quyetnesse ¶ O obedyence that without labour of shyp perell / thou comes parfytely to the hauen of helthe / thou coÌfortes the with my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / for thou asceÌdes to the shyp of the holy crosse / ther makynge the redy for to suffer / where thou desyres not to passe the very obedyeÌce of my sone / nor for to go out of his doctryne / thaÌ thou makes to the of the crosse a meettable / where thou etes receyues meet of the helthe of thy soule / dwellynge and abydynge in the loue of neyghbourheed / thou arte oned coupled with very mekenesse / and therfore thou desyres not thy neyghbours good agaynst his wyl / thou arte ryght wtout ony crokednesse / for thou makes a ryghte herte not a feyned herte to loue my reasonable creatures frely not feyntly / thou arte a graye mornynge / whiche ledes with the lyghte of dyuyne grace / thou arte a sonne that warmes / for thou arte not with out the hete of charyte / thou makes the erthe to brynge forthe fruyte / that is that all the instrumeÌtes bothe of the body soule do brynge forthe fruyte / whiche fruyte gyueth lyfe bothe to hym selfe to his neyghboure / thou arte all âocunde mery / for thy face is not troubled by vnpacyence / but thou hase a peaseable plesauÌte syghte in thy selfe / thou arte all clere with a greate clerenes / stroÌge with a grete streÌgthe abydynge with longe êseuerauÌce in somoche that what the euer thou holdes or occupyes / thou hase heueÌ opened with the / thou arte also a precyous Margaryte stone hyd vnknowen caste out of the worlde / in settynge nought by thy selfe / but puttyÌge thyselfe by subieccyon vnder all reasonable creatures / thy lordeshyp is so greate that there maye none passe the in domynacyon / for thou arte gone out of the deedly bondage of thy proper seusualyte / whiche withdraweth the fro thy worshypfull dygnyte / whaÌ that this enemy was dystroyed with hate dysplesauÌce of thy proper coÌplayntes / thaÌ thou had agayne vtterly thy fredome ¶ Here also he speketh of the mysery of theÌ that be not obedyeÌt / of that excelleÌt grace of theÌ that be obedyeÌt O Ere doughter all this hathe my goodnes prouydeÌce done / whiche hathe prouyded that my onely incarnate sone sholde reforme this keye of obedyeÌce as it is sayd before but worldly meÌ destytute barayne fro all vertu do worke the coÌtrary / for they be as beestes wtout brydels / iÌ asmoche as they haue not the youke of obedyeÌce / therfore they renne fro yll in to worse / fro synÌ to synÌe / fro wretchednesse to wretchednesse / fro derke to derker / fro dethe to dethe in somoche that at the last they come to the pytte of dethe / with the worme of coÌscyeÌce whiche shall euer frete theÌ / all be it that they maye yet other whyle take vpon theÌ obedyeÌce / that is to obey to the coÌmauÌdymeÌtes of that lawe / sorowynge for the tyme that they haue loste by inobedyeÌce / yet neuertheles it is full harde to wynÌe it agayne / for the loÌge custome of synÌe therfore ther sholde none truste in this delayenge for to take the keye of obedyeÌce in that laste ende / thoughe it so be that euery man oweth and sholde hope as loÌge as he hathe tyme and space of lyfe / but yet he sholde not truste therin / so that therby he delaye for to correcke and amende his lyfe what is the cause of so greate euyl so greate blyÌdenesse / that they knowe not this blessed treasure ¶ Certayne the cloude of êper loue with wretched pryde / by the whiche they be gone out of obedyence / fall in to inobedyeÌce / as loÌge as they be vnobedyent / so longe they be vnpacyeÌt as I haue tolde the before with vnpacyeÌce / they suffer vntollerable peines / whiche vnpacyence hathe draw theÌ out fro the waye of truthe / so makyÌge theÌ selfe felowes to fendes / with whome but yf they amende theÌ they go with theyr owne inobedyeÌce in to the endelesse turmeÌtes / lyke as my dere seruauÌtes / freÌdes / kepers / very obeyers to my lawe shall loye be glad iÌ euerlastyÌge blysse / with my onely sothfaste sone Ihesu / that meke and vndefouled laÌbe / maker / keper / gyuer of the lawe / iÌ this lyfe all those that kepe very obedyeÌce / they taste peas receyue blessed lyfe / they aray theÌ with the most parfyte charyte / in whom is peas wtout warre / good wtout yl / lykernesse wtout drede / honger wtoute peyne / lyghte wtout derkenes / one souerayne good / of whome all very rasters take parte ¶ Who hathe so brought to maÌ so grete good ¶ Certayne the blode of the vndefouled laÌbe / by whose vertu the keye of obedyence hathe loste his rust / that ye maye opeÌ the gate of heueÌ with that same keye thus thaÌ obedyeÌce by vertu of my sones blode / hathe opened to the the gate of heuen ¶ O fooles very vnwytty folke / delaye no longer for to come out of the fylthe of vnclennesse / for it semeth that ye do as hogges / the whiche walowe them in fylthe / so it semeth that ye do iÌ the fylthe of carnall delyte / forsake your vnryghtwysenesse / maÌslaughter / hate / rancour / detraccyon / gronynge / false IudgemeÌtes / crueltes / by the whiche ye vse for to do thefte and trechery to youre neyghbours / with mys ruled pleasures delyces of the world ¶ Cut a way your hornes of pryde / by the whiche cuttyÌge awaye / ye shall dystroye the hate that ye haue iÌ your mouthes / agaynst theÌ whiche do you wronge / mesure the wronge that they do to me to your neyghbours / than shall ye fynde in rewarde of them / that wronges whiche be done to you be noughte / ye knowe wel that yf ye abyde in hate / ye do me wronge / in asmoche as ye breke my commaundymeÌtes / there ye sholde loue me aboue all thyÌges / youre neyghboure as youreselfe / you do wronge to your neyghbour / so depryuynge you fre the loue of charyte / for I haue gyueÌ you by coÌmauÌdyment / that ye sholde loue me aboue all thynges / and youre neyghboure as
is fouÌde the capytall enemy of yre agaynste benyuoleÌce / cruelte agaynst loue of vertu / vncleÌnes agaynste purete / neclygeÌce agaynst besynes / ygynorauÌce agaynst cuÌnynge / sompnoleÌce agaynst wakynge coÌtynual prayer / bycause that a trewe obedyencer knoweth well with the lyght of feythe that all these be enemyes / whiche make foule the spouse of holy obedyeÌce / therfore he sende iÌ holy hate to put theÌ out / also loue to take in his freÌdes / whiche be vertues / where holy hate with his swerde of dred dyd slee wycked proper wyl / whiche wyll was and is noryshed of êper loue that gaue lyfe to all these enemyes of very obedyence / whan he had smyten of the heed of this pryncypall enemy / by whom al were kepte in / thaÌ this spouse obedyeÌce is fre in peas wtout ony warre / she hathe thaÌ no enemy wtin that maye dysplease her nor hurte her / for he is put out / whiche was cause of her bytternesse sorowe ¶ What warre trowes thou that a very obedyeÌcer hathe / whyther wroÌges shewe to his warres Nay why ¶ Certayne for very obedyeÌce is pacyeÌt / whiche pacyeÌce is suster of obedyeÌce ¶ Be the obseruaunces of the order coÌtrary to her Nay why ¶ Certayne for obedyeÌce wyll kepe theym all purely ¶ Is it ony peyne to her the preceptes strayte coÌmauÌdymeÌtes of prelates soueraynes Nay why ¶ Certayne for very obedyence hathe ouercome her owne wyll / wyll not make questyoÌs of her soueraynes wyll / nor deme her what that euer she byddeth / but with the lyght of feythe she demeth my wyl in her souerayne / thyÌkyÌge veryly that my myldenes maketh hyÌ to byde so as it is necessary for the helthe of her soule / it is neuer shame to suche for to do the moste vyle abiecte thynge in the order / nother in sufferynge of derysyons / repreues / detraccyons / dyspysynges / whiche oftetymes be done sayd / but euer they wolde be take as vyle abiecte in the syghte of maÌ / and that is for they haue coÌceyued alone in vylyte / abieccyoÌ / dyspleasauÌce of theÌselfe with parfyte hate / so they ioye with the spouse of very obedyeÌce / with her suster pacyeÌce / he that is thus obedyeÌt is neuer sory / but for offence whiche is done to me that am his maker / for his coÌuersacyoÌ is with suche that veryly louely drede me / and thoughe other whyle suche one haue coÌuersacyoÌ with theÌ that be deêted fro my wyll / they do not that for to conforme theÌselfe to theyr defautes / but for to wtdrawe theÌ fro theyr wycked lyues / for the good whiche they haue in theÌselfe with fraternall charyte / they wyll departe it with other / coÌsyderyÌge well that it were to my name more worshyp honour to haue mant ymoÌge theÌ that myght kepe the obseruauÌces of the order thaÌ onely they kepte it theÌselte therfore they enforce theÌselfe for ta call seculers to relygyoÌ / bothe by wordes prayers / in the moste honest wyse they can / they besy theÌ for to pull theÌ out fro the derkenesse of deedly synnes ¶ Thus thaÌ thou maye well knowe / that the coÌuersacyoÌs of a very obedyeÌcer be good êfyte whyther they be conuersauÌte with good or with bad for they be set in an ordynate affeccyon / in the brede latytude of charite ¶ Of his Cell he maketh hyÌ an heuen / hauynge delyte there for to speke haue coÌuersacyoÌ with me by affeccyon of loue / he fleeth ydlenesse by coÌtynuall prayer and mekenesse / and whan thoughtes abounden to hym by illusyon of the fende / in his Cel he layeth hym not downe anone in the bed of of neclygence so beynge ydell / nor he wyll not by reasoÌ make inquysycyoÌ of the thoughtes of his herte / nor his owne conceyte / but he fleeth ydlenesse / lyftynge hymselfe aboue hyÌselfe with holy hate vpon his sencyble felynge / with very mekenes pacyence to bere suffer labours / so he wtstondeth suche thoughtes / as he feleth in his soule with wakyÌge meke prayers / he waketh in me with his eye of intelleccyoÌ / beholdyÌge seynge with the lyghte of feythe that I am his helper / that I may / can / and wyll helpe hyÌ / to whome I opeÌ my armes of benygnyte / suffer suche thyÌges for to fall to hyÌ / for to make hyÌ the more besy for to fle fro hyÌselfe / to come to me / to whoÌ I benyÌgely opeÌ my armes / yf suche one seme the meÌtall prayer coÌforteth hyÌ not / for the grete labour that he suffereth iÌ suche resysteÌce / he breketh out with vocall prayer / other he vseth some bodyly excercyse / that so both with vocall prayer bodyly excercyse / he myght put awaye ydlenes / also he beholdeth in me with the lyght of feyth / that suffer hyÌ to be teÌpted with suche teÌptacyoÌ of thoughtes for loue that I haue to hym / waytynge how myghtili he wolde wtstoÌde theÌ Â¶ Than he putteth out his heed of mekenes / yrectynge hyÌselfe vnworthy rest of soule as other worthy seruauntes of myne be worthy but he holdeth hyÌselfe worthy peyne / suche one setteth nought by hyÌ selfe / but with holy hate he rebuketh hyÌselfe / hym semeth that he maye not do hyÌselfe peyne ynoughe / but yet blessyd hope of my prouydeÌce fayleth hym not / therfore he so passeth out of this trouble with quycke feyte with the keye of obedyeÌce in his hoÌde in to the relygyous shyp of the order / so he is bycome a keper of his Cell / fleynge ydlenesse as I haue sayde a very obedyeÌcer wyll be that fyrst that shall enter the quere / and the laste that shall go out / whan he seeth one of his brederne or sustren more besy in bodyly or ghostly besynesse thaÌ he is / he waxeth holy enuyously / taketh hymselfe that vertu to hyÌ by pryue ghostly stelthe / not wyl lynge the that vertu be lessed in his broder / for yf he wolde so / he were not in fraternall charyte ¶ A very obedyeÌcer forsaketh not the fraytur / but oftetymes many tymes he vysyteth it / delyteth therm to ete poorely his meet / in token that he hathe no delyte for to be out of the fraytur / he hathe auoyded fro hyÌ all teÌporal substauÌce / êfytely kepyÌge the vowe of pouerte so êfytely the he hath nede of the bodâ / yet kepeth wylfullâ the same ââde with grete dysease / his Cell is ful of the odour of pouerte / not ful of clothes / he thyÌketh nothynge that theues sholde come stele his clothes / nor the that moughte nor duste sholde ete nor waste his clothes / yf ony thynge be gyueÌ hyÌ or delyuered hym / he thynketh not
mystery of them that be not obedyent / and of the excellent grace of them that be obedyent ¶ Ca. ij THe secuÌde chapyter is of theÌ that set somoche loue to obedyence / that it suffyseth not to them to obeye to the generall obedyence / as to the commaundymeÌtes of god / but yf they take be bounde to some specyall obedyeÌce ¶ Also how a maÌ cometh and by what maner fro the generall obedyence to the specyall / and of the excellence of the relygyoÌ Â¶ Also of the excellence of them that be vnder obedyence and be obedyent / and of the mysery of them that be inobedyent / whiche be in the state of relygyon ¶ How they that be very obedyent receyue an hundreth for one / and euer lastynge lyfe ¶ And what is vnderstonde by that one / what by that hundreth ¶ Ca. iij. THe thyrde chapyter is of the paruersyte / mysere / and labours of hym that is not obedyent / and of the myserable fruytes that come of inobedyeÌce ¶ Of the Imparfeccyon of theÌ that be slowe or vnlusty in relygyon / all be it they kepe them fro deedly synne / and of the remedy how they maye come out of that vnlustynesse ¶ Of the excellence of obedyence / and of the goodes that obedyence gyueth to hyÌ that taketh it in sothefastnesse ¶ Ca. iiij THe fourthe chapyter is of dystynccyon of two maners of obedyence that is to saye of obedyence of relygyous folke / and of obedyence that is done to a certayne parsone out of relygyon for god ¶ How god rewardeth not after the trauayle of obedyence / nor after the lengthe of the ryme / but after the magnytude of charyte ¶ Also of the redynesse quyckenesse of them that be very obedyencers ¶ And of the myracles the whiche god sheweth of this vertu and of dyscrecyon in obedyence / and of the workes and rewarde of hym that is very obedyent ¶ Ca. v. THe fyfte chapyter of this last party is a repetycyoÌ of all the hole boke / how this deuoute soule yeldynge worshyppes and thankynges to god / made a prayer for all holy chyrche / for all the worlde ¶ And here is coÌmended the vertu of feythe / so is fulfylled yeâude of this boke ¶ Here foloweth a prologue TO sustren I haue shewed you what ympes trees I haue founde and gadered to plante and to set in your ghostly orcharde ¶ The aleys of youre ghostly orcharde be full longe and brodâ / wherin be many walkynge pathes / whiche shall lede you truly to what maner fruyte you lyste to fede you / in what party they be sette or plaÌted ¶ But sustren lyke it to you to knowe that in gaderynge delectable fruyte / I fouÌde full bytter wedes / bytter and soure they be to taste / but profytable to knowe ¶ Suche wedes I purpose to set ymonge good fruyte not for fedyÌge but to youre knowynge ¶ Taste you of them and knowe them / that ye maye beware yfony ghostly enemy profer you ony suche wedes ¶ Sauour you theÌ not for full fedynge / for than peryously they worke / and full ofte to dethe / but by grace the soner it maye be remedyed ¶ But sustren thoughe my fruyte be gadered / yet a tyme I muste haue of settynge and of plantynge / ymoÌge recreacyons to the parfeccyoÌ of my spyryte ¶ Greate laborer was I neuer bodyly nor ghostly / I had neuer greate strengthe myghtely to labour with spade nor with shouell ¶ Therfore nowe deuoute sustren helpe me with prayers / for I lacke cunnynge / agaynste my greate feblenesse / strengthe me with youre pyte ¶ Also haue me recommended in your ghostly excercyse to our blessyd lady / and salute her in my name with deuoute aues / hauyÌge myÌde somtyme on her fyue ioyes / and sometyme on her fyue sorowes / whiche she had in erthe ¶ With this labour I charge you not / but as youre charyte styrreth you / with that vertu helpe me forthe / for hastely I go to labour / in purpose to parforme this fruytefull ghostly orcharde / as it shall be plesyÌge to almyghty god to gyue lyghte to my soule / with trewe felyÌge clere syghte ¶ Whiche Ihesu cryste for his moderly loue / graunte onely to his worshyp and to our ghostly lernynge / and conforte all to creacyon AmeÌ Â¶ And here shal folowe the reuelayoÌs of the haÌdemayde of cryste obedience In obedience ¶ Here begynneth the boke of dyuyne doctryne That is to saye of goddes techynge Gyuen by the persone of god the fader / to the intelleccyon of the gloryous vyrgyn seynt Katheryn of Seene / of the ordre of seynt Domynycke whiche was wryteÌ as she endyted iÌ her moder tongue / whaÌ she was in coÌteÌplacyoÌ / rapt of spyryte / she herynge actualy And iÌ the same tyme / she tolde before many what our lorde god spake iÌ her ¶ And here foloweth the fyrst chapytre of this boke which is how the soule of this mayde was oned to god how that she made .iiii. petycyons to oure lorde in that tyme of contemplacyon / and of the answere of god / and of moche other doctryne / as it is specyfyed in the kalender before Capi. i. A Soule that is reysed vp with heuenly and ghostly desyres / affeccyoÌs to the worshyp of god / to the helthe of mantles soule / and with a greate desyre langoreth vertuously / inhabyted by the space of a longe tyme / full besyly laboreth in ghostly exercyse / and mekely abydeth in her inwarde beholdynge / to knowe herselfe / to that entent onely / that she myght better knowe in her selfe / the goodnes of god ¶ For as she well feleth by grace / after that knowynge the loue that loueth is knytte / ioyned with a loue / to that that is loued / and forceth and besyeth her to loue / and folowe that knowynge / and with contynual excercyse inhabyteth her / with the sothefastnes ¶ And for asmoche as a soule in no maner tasteth nor sauoureth somoche / it is iÌ no maner somoche lyghtned with knowynge of that sothefastnes / as it is by the meane of a meke coÌtynuall / of a deuoute prayer / founded and grounded in the knowynge of god / and or it selfe ¶ Therfore suche a prayer / oneth such a soule to god / sorowynge the sleppes of ââyite in his passyon / so by desyre / ãâã you / vnyon oââoue / the soule ãâ¦ã an other than she ãâ¦ã this semeth well of crystes wordes / whan he sayde Si âs diligit me sermoneÌ meaÌ seruauit That is to say Who that loueth me shal kepe my worde ¶ Also he sayth in another place Qui diligit me diligetÌ a patrimed / ego diligaÌ eu / manifestabo illi meipsum / erit vnum mecum / et ego cumillo That is to saye He that loueth me / shall
hathe to me / he is troubled and soroweth for his vnkyndenesse / and other mennes And yf he loued me not / yet he sholde haue no payne / nor trouble Therfore you my other seruauntes / anone as ye haue knowynge of my sothefastnes iÌ suche maner as I haue rehersed to you before to my laude / and worshyp glory of my name / you must suffre manye wronges / trybulacyons / vnderstondynges / reprtues / in wordes and indedes to the daye ¶ Bere therfore easely and with pasyence you and my other seruauntes trybulacyons / and sorowe with teres of eyes for the offences that beÌ done to me / for the loue of vertues to my worshyp And yf you so do / I shall do satysfaccyoÌ to your synnes / in somoche that what penaunce ye suffren / shall suffyce for satysfaccyoÌ in you and other / by the vertu of your charyte And than for a rewarde / ye shall haue forgyuenesse of all youre ygnorauÌce / and I shall no more remembre me of your trespace ¶ In other of my creatures I shall do satysfaccyon by mercy And for the affeccyon of youre charyte / and to theÌ I shall gyue grace after the dysposycyoÌ / whiche they sholde receyue / as thus They dysposen them mekely with reuereÌce / to receyue the techyÌge and the doctryne of my seruauÌtes / al those that so done / partely I shal forgyue them theyr synnes / and the paynes for synne / and the cause is For by that / they dyspose theÌ somekely to the techynge of my seruauÌtes / by that they shall haue suche grace that they shall come to very knowynge of themselfe / and to haue compunccyon of al theyr trespaces / and to be coÌtynually in deuoute prayer And by the seruent desyre of my seruauntes / I shall receyue them benyngely / and they shall receyue the fruyte of a specyall grace / and also a grace specyall / in some gre more or lesse after that they wyl labour / and haue excercyce with vertues ¶ This I saye generally / that they shall haue forgyuenesse of theyr synnes / but yf it so be / that they be so obstynate / that by theyr dyspayre they wyl be repreued of me / no regarde takynge to the blode of my sone / the whiche so louyngely hathe wasshed them with his pcyous blode for your saluacyoÌ Â¶ Nowe doughter what fruyte of grace as you suppose / or thyÌke they shal haue Theyr fruyte it is this That by the prayer of my seruauÌtes / I am constrayned / and in a maner compelled / by the whiche I abyde theyr tournynge / and chaungynge to vertuous lyuynge / and I gyue them lyghte of conscyence / and I styre them to bèware withstonde synne / and I make them to taste the sauour of vertu / to haue lykynge in the conuersacyon of my seruauntes ¶ Also sometyme I suffre that this wretched worlde / be contraryâ us to them / and that they suffre fele manye passyons / that they maye knowe the lytle stablenes that is in this worlde / that they lyfte vp theyr hertes and desyres to me / to get and purchace theyr owne helthe of euer lastyÌge lyfe And so in these foresayd maners / in many other maners / whiche no eye maye se / nor tongue speke / nor herte suffyseth to thyke / how many dyuers way as there ben whiche I haiââ ordeyned onely of loue / that they maye be brought to grace / that my sothefastnes maye be fulfylled iÌ the. And to this I am coÌpelled / for I formed theÌ made theÌ of nought / of my charyte that may not be spoke / nor tolde with tongue ¶ Also for the prayers of my seruauntes / for theyr feruent desyres and sorowe / I forsake not / nor I dyspyse not theyr reres and labours / theyr meke prayers / but gladli I receyue them / and they ben to me full acceptable / for I am he the whiche do make my seruauntes to loue them / and to make inwardely sorowe for theyr harme / reparynge of theyr soules / but yet in all these generall laboures / and ghostly excercyses / satysfaccyon for payne for synne is not made / but onely satysfaccyoÌ for synne For in theyr partye they dyspose them not with a very parfyte loue / to be oned to me with my loue / nor with the parfyte loue of my seruauÌtes / also they haue not that bytter sorowe / with parfyte contrycyon for the offences that they haue done to me / as my seruauntes haue / but the loue and coÌtrycyon whiche they haue is vnêfyte ¶ Therfore they haue not / nor yet receyuen not full satysfaccyon for payne / as the other that ben parfyte / but onely satysfaccyon for synne / for the dysposycyon muste come on bothe the partyes that is to saye aswell of the receyuer / as of hym that is the gyuer And for asmoche as they ben not parfyte / therfore they receyue imparfytely that parfeccyon of theyr desyres That is to saye / the parfeccyon of my seruauntes / the whiche done offre theyr desyres for them that ben not parfyte / with paynes before me ¶ Wherfore I saye to the that they do satysfaccyon for theyr synne / it shall be forgyuen them And that is ryght sothefastnesse that it so be / in the maner as it is sayde before / for throwe the cleâenes of theyr coÌscyence / other ghostly excercyses / theyr synÌe is forgyuen ¶ For whan they begynne to haue knowyÌge of themselfe / they casten out fro them the rotteÌ fylthe of theyr synnes / and by that they receyue a specyall grace / and suche the so done beÌ in comyÌ charyte / yf they pacyently take all thynge that they suffren / as for theyr correccyon / and quenchen not the goodnesse and the grace of the holy ghost Ye se whan they leuen theyr synnes / they receyuen a lyfe of grace / but it so be that they beÌ wrapped with wyckednesse not takynge hede to my goodnesse / nor to the greate labours of my seruauÌtes For yf they ben so ygnorauÌt and so vnkynde / than anone al that whiche sholde haue beÌ for theyr correccyon / and was forgyuen theym by mercy / tourneth them to preiudyce and hyndrynge / not in the defaute of mercy / nor in the defaute of my seruauntes / whiche had goten mercy for hym that is so vnkynde / but onely throwe the hardenesse of his herte / whiche with the hande of his fre wyl set a stone as of an harde Adamaunt vpon his herte / whiche stone may not be brokeÌ but with blode / but it profyteth not the. Not that with stondynge / his hardenesse / whyle he hathe tyme here of fre choyse / yf he wyll aske the blode of my sone / with the same hande wylfully wyll put it vp to the very hardenesse of his herte / he shall receyue the swete
the worlde / that were in perell of perysshynge / so that the Iugement of god myght be peased / and his wrothe aswaged that is to say with holy / contynuall / meke / and deuoute prayers ¶ Aster all this / the soule was compelled to ryse more feruent ly throwe an holy desyre / behelde her selfe in wardly iÌ the Dyuyne charyte / with the eye of intelleccyon ¶ In the whiche charyte / she sauoured tasted / how moche we beÌ bounde to loue / and seke / and to purchase the glory / and the preysynge of the name of god / for the helthe of all mennes soules ¶ And to the entent / she sawe thou seruauÌtes of god called and ordeyned and specyally to that the good lorde euer beynge sothefastnes / had chosen her a ghostly sader / whome she presented before the dyuyne goodnesse / prayenge god inwardly / the he shold veryly folowe the sothefastnes / and the he wolde shewe hym a lyghte of a specyall grace ¶ How a man maye not plese god / but he bere tryvulacyons / with the vertu of pasyence THan oure lorde god answerynge to the thyrde petycyon that is to saye to the perycyon / or desyre the whiche ryght mekely she asked of god for the helthe of soules / sayde to her thus ¶ My doughter I wyl that thy ghostly fader / the whiche thou hase nowe / parsue to my goodnesse / in ferueÌt desyre / and grete besynesse / for the helthe of all soules ¶ But he maye not haue that / nor thou / nor none other / but with pasyence in many parsecucyons ¶ Also but as I wyll grauÌt you / as I sayd to the before ¶ For ryght as ye des syre to se my worshyp iÌ holy chyrche so ye sholdeÌ desyre to loue ãâã suffre parsecucyons / with very greate pasyence ¶ By that I shall parceyue that âe ãâã and my otheâ ãâã ãâã and desyren my ãâã in sothefastnesse / than be shall be to me a dere beloued sone / and he and suthe other shall rest them full merely vpon the brest of my onely begoten sone / of the whiche sone I haue made a brydge / the whiche shall receyue hym and althose that haue ta ãâ¦ã loue / and they shal come ãâã to thââ graââ merry whiche they ãâ¦ã and the one neyghbour to ãâã we other ââ hymâââ be you sure and stedfaste in ãâã / and than drede you not / but ye shall ascende vpon this brydgs / euer after that to lyue in ioye / with all the holy company of heuen ¶ Here now moder and systreÌ eâdeth the fyrste parte of your ghosty orcharde / the whiche treteth ãâã of mekenesse / dysccecyon / lone / charyte / holt desyres and of palyeÌce ¶ These vertues feruently for them to la bour / for his moders loue he graunt vs all his dere blessynge Amen ¶ The seconde boke ¶ The fyrste chapytre of the seconde partye / maketh mencyon of a brydge how god made a brydge of his loue whan the waye of goynge to ãâã was broke by inobedyence of ãâã by the whiche brydge ãâ¦ã people maye suer / passe ¶ Also how god iduced and ãâã this soule to beholde the greatenes of this brydge / that is to say / how it recheth fro the erthe to heueÌ And here after shat folo we of the same mater / as it is shewed in the kalender before Ca. i. DOughter bycause I dyd saye to the that I had made a brydge of my sone I wyl that it be vn knowen to you / the the waye of my be loued sone is broken / by the inobedyence trespas of Adam / in somoche the no maÌ myght come to euerlastyÌge lyfe ¶ And to me they gaueÌ no thaÌkynges / as they sholden haue done / and had no parte of the greate goodnesse / for the whiche recoysynge of blysse / I made theÌ and formed theÌ to my ymage and lykenesse ¶ And for they hsd not the goodnes / whiche I ordeyned for them / my sothefastnes was not fulfylled / whiche sothefastesse is this / that I made that same man / for he sholde haue euer lastynge lyfe with me ¶ And for he sholde sauour thst my euer be yÌge goodnesse sweternesse / hethrowe his offence dyd trespas agaynst my coÌmauÌdymeÌt / and so that sothefastnesse was not fulfylled ¶ And this myschefe befel / bycause the foresayde synne had shutte vp heuen / and closed the gate of my mercy ¶ This same synne hathe gendren / and but gyned full pryckynge thornes / full many trybulacyons / with mfynyte grefes ¶ This creature founde anone a rebellyon agaynste hymselfe and was made contrary to me / his flesshe made a batayle agaynste the spyryte / and there he lost the noble state of innosency / and became as an vnreasonable best ¶ Eche other creature was to hym rebell / where before that / they sholden haue obeyed to hym / yshe had kepte that innosency in hym / in the whiche I had made hym ¶ But sythen he kepte hym not styll in that state / but trespased agaynste my obedyence / therfore he deserued euer lastynge dethe in soule and in body ¶ Also of trespasse and synne / same forthe an vny uetsall flode / the whiche smote hym alwaye with his waters / and multyplyed many greuaunces ¶ Also the peple bare many grete labours on themselfe of the worlde / of the deuyl in dyuers and many maners withouten noÌbre / for the whiche they wereÌ perysshed ¶ For no man myghte asceÌde to the euer beyÌgelyfe / though he had be the most ryghfullest lyuer at that tyme. ¶ Wherfore I desyred to ordeyne a remedy agaynste your suylles / and now I haue gyueÌ you a brydge of my owne sone / the whan you wyll passe ouer that ftode / ye sholden not perysthe / whiche flode is a meruaplous feruent see of this wretched lyfe ¶ Doughter sees thou not / how moche my creature is beholden to me / and how moche he is blynded with the vnstedfastnesse of hymselfe / in wyll to slee his soule / not in wyll to take the remedy that is ordeyned and gyueÌ to hym of me How god induced and styrred this deuoute soule / to beholde the grete nesse of this holy brydge that is to saye how it recheth fro erthe to heuen OPen noowe the eyes of thy ghostly intelleccyon / and thou shall se deedly men by dyuers maners made blyÌde with ygnorauÌce ¶ Thou shall se imparfyte men / and parfyte men / the whiche folowen me in sothefastnesse / that thou may sorowe for the dampnacyon of wretches / and for theyr ygneraunce / and that thou maye ioye for the parfeccyon of my well beloued chyldren ¶ And thou shall se moreouer the dyuers maners whiche some meÌ holdeÌ / what way they kepeÌ that gone in lyghte / the maners of them that gone in derkenes ¶ But fyrste I wyll that thou loke the
brydge of my sone / that thou beholde in the inwardely the gretenes of that brydge / whiche recheth fro the heyghte of heueÌ / downe to the erthe that is to saye that the erthe of your humanyte / is oned to the gretenesse of the godheed ¶ And therefore I sayde / the that brydge recheth fro the hyeheuen / to the lowe erthe ¶ And that is of the oueheed whiche I haue made in maÌ / the was nedeful as I haue sayde before to reforme the waye the was brokeÌ / the ye myghten come agayne to lyfe / passe ouer the bytternesse / wretchednesse of this worlde ¶ He myghte not haue ben onely of the erthe / yf he sholde be suffycyent to passe ouer the ftoode / and take euerlastyÌge lyfe ¶ For the erthe of nature of maÌ onely / was not suffyeyent to make a mendes for synne the was done / nor do away the synne of Adam / whiche dyshoneste wyckeduesse / broughte mankynde in to thraldome myschefe / bytternesse / and drewe out therof / moche foule / roteÌ / stynkynge fylthe / as I haue deelared before ¶ Therfore it behoueth nedes to bedned to the heyghnes of my nature / the euer beynge godheed / that it myght be able to make satystaccyon to all mankynde / so the the kynde of maÌ sholde suffre peyne and that the dyuyne nature / oned to the nature of maÌ sholde so accepte to me the sacryfyces of my sone offred for you / that it sholde put frome you dethe / and gyue to you the euer lastyÌgelyfe ¶ Also the heyghte of the godheed / mekely dydde dysceÌde to the erthe the vallaye of mysery and than of his greate loue / he loyned his godheed / with the heed of oure humanyte / and for the bytter penes that he suffred iÌ this vallaye or place of mysery as crucyfyed / deed / and buryed for the trespas of AdaÌ / for by those penes with many mo the brydge is mercyfully made / and the way that was broken / gracyonsly edyfyed / and made newe agayne ¶ And why made he hymselfe to be the waye But the ye sholdeÌ come to sothefastnes / and loye euer lastyÌgely / with the nature of angelles ¶ And yet were it not suffycyeÌt for you to have the lyfe all be it my sone be the brydge but it were so / the ye dy den passe by hym ¶ How we ben al labourers / ben sende fro god to labour in the vyneyerde of holy chyrche and how euery man hathe a vyneyerde of hymselfe IN this party the euer beynge sothefastnes shewed that he made you withoute you / but he shall not saue you withoute you ¶ He wyl gyue to you a fre wyl with a fre choyse / to spende youre tyme in excersyce of vertues / or after the voluptuosyte of youre owne mynde ¶ Therfore he added therto sayde It behoueth you al to passe by that brydge / to seke the laude and the glory of my name / for helthe of soules / in suffrynge with greate pene many grete labours / and so folowe the steppes of my sone / fuffre and bere you penes for his loue / the whiche hathe shewed you so greate loue / for ye maye not passe by none other waye ¶ Ye ben my londe tyllers and labourers the whiche I haue hyred / for ye sholden labour / or besy you in the vyneyerde of youre moder the holy chyrche ¶ Nowe ye done labour and trauaylem the body of rely gyon hyred of me by a syn guler grace with the lyghte of the holy baptym gyuen to you whiche baptym ye token in the ghostly body of holy chyrche / throwe the handes of the mynysters of your moder the holy chyrche ¶ They plante in you a synguler grace / draweynge you oute of the pryckynge thornes of deedly synnes ¶ They ben my labourers and tyllers / in the vyneyerde of youre soules / fastned in the vyneyerd of the moder holy chyrche ¶ All maner of creatures that haue reason in theÌselfe / they haue a vyne yerde of themselfe that is to saye a vyneyerde of theyr soules / whose wylles with a fre choyse / shall be theyr tyller for the space of theyr syfe for after this transytory lyfe / they shall not haue operacyoÌs / or workes / no ther good nor euyll ¶ Whyle a man lyueth / he maye tyll and laboure in his vyneyerde / to the whiche I haue broughte hym ¶ And the tyller of the soule hathe taken here so greate a myght / that nother the fende / nor no creature lyuyÌge / may take away frome hym that strengthe / but he wyl hymselfe ¶ For whaÌ he taketh the holy baptym / he becometh very stronge / and than is gyuen to hym a swerde sharpe on bothe the sydes that is to say loue of vertues / and hate of synnes / the whiche loue and hate / he founde in holy blode ¶ For the very greate loue of vertues / and for the greate dysplesaunce of vyces my sone suffred dethe on the crosse onely for youre redempcyon / and the tyme he redemed you with his precyous dlode / by the whiche ye ben brought out of the captyuyte of the deuyll / by the vertu of the holy sacrament baptym ¶ Also ye haue a sharpe swerde / with the which swerde whyle ye haue tyme / ye sholden vse withall your dylygence / to dystroye thesechornes / and plucke them vp by the rootes / and plante for them the hyghnes of vertues / for otherwyse / yeshal not rereyue the fruyte of the blode / of chrystes tyllers / whiche I haue setle ordeyned in holy chyrche / of the whiche tyllers I haue sayde to the before / that they voydeÌ away deedly synues / frome the vyne yerdes of youre soules ¶ And whaÌ they dydeÌ mynystre to you the holy blode of the sacrament ordeyued us holy chyrche / they gaue you thanne grace ¶ It behoueth you therfore that ye aryse fyrste by a meke coÌtry cyon of the herte / and by an hyghe dyspleasaunce of synnes / by lous of vertues / than ye shall reccyue the fruyte of that holy blode / or els ye may not teceyue that holy fruyte as by youre parte for ye dysposed you not as in the braunches oned to the vyne of my onely begoteÌ sone the whiche sayde I am the vyne / ye ben the braunches / and my fader is the lande tyller ¶ I saye to the that treuthe it is / for I am a tyller / for al thyÌge the cometh frome / hathe beynge ¶ My myght is inestymable / euery man is gouerned by my myghte / and by my greate vertu / ther is nothynge done without me ¶ Also I am that tyller / the whiche haue plÌated a very vyne of my sone in the grounde of youre humanyte that ye whiche ben the braunches ioyned with the vyne / maye brynge forthe fruyte ¶ And therfore he the bryngeth not
O HaÌ this soule fulfylled with loue began to speke to oure lorde / sayde ¶ O lorde vnestymable loue of charyte / who is he that dothe not brenne with somoche loue / that for that loue may so defende hym / that fyrst the herte fayle not Thou lorde the very depenes of charyte / thou semes to haue greate deyntes of thy creatures / as thoughe thou myght not lyue without them / yet thou hase no nede of vs whiche arte our lorde god ¶ And for asmoche as thou arte vnnumerable / there is nothynge added to the / throwe olâre goodnesse ¶ And for asmoche as thou arte the hyghe euer brynge goodnesse / oure euyll enpereth the not ¶ O good lorde who is he that styrreth the to somuche mercy lorde it is loue that styrreth the / and no nede that thou hase to vs / for we beÌ to the ryght euyll detters ¶ O euer beynge goodnes / yf I beholde well aboute / I am myselfe a brybour a these / lorde thy sone was crucyfyed on a tree / for me a wretched synner / and I beholde thy sone nayled on the crosse / of the whiche sone thou made a brydge to me / as it is shewed of thy goodnesse to me / whiche am thy creature and seruaunte ¶ Wherfore if it be acceptable to thy goodnesse / I desyre that thy benygnyte wolde shewe me / whiche ben those that passen by the brydge / and whiche not ¶ The seconde chapytre is how that blissed brydge goddes sone hathe thre grees / by the whiche ben betokened thre states of a soule ¶ And how this brydge whaÌ it is reysed vp in to the erthe / it is not departed fro the erthe ¶ Also how this reason shall be vnderstoÌde ¶ Siego exaltatê° fuero a terra omnia traham ad me ¶ And forthermore of the same mater / as it is rehersed before to you in the kalendre Ca. ii THe euer beynge almyghty god / thanne to styrre this soule moche more / and to herte her more seruently in labour aboute the helthe of maÌnes soule answered to her and sayd ¶ Or that I shewe to the / the whiche I wyll shewe to the / and of that whiche thou does aske of me / fyrste I wyll put the in a certayne knowlege how it is of the brydge ¶ I sayd to the before / that the brydge recheth frome heuen to erthe that is to say by the vnyon whiche I haue made in maÌ / whom I formed of slyme / or erthe ¶ This brydge my onely begoten sone hathe thre ladders in hyÌ selfe / of the whiche thre ladders .ii. were made in the tree of the holy crosse ¶ The thyrde he felde in full greate peyne of bytternesse / whan the iewes gaue hym to drynke both aysell gall ¶ In these threladders / thou shall knowe the thre states of the soule / whiche I shall declare to the here after ¶ The fyrste ladder is at the fete / and it betokeneth the affeccyon and the desyre of the soule ¶ For as the fete beren vp the body / so the desyres and affeccyons bereÌ vp the soule ¶ The fete nayled / beÌ madeladers to the / that thou maye attayne / or reche vp to the wounde of the syde / whiche wounde sheweth the pryuytes of the herte ¶ For after tyme thou hase ascended vp / by the fete of desyre anone the soule begynneth to tast the loue of the herte / fastnynge the eye of intelleccyon / in the herte of my dere sone / where the soule shall fynde the ended parfyte loue I saye the ended loue for he loueth not you for his owne profyte / for ye maye do to hym no profyte / for he is al one with me ¶ Than this soule sawe how the she was byloued of god / and than she was replete with loue a thousande tymes more / than she was before ¶ Forthermore whan the soule hathe ascended by the seconde ladder / she recheth vp to the thyrde ladder that is to saye to the company of heuen / where she fyndeth the pease that she desyred / out of the warre / or batayle that she hadde before / throwe her synne ¶ For in the fyrste ladder of affeccyon and of desyre / whaÌ she reysed vp the fete fro the erthe / thaÌ she voydeth her frome the derkenesse of vyces ¶ In the seconde ladder / she fulfylleth herselfe with vertuous loue ¶ And in the thyrde ladder / she tasteth a full swete pease ¶ And thus the foresayde brydge hathe thre ladders / that whan ye passe the fyrste and the secoÌde ladder / ye maye blyssedly come to the thyrde / that is the last ¶ This brydge is reysed vp on heyght / whiche shall not be hurte of the rennynge water / for in hym is no venemous spottes of synnes ¶ This brydge is reysed vp / yet it is not parted fro the erthe ¶ Thou knowes well whaÌ he had reysed hyÌselfe vp as whan he was tourmented on the crosse yet the dyuyne nature voyded hyÌ not fro the lownesse of youre humanyte ¶ Therfore I sayde to the / that whan he was lyft vp on heyghte / he was not departed fro the erthe as by that for with the humanyte he was knytte veryly and coupled ¶ And the tyme that he was so areysed / there was no maÌ that myght go on that brydge ¶ Therfore he sayde hyÌselfe / yf I be exalted frome the erthe / I shall drawe all thyÌges to me ¶ And I beholdynge of my goodnesse / that ye myghten none other wyse be draweÌ / I sende hym to be arrysed vp to the tree of the holy crosse ¶ Therfore I made a ghostly Anduelde / wheron the sone of mankynde sholde be forged / so that man sholde be walshed and clensed fro euer lastynge dethe / and that he sholde be clothed with the durable lyfe / by a synguler grace ¶ And therfore my sone draweth to hym all thyÌges / m the maner as it is sayd before the he sholde she me his greate loue / whiche may not be spoke / whiche loue he had to man / for that herte of meÌ is draweÌ by loue ¶ He myght shewe you no more loue / thaÌ so put his lyfe for you ¶ Therfore by the strengthe of loue man is drawen but he make resystence in hymselfe / and wyll not suffre hym to be drawen ¶ I sayde therfore / that whan my sone was lyfte vp frome the erthe that he sholde drawe all thynges to hym / and that is sothe / but that is vnderstoÌden two maner of wayes ¶ The one is / that a mannes herte he drawen by desyre of loue / with al the myghtes of the soule that is to saye with mynde / intelleccyoÌ / and wyll ¶ Whan these thre myghtes ben accorded / and gadered togyder in my name / all other werkes / actu all / and mentall / whiche he dothe / ben drawen in me peaseably /
assayed that waye theyrselfe ¶ Also eche resonable creature is lyghtned by knowynge of a sothefastnesse / yf he wyll hymselfe that is to saye that no man be not in wyl to lose the lyght of reason / for his owne loue and profyte ¶ Ther fore it is truely sayde / my sones doctryne is treue / whiche abode as a boot / to draweout soules of the tempest of the grete see / to lede them to the hauen of helthe ¶ And thus I sayd / I haue made an actual brydge of my sone / with his conuersauÌt beynge fyrste with men ¶ But whaÌ the actual brydge of the parfyte doctryne was taken fro you / thaÌ abode the brydge / and my doctryne with my myght / that am the fader / and the same doctryne ioyned and knytte with the wysoome of my sone / and with the mercy pyte of the holy ghost / this myght gyueth strengthe to theÌ that done folowe this waye / the weysdome of my sone gyueth to maÌ lyght that he maye knowe that sothefastnes in the waye / the holy ghost gyueth to hym loue / whiche loue putteth awaye / and dystroyeth the venym of his propre wyll / and maketh the loue of vertus onely to abyde ¶ Also he is the waye of sothefastnesse and lyfe actually or by doctryne / the whiche waye is the brydge / ledynge bryngynge you to the heyght of heuen ¶ Therfore it was sothely sayde / whan my sone sayd / I came downe fro my fader / and came downe in to the worlde / I leue that worlde agayne and I go to my fader that is to saye my fader sende me to you / ordeyned and made me youre brydge / that ye myght ascape ouer the floode / come to the lyfe that is euer durable ¶ He sayde also / and I shall come a gayne to you / I shall not leue you faderlesse chyldren / but I shall sende you comforte that is to say the holy ghost / as thoughe my sothefaste sone incarnate had sayne thus ¶ I shall go to my fader / shortly after come agayne to you / whaÌ the holy ghost cometh / whiche is the spyryte of comforte ¶ Whiche spyryte of coÌforte shall shewe you more clerely all thynge / coÌfyrme the way of sothefastnesse / that is the most parfyte doceryne that I haue gyuen you ¶ He sayde also / I shall come agayne to you / and so he dyd ¶ For the holy ghoste cometh not alone / for he cometh with the myghte of the fader / with the wysedome of the sone / and and with that mercy of the holy ghost ¶ Therfore thou may se that he came agayne not actually / but in vertu strengthynge the waye of doctryne whiche way maye neuer fayle / nor be taken fro them / that ben in wyll to folowe that doctryne ¶ For it is stroÌge stable / for asmoche as it came fro me / the whiche am not chaungeable ¶ Therfore ye sholden myghtly folowe that waye of doctryne / withoute ony cloude / with the lyghte of very faythe / whiche is gyuen to you for a pryncypall vesture / in the sacrament of holy baptym ¶ Now doughter I haue declared shewed to that pleynly the actuall brydge and his doctryne / whiche is all one / the same with the brydge ¶ I haue sayde also that there were apostles / euangelystes / martyrs / coÌfessours / holy doctours / ordeyned set / as laÌterns in holy chyrche ¶ I haue shewed that also how my sone / after tyme the he came to me / that he came agayne to you / not by his bodyly presence / but in vertu that is to saye whan that the holy ghoste came vpon the apostles ¶ For in that bodyly presence he shal not come to you agayne / but in that laste daye of Iudgement / whaÌ he shall come with my maââste / and with my dyuyne myght / to Iudge the quycke and the deed / and to yelde rewardes to the good / to rewarde them with greate gyftesin soule body for theyr labours / he shall yeldefull bytter penes / to all theym that wyckedly haue ledde theyr lyfe here iÌ this worlde ¶ Now doughter forthermore I wyll say to that / the I sothefastnesse made promyse to she we all to the / that is to shewe the theÌ that gone in that waye vnparfytely / and them also that gone parfytely / and them the gone in the most parfyte waye and how they go ¶ I haue shewed the also the wycked men / whiche with theyr wyckednesse drownen themselfe in the floode / and gone to euer lastynge derkenesse ¶ And now I speke to you that ben my dere chyldreÌ / that ye go by the brydge besely and not vnder the brydge / for that is not the waye of ryghtwysenesse / but rather it is the waye of pardycy on and vntruthe / and by that waye wycked men go / of the whiche men I shal speke here after ¶ Those beÌ synners / of the whiche / I praye you that ye praye to me besyly / and for the halthe and the faluacyon of theÌ Â¶ I aske of you teeres and labours / that they may haue of me my grete mercy ¶ Than this soule was so fulfyl sed with all ghestly swetenesse / that she myght not refreyne herselfe / but as she slode in oure lordes prefence / she beganne to speke / sayde ¶ How this soule as she wondered on the greate mercy of oure lorde / she remembred her on the multytude of his grete benefytes O Mercy without ende / and euer beynge goodnesse / the whiche dydhyde the greate wyckednes of thy creatures ¶ Dere lorde I wolde not wondre yf thou dyd saye I shall not remeÌbre me of theyr wyckednes / whiche cometh oute of deedly synnes / and at the laste tournen to the agayne ¶ O thou inestymable mercy / I wyll ueuer wonder / yf thou saye the worde to them that comen out of synne / sythen thou dyd saye to vs / I wyll the ye praye to me for them / that dysplesen me with theyr syntul lyuyÌge / that I maye gyue to theym mercy ¶ O most pleÌtuous mercy / whiche cometh of eteruyte euer beynge of the almyghty fader / whiche gouerneth the worlde w e his euerlastynge myghte ¶ Also we weren made formed in thy mercy / and we ben reformed by thy mercy / in the blode of thy sone / for thy amyable mercy kepeth vs. ¶ Lorde thy mercy made thy sone to sprede his armes on the cros / ther played dethe with lyfe / lyfe with dethe ¶ Than he sende vtterly the lyfe / whiche was the dethe of oure synnes / that dethe of oure synne / toke awaye the bodely lyfe / fro the meke lambe / that is thy dere sone ¶ O lorde who was ouercomen Lorde dethe was ouercomeÌ Lorde who was the cause Thy grete mercy was the cause ¶
is somoche / that they maye not desyre nor wyll ony goodnesse / but alwaye they dyspysen me with blasphemyÌge And wyll thou knowe why they haue no appetyte nor desyre to goodnes / for that lyfe of a maÌ whaÌ it is deed that fre choyse to good or yll is coÌstreyned / and fro that tyme passed / they maye go no forther ¶ Yf they dyen in hatered with deedly synÌe / alway after the soule is bounde with the boÌdes of hatered / of that dyuyne ryghtwysenes / he abydeth obstynate iÌ the peyne that he suffreth / alway fretyÌge hyÌselfe with peynes / whiche beÌ added encresed to hyÌ / fro tyme to tyme. ¶ And specyally they beÌ partyners of theyr peynes / of whom they wereÌ the pryÌcypal cause of theyr daÌpnacyoÌ as the ryche man that was dampned gaue you ensample / whan he asked for grace / that Lazarus sholde go iÌ to the worlde to his brederne for to shewe them his cruell peynes ¶ He asked not for compassyoÌ / nor for charyte that he had to his brederne / for he was pryued of that compassyon and of charyte ¶ And he myght desyre no goodnesse / nother to my worshyppe / nor to theyr helthe for as I sayde to the they may do no good to theyr neyghbour ¶ Me they blasfeme / bycause they dydé ende theyr lyues in hatered of me / in hate of vertues ¶ Why does thou aske thaÌ the ryche maÌ that Lazarê° sholde shewe to his brederne / what peynes he suffred this was the cause for that ryche man had many brederne / he was the oldest of theÌ / he noryshed theÌ in synne and wretchydnesse / in the whiche he was vsed alwaye hymselfe / wherfore he was cause of theyr daÌpnacyon parpetual / for whiche cause he sawe before what encrese of peynes he sholde suffre / whaÌ they wereÌ comen to tourmeÌtes to hym / in whiche peynes euermore they frete theÌselfe with hatered ¶ Of the blysse ioy of chosen soules IN the contrarywyse a ryghtfull soule / the whiche endeth her lyfe in affeccyon of charyte and is kâyte with the bonde of loue / maye not be encresed in vertues / after the tyme her lyfe is passed ¶ But suche a soule maye alwaye loue / with the same loue that she cometh to me / with the same mesure / she shall be mesured agayne ¶ He that coueteth me / alway hathe me / wherfore his desyre is not voyde / but whan he hathe me / he is fylled with repleccyon ¶ And whan he is replete / yet he is made hongry for desyre / but werynesse is fer tro repleccyon / and peyne is ferre frome suche hongre ¶ With loue they Ioye togyder / in the euerlastyÌge syght of me / and to be partetakers of that I haue iÌ my selfe ¶ Euery soule as he hathe deserued / more or lesse that is to saye in the same mesure of loue / in the whiche they came to me / the very same shall be mesured to them / for al they dyden lyue in the loue of me / and of theyr neyghbours ¶ And so in that comyn charyte / with the whiche they were all ioyned togyder / and also with a specyall and a profounde loue the whiche cometh out of the bonde of the same charyte ¶ They beÌ in ioye togyder with gladnes / and they beÌ all made glad with ioye togyder / euery mannes goodnesse medled togyder the one with the other / with affeccyon of charyte besydes the vnyuersal goodnesse / the whiche they reioyce togyder ¶ They done ioye also with greate gladnesse / with the nature of angels / with the whiche angels / the soules of seyntes ben set after the multytude of dyuers vertues / whiche they hadden pryncypally beynge in the erthe / and all ben knytte togyder with chayne of charyte / the whiche maye not be dyssolued ¶ Also they ioye with them in a synguler partycypacyoÌ of blys with whome they were knyte togyder with a partyculer loue in that worlde ¶ Throwe the whiche loue they dyden encrese here in grace vertues whaÌ one gaue cause to an other / to shewe to gyue laude glory to my holy name / in theÌ in theyr neyghbours ¶ Therfore they losen not that same loue / whan they comen to the lyfe that shall euer endure ¶ But rather they haue that same / and parte togyder / with moche more plente of loue / thaÌ they dyd here ¶ And whaÌ they haue this specyall gyfte / whiche is added for encrese of theyr blys I wolde not that you suppose / that they shold haue this partyculer onely for theÌselfe / it is not so ¶ For that same goodnes is had of all the holy soules in heuen / whiche be my dere beloued chosen chyldren / of all the courte / of all the ordres of angels ¶ Therfore whan a soule is come to that blys of euerlastynge lyfe / all that be there / shall haue parte of the goodnes of that soule / that soule hathe parte of theyr goodnesse and blys that be in heuen ¶ But not so that the soules nede ony araye / but thou shall vnderstonde that they haue a maner of gladnesse / a synguler ioy whiche is called Iubâlus that is to saye a soule of a glad songe / whiche may not be tolde by worde nor shewed by sowne of voyce ¶ For gladdenes ioye / whiche ioye they haue by the knowynge whiche they had in suche a soule ¶ They beholde suche a soule take vp frome the erthe by my mercy with pleÌtuousnes of grace ¶ Also they ioye togyder in me / be glad in the possessyon of goodnes / that they knowe in that soule / for that grace / the whiche the soule receyued of my goodnes ¶ That same soule is glad in me / in the holy spyrytes / in the blyssed soules in heuen / beholdynge in theÌ that fayre heed / and tastynge the swetenes of my charyte ¶ And the desyre of theÌ crye alwaye to me / for the sauynge of al before my maieste for that lyfe of theÌ was ended / in that charyte of theyr neyghboure ¶ That charyte they lefte not / but with that charyte they dyd pas throwe the gate of my dere sone / in the maner that I shall tell the afterwarde ¶ Wherfore thou maye well conceyue that with that bonde of that same loue / wherin they dydde ende theyr lyfe / in that same they dwel abyd / euerlastyÌgely they endure ¶ They be somoche ê¯formed to my wyll / that they maye not desyre / but that is my wyll ¶ For theyr fre choyse is so bouÌde with the bonde of my charyte / that whan the reasonable tyme of a creature / fayleth after his deth he maye nomore synne ¶ And his wyll is somoche coÌformed with my wyll / that thoughe they se knowe the soules of theyr fader and moder of
fende calleth and styrreth men to the water of dethe that is to saye to the water that blyÌdeth them with worldly delyces and hyghe states / catcheth them with a false hoke of delectacyon vnder colour of good / for otherwyse he maye not haue them / for they wolden not suffre themselfe to be takeÌ nor dysceyued / yf they dydynot fele no goodnesse in theÌselfe ¶ For a soule of his owne nature / euer desyreth goodnes / but yet sothe it is that a soule sometyme is blynded throwe his owne loue / and thaÌ he knoweth not the venym / nor the dysceyte of the fende / and no dyscrecyon he hathe to knowe that very goodnesse / nor what is profytable to the soule nor to the body ¶ Therfore the fende whan he seeth a man so blynded throwe his owne propre loue / he putteth to hym dyuers states vnder dyuers colours of some profyte or of some vertu or goodnes ¶ And that he putteth to euery man after his state / and after the pryncypall vyces / in the whiche he knoweth euery man after his dysposycyon more redy to fall ¶ Some false suggesty on s he putteh to a relygyous maÌ / an other thyngehe putteth to prelates / an other to seculers / an other to lordes / and an other to seruauntes / to euery man after the degre of dyuers states ¶ This I haue rehersed and tolde the of them / the whiche drownen themselfe in the floode of the water of dethe / hauynge no rewarde but onely to themselfe that is to saye louyge themselfe / taken no hede of offences done to me / and of suche men I haue tolde the theyrende ¶ And now forthermore I wyl she we the / how they dysceyuen theÌselfe ¶ The cause in general is / for whan wylfully they wolden fle fro peynes / they fallen in to peynes ¶ For it semeth to theÌ / that it a full greate labour to folowe me that is to saye to go by the waye of the brydge of my sone / therfore they drawen abacke for drede of the thorne / that is for drede of sharpenesse / and that is for they ben vtterly blynded / by the whiche they seen not / nor knowen not the waye of my sothefastnesse / as thou dyd knowe / whan I shewed it the in the begynnyÌge of thy lyfe / whan thou dyd praye to me / that I sholde gyue mercy to all the worlde and to drawe them fro derkenesse of deedly synÌes ¶ Thou knowes wel that at that tyme / I shewed me to the in a fygure of a tree / of the whiche tree thou sauoured begynnyÌge nor endyÌge / but onely thou dyd parceyue that the roote of that tree was ioyned with the erthe / and that was the dyuyne nature was knyt with the nature of youre hamanyte ¶ In the fote of the tree yf thou haue good mynde / there was a thorne / fro the whiche thorne / all that dyden loue theyr owne sensualyte / dydeÌ drawe themselfe fer awaye fro the thorne / and stedden in hast to an hyll / ther was a pot / in the whiche hyll I shewed the by a fygure / all the delyces vanytes of the worlde ¶ In the pot it semed as ther had be where / but there was none / therfore thou sawe well that many soules dyden perysshe therin for hongre ¶ Some that knowen the perelles of the worlde / dyden retourne agayne to the tree / wenten myghtly by the thorne that is to saye some tokeÌ a purpose of good wyll / to take a waye of sharpenesse / whiche purpose of sharpenesse / or it be parformed / is suche a thorne whiche semeth to a man sholde be folowed / to go in to the waye of sothefastnesse ¶ And yet on the one party the conscyence grutcheth / on the other party that sensualyte grutcheth ¶ Neuerthelesse anone as a man with hatered and dysplesaunce of hymselfe / taketh a purpose myghtely / sayth thus in his herte / I wyl folowe my lorde crucyfyed / than sodeynly that purpose breketh the throwe that is to saye the good wyll dothe awaye the sharpenesse / and than shall he fyude a wonderfull swetenesse / as I haue declared to the before / some man more / and some man lesse / after the dysposycyon and besynes of dyuers men ¶ Thou knowes at that tyme howe I sayde to the / that youre lorde was vnmouable / sothe it is / for I am not chaunged ¶ I withdrawe me fro no creature that wyll come to me / I haue shewed the sothefastnesse to all / and I haue shewed me to them and made me vysyble / where I was and am inuysyble ¶ What is it to loue ony thynge wtoute me / they knowen not me / nor themselfe / bycause they were made blyde / throwe a cloude of vnordynate loue and of desyre ¶ Sees yu. not how moche they ben dysceyued / for they had moche rather to be perysched in the greate see / than to passe throwe a lytle sharpenesse ¶ And there maye none passe oute of this lyfe without the cros / saue they that gone by the hyghest waye / and yet they passen not wtout some peyne / but that peyne is to them a refresshynge ¶ And for asmoche as the worlde for synÌe bryngeth you forthe thornes breres / as I tolde the before / and renneth throwe a stoode the is a see wtout rest / therfore I haue ordeyned / and gyuen to you a sure brydge / wherby ye maye passe fro that worlde you wyll ¶ To this tyme I haue shewed the / how that suche men dysceyueÌ themselfe with an vnordynate drede / how I am poure lorde god / whiche am not chauÌged ¶ And that I take no hede to the parsones / but to the holy desyres of the parsones / and this I haue shewed the in a fygure of a tree ¶ How the world for synÌes brought forthe thornes and breres / yet some there ben that ben not noyed with them / all be it the no man maye come to blysse / wtoute some peyne here suffred or he passe NOw I am purposed to shewe the whiche they ben that be harmed of the thornes and breres / and whiche not ¶ And for asmoche as to this tyme I haue shewed to the dampnacyoÌ of suche men and my goodnesse and I tolde the how they ben dysceyued of theyr owne propre sensualyte ¶ Nowe therfore I wyll shewe to the / how they ben hurte of thornes onely ¶ Soth it is / no maÌ that is comen in to this lyfe lyueth forthe with bodyly labour or ghostly ¶ My seruauntes bere grete bodyly labours / theyr soules be ful fre fro that trauayle / for they fele no trauayle / that is for theyr wyll holy accordeth with my wyll ¶ And the wyl it is / that maketh meÌ haue peyne / they beren bothe bodyly peyne and ghostly as I sayde before whiche begynne to
tast fele here in this lyfe tokens of hell peynes / as my seruauÌtes in the contrary do begynne here to sele and sauour the tokyns and sykernes of euerlastyÌ lyfe ¶ Knowes thou not doughter that it is a ful synguler and a greate good and rewarde / whiche the blyssed company in heueÌ haue ¶ It is theyr ful wyll to haue his wyll / whom they desyre loue / they couet me / and for that they couet me / they haue me / and sauour me without ony rebellyon or withstondynge / for they haue lefte of and forsaken the heuynesse of the body / whiche was a wycked lawe of the flesshe / whiche stryued agaynst the spyryte ¶ The body was a meane to man / whiche body wolde not suffre hym to knowe the sothefastnes and that they myght not se me face to face / that myght not be / for the body dyd let them fro that syght ¶ After that that the soule hathe forsake the greuous heuynesse of the body / than is his wyl fulfylled ¶ For whaÌ he desyreth me / he seeth me / iÌ whose syght abydeth al your blys ¶ WhaÌ the soule seeth he knoweth / whan he knoweth he loueth ¶ Whan he loueth me most souerayne and euer lastynge goodnesse / than he tasteth and sauoureth me ¶ Whan he tasteth / he fulfylleth his wyl that is to saye his desyre that he hathe to knowe and beholde me / and iÌ the desyre he hathe me / and whan he hathe me / he desyreth me ¶ And as I sayd before / peyne is fer fro that desyre / werynes is fer fro replecyon ¶ Also thou sees that my seruauntes pryncypally sholde receyue theyr blysse in knowynge of me / and iÌ the syght of me / whiche syght and knowynge of of them / fulfylleth the wyll of them in all thynges ¶ And what the wyl desyreth / it hathe / and so it is pleynly fulfylled / therfore I sayde to the / that syngulerly to tast and sauoure euerlastynge lyfe / was that whiche the wyll desyreth to haue ¶ But yet thou shall knowe / that whaÌ that soule seeth me and knoweth me / it is fulfylled ¶ And in this lyfe as I sayd he receyueth as for a rewarde a sykernesse of euerlastynge lyfe / begynnynge here iÌ a maner to sauour and tast / that they sholde haue after in full replecyoÌ without ende ¶ But here thou askes how a soule maye fele a sykernesse in this lyfe / I tell the it is in the syght of my goodnesse in hym / and in the knowlegynge and knowynge of my sothefastnes / whiche knowyÌge the bryght clere intelleccyon he hathe in me / whiche intelleccyoÌ is that eye of the soule ¶ This eye hathe a lytle blacke in the eye / whiche gyueth syght of holy feythe / whiche lyght of the feythe / maketh a soule to knowe to folowe the waye the doctryne of my sothefastnesse / that is of my sone incarnate / wtout this clere syght of feythe / that waye and doctryne is not seen / but as a man seeth that hathe onely the forme of an eye / not the syght / a cloude couereth that lytle blacke whiche gyueth lyghte to the eye ¶ For that lytle blacke of of the intellectual eye / whiche gyueth clere syght / is the holy feythe whiche blacke whaÌ a cloude of vntruthe or of mysbyleue is cast ther vpon / it seeth ryght nought / whiche cloude of mysbyleue cometh of a mannes owne propre loue / and sothe it is / it seeth not / for it hathe a lykenes and forme of an eye / but it hath no lyght ¶ For throwe his owne propre loue he hathe take fro hyÌselfe / his owne propre lyght ¶ Thou sees also that in the syght of the intellectuall eye / they haue knowynge / whan they knowe / they loue / and whan they loue / they leue and forsake theyr propre wyll ¶ And whaÌ they put theyr owne wyll / than they take my wyl / whiche desyre not but your satysfaccyon ¶ Suche that forsake theyr owne wyll / they gone away myghtly / fro the party of the lower waye / and begynne to ascende vp by the brydge / gone vpoÌ thornes ¶ And for theyr feet that is to say theyr affeccyons ben accordynge with my wyll / therfore the thornes do them no harme ¶ Therfore I tolde the that they dyd suffre peyne bodyly / but no peyne to theyr soule / for theyr sencyble wyll is deed / whiche bryngeth causeth the peyne / and tourmenteth the soule of a creature ¶ And whan that sencyble wyll is voyded / thaÌ is that peyne auoyded ¶ And more ouer they bere all thynges and do suffre with grete reuereÌce / take it to a grete grace / for my name to be troubled / and they desyre nothynge / but that I wyll ¶ Yf I suffre them to haue ony peyne throwe temptacyon of the fende to preue vertu in them / as I sayd before / they make resystens with a good wyll / whiche wyll they haue made stronge and myghty in me / haue meked loued theÌselfe ¶ And with pease rest of soule / they thyÌke theÌselfe vnworthy ony grace or rest demynge themselfe worthy to haue manyfolde peynes / and so withoute ony peyne / or dysease / they passe out of this worlde / with a full knowynge of themselfe / and with an inwarde ghostly ioye ¶ And this shall be / wheder they be troubled of the fende / or wheder sekenesse tourment them or pouerte / or ony promocyoÌ of state in the worlde / or dethe of chyldren / or of freÌdes / whiche beÌ al ful sharpe thornes / the whiche the erthe brought forthe for synne ¶ And al these thornes they do suffre ryght pacyently and full benyngely / with the clere lyght of reason / and lyght of the holy feythe / beholdynge me most soue rayne goodnesse ¶ For I maye nothynge desyre but all good / yf passyons penes I sende to theÌ it is not for hatered / but for a faderly loue ¶ After tyme they haue knowen a parfyte loue iÌ me / anone they come agayne to theÌselfe / knowynge theyr owne defautes ¶ And than they seen with the lyghte of feythe / that al goodnesse shall be rewarded / synne shal be punysshed / and a lytle synne contynued / shall haue an infynyte peyne / for it was done agaynst me / the whiche am infynyte goodnesse ¶ Also by the lyght of this feythe / they take it for a specyall grace / that I wyll ameÌde theÌ punesshe theÌ here in this lyfe / and in this tyme that shall haue ende ¶ So they reken theyr synnes togyder / as they purchase meryte / with contrycyon of herte / or with parfyte pasyence / they ben rewarded with good without ende for theyr laboures ¶ And yet they knowe well / that all the trauayle of this shorte lyfe is full lytle ¶ The tyme onely
kepte wtoute me / or with theyr propre and vnordynate loue ben repreuable / as I shewed it to the before iÌ the lykenes of a tree / whan I sayde to the / that suche men dyden bere golde before / and venym bevynde ¶ The venym was not withouten golde / and the golde was not without venym / but the fyrste beholdynge is golde / no maÌ kepte hymselfe fro the venym / but all those that weren made clere in syghte / with the very lyght of parfyte feythe ¶ The seconde chapytre telleth how the preceptes of god maye not parfytely be kepte but a man kepe the counseyles ¶ And how iÌ euery state oflyuynge / the whiche a maÌ she weth with a good wyll holi to god is acceptable plesynge to god / how worldely men with all theyr ryches goodes can not holde them contented / and of theyr peyne which they deserue for theyr wycked wyll / aswell in this lyfe / as after theyr dethe / and of other maters / as it is shewed in the kalendre Ca. ii THis that I saye is for theÌ that ben made clere in syght with the lyght of veri feythe with whiche they cutten awaye fro my loue / the wyll of theyr propre sensualyte / with a swerde of two poyntes the is to saye with hate of vyces / loue of vertues / whiche with the lyghte of reason dyde kepe get golde iÌ the worlde ¶ And this I say of theÌ / whiche wyl haue good kepe good ¶ But they that wolde vse greate parfeccyoÌ / dydeÌ dyspyse temporall goodes / bothe in wyl and in dede ¶ Those dydeÌ kepe the actuall couÌseyle that is to say they kepten the couÌseyle in dede actualy / the was gyueÌ to theÌ of my sothefastnes ¶ And they the haddeÌ goodes kepte in the maner / as it is sayde before / beÌ they that kepeÌ the commauÌdymeÌtes / and also the counseles as in wyll but not actualy / for the counseyles ben so knytte togyder with the preceptes / that no man maye kepe the preceptes / without he kepe the couÌseyles not actualy but in wyll and good entent that is to saye bycause he kepeth suche rychesse with mekenesse / and with no pryde / but holdeth them as goodes lende / hathe theÌ not as for his owne goodes / but as goodes taken to his vse of my goodnesse ¶ So that whaÌ ye haue goodes ye kepen theÌ to youre propre vse / in asmoche as I leue them ¶ And ye kepe them asmoche as I suffre / I gyue them and forgyue asmoche as I se they beÌ spedefull for you ¶ In this maner wyse ye sholden vse ryches / otherwyse ¶ And whan a man so dothe / than kepeth he my preceptes / and loueth me aboue all other thynges / and his neyghbour as hymselfe ¶ And so a maÌ lyueth with a fre herte / and casteth suche worldely rychesse frome his desyre that is to saye for he loueth them not / nor he kepeth them not / excepte I graunte them to hym ¶ And all he it that he hathe actually / yet in affeccyons he kepeth my couÌseyles as it is sayde before and casteth awaye fro hym the venym of an vnruled loue / suche maner of men abydeÌ and lyue in comyn charyte ¶ Other that kepen the foresayde counseyles bothe actually and mentally / and as in affeccyon / those beÌ in parfyte charite ¶ For with a very sym plynesse / they kepen the counseyles with my sothefastnesse whiche was incarnate / sayde to hym that asked ¶ Mayster what shall I do / yf that I shall haue euerlastyÌge lyfe ¶ Oure lorde sayde agayne to hym ¶ Kepe the commaundymentes ¶ He sayd to hym agayne ¶ I haue parfourmed al those ¶ Ihesu sayd agayne yf thou wyll be parfyte / go and sell all the goodes that thou hase / and gyue them to poore meÌ Â¶ This maÌ was sory than / for he kepte the good that he had with to moche loue ¶ Parfyte men kepen the counseyles / the whiche dyspysen the worlde with al his rychesse ¶ Leue they maken theyr bodyes with greate penaunce as with wakynge / with meke prayer / and deuoute and coÌtynuall prayers / with other afflyccyons ¶ Other that abyden in comyn charyte and rysen not actually fro the worlde / yet therfore they losen not the lyfe euerlastyÌge ¶ For they beÌ not bounden to leue those ryches / neuerthelesse they sholden holde them as I haue sayde ¶ And whan they kepeÌ theÌ so / they offenden not / for all thyÌges ben good and parfyte that ben made of me / for I am the hyghest and the most souerayne goodnesse / and all goodes ben made to do seruyce to my reasonable creatures ¶ Not so that those creatures sholden be seruauntes of the rychesse of the worlde / but that my reasonable creatures sholden lawefully kepe suche rychesse / and haue theÌ Â¶ And yf it lyke them to haue rychesse / and not to go to greater parfeccyon / so that the rychesse ben not preferred / but that they be euer vnder / and do seruyce to my creatures / than sholden they yelde to mâtheyr desyre onely / and loue other thynges / and holde them not as theyr thyÌges / but as goodes that ben lende them / and graunted to theyr vse ¶ I take no hede nor nor rewarde / as for my parsones nor for states / for in euery state the a man wyll take and kepe / so that he haue a good and an holy wyll / it shall be acceptable to me ¶ Who is he than that shall haue suche ryches / in the maner as I haue sayde / they onely that haue caste awaye the venym of theyr ryches / with hate of theyr propre sensualyte / and with loue of vertues / and vtterly putten fro them the venym of vnordynate and vnruled wyll ¶ And they that haue set theyr wylles with my loue drede / suche men and women maye chose kepe eche state what pleseth them / shall be able in euery state / to come to the blysse euer endurynge ¶ Not with stondynge that the parfyte pleseable state be more acceptable to me that is to saye to aryse parfytely / actually / and mentually fro all the ryches of the worlde ¶ And that feleth hyÌselfe not able to that parfeccyoÌ throwe his owne freylte / maye than stonde in the comyn state of lyuynge / euery man after his owne state ¶ And that ordeyned my goodnesse / so that no man shall he excused in what state he stonde for sothe it is they haue no excusacyon ¶ For by compassyoÌ I condyscended to theyr feblenesse and passyons / in somoche that who so wyll abyde in the passynge worlde maye haue rychesse / and abyden in the state of matrymonye / noryshe theyr chyldren / and besy them in the worlde for them / kepe what state they wyll ¶ So
that they cut awaye the venym of theyr propre sensualyte / whiche bryngeth in the peyne dethe euer endurynge ¶ And sothely venym it is / for ryght as venym bryngeth peyne to the body / and at the laste dethe / but he caste it out that soner fro hym / or take some medycyne / ryght so it is of this cursed scorpyon and venyÌ of worldely loue ¶ I saye not that they sholde cast awaye temporall goodes fro themselfe / for temporall goodes in themselfe ben good / for of me they ben made and ordeyned that am moost souerayne good ¶ And therfore a man maye vse them as he wyll / with holy loue and very trewe drede ¶ But I say of the wycked wyll of a man / the whiche poysoneth the soule bryngynge in dethe / but it be cast out hastely with all maner desyres of the herte by deuoute confessyon / the whiche confessyon / is the most souerayne medycyne / that delyuereth a man fro suche venyÌ / thoughe it seme ryght bytter in the sensualyte ¶ Sees thou not how now all suche beÌ dysceyued that myghte and they wolde haue me / and also haue comforte ghostly gladnesse and put awaye fro theÌ heuynesse ¶ And yet rather they coueyten euyll vnder coloure of good thynge / euer with all maner besynesse and vnordynate loue to gader togyder gredyly golde ¶ Neuerthelesse bycause they ben blynded with moche mystrustynge of infydelyte / they knowen not this venyÌ Â¶ And they knoweÌ well that they beÌ poysoned and venymed / and yet they wyl not receyue no medicyne ¶ Suche people done bere the fendes crosse / and tasten without ony doubte the ernest of hell ¶ How worldely men with all theyr rychesse and goodes / can not holde them contented / and of the peyne that they deserue for theyr wycked wylles / aswell in this lyfe / as after theyr dethe I Sayde before to the / that wyll alone is cause why man is punysshed and peyned all with my seruauÌtes in asmoche as they lacke theyr owne wyll / and beÌ gouerned after my wyl / therfore they fele no peyne that greueth theÌ but they beÌ fulfylled in theyr soules felyÌge me iÌwardeli by grace ¶ And all suche that haue not me / maye in no wyse be fulfylled / yf they had all the worlde ¶ For all thynges that ben made / ben lesse of dygnyte than man / for they ben made for man / not man for them / and therfore he maye not be fulfylled with theÌ Â¶ I alone maye fulfyll hym / none but I. ¶ Therfore all suche worldely wretches / ben so clypped with that derke cloude of blyndenesse ¶ Euer they ben besy / and labour in vayne / alwaye desyrynge to haue suche as they shal neuer haue / so they may neuer be fylled ¶ For of me the maye fulfyll theÌ / they wyll no thynge aske ¶ I tell the how it stondeth with theÌ in peynes / thou knowes well that loue causeth peyne / whan that thynge the is lost / to the whiche al worldely meÌ ben holy conformed ¶ Worldely meÌ conformen them in al maner wyses by vnordynate loue to erthely thynges / and ther by they ben made all erthe ¶ For they haue a maner of ghostly impressyon of lykenes with ryches ¶ Who is that / what euer state he stondes in / that wolde for ony seruyce done to creatures / haue the losse of me ¶ Or who is that the whiche maketh of his owne body by vnclennesse of lyuynge / an vnreasonable beest ¶ All suche feden them of the erthe / by desyrynge of dyuers worldely states ¶ And they woldeÌ that they sholden euerlast / but it wyll not be / for they passen awaye as the wynde / other by meane of dethe / or els I by ryghtwyse ordynauÌce depryue them / fro suche thynges that they so loue vnordynately / and than is theyr peyne intollerable / for by asmoche as they had suche good in possessyoÌ by an vnordynate loue / by somoche they lese theÌ with sharper peyne ¶ Neuerthelesse yf they haddeÌ kepte them as goodes lente / and not as theyr propre goodes / doubtelesse they sholdeÌ haue forsake them wtout peyne ¶ And therfore theyr peyne is the more / bycause they haue not that they desyre ¶ For as I sayde the worlde maye not fulfyll theÌ / and than they haue a grete peyne / what ben the paynes of his conscyence / and what peynes he suffreth that wyll be venged for worldely good / I shall tell the. ¶ Contynually he freteth hymselfe / and fyrste he sleeth his owne soule / soner thaÌ his ghostly enemy ¶ He is fyrste deed / for he hath sleyne hymselfe / with the swerde of hate ¶ O what peyne suche a couetous worldely man the is enuyous suffreth in his conscyence / euer so fretynge hymselfe / and wyll not suffre hymselfe to haue no delyte of his neyghbours prosperyte ¶ By this thou maye knowe what peyne a worldly couetous maÌ suffreth of that thurste of his auaryce / the whiche wyll neuer fulfyll his owne nede / nor the necessyte of other ¶ Thus than of all suche thynges that a man loueth in the sensualyte of his flesshe / he draweth to hym by many vnordinate dredes / and moche peyne of coÌscyence ¶ They take vpon them wylfully for to bere the deuylles peynefull cros in tastynge here of the ernest of hell ¶ And the seke people lyuen in this worlde / in many maner dyuers wyses of ghostly peynes at the last but yf they amende them / for to receyue dethe euerlastynge ¶ All suche ben in the waye of sothefastnes / that in this worlde ben hurte by thornes of many trybulacyons / tourmentyÌge theÌselfe by theyr owne vnordynate mysruled wyll ¶ All suche haue tourmente of body and of soule / for with peynes and tourmentes the body and the soule ben torne in peces / in asmoche as they gate golde / and wanne ryches of the worlde / with an vnordynate myse ruled loue ¶ And so they beÌ depryued of the lyfe of grace and affeccyon of charyte / and they ben made trees of dethe / and therfore all theyr werkes ben deed / for they lyuen in grete peynes / walowynge in the floode that ledeth to the water of dethe / passynge forthe with hate by the fendes gate / and so they receyue endelesse daÌpnacyoÌ Â¶ Now thou knowes how they that maken them wylfully the deuyls martyrs dysceyueÌ themselfe / and with what peynes they dyscende gone downe to hell ¶ What is that trowes thou that blyndeth them ¶ Nothynge elles / but a cloude trewely of theyr owne mysruled dysordynate loue layde ouer the clere syghte of the holy feythe ¶ Thou knowes also how worldely trybulacyons / iÌ what maner they come ¶ They hurten onely bodyly my specyall seruauntes / bycause they beÌ cast out of the worlde but yet they ben not hurte spyrytually that is in
the soule in asmoche as with a very trewe wyll / they ben conformed and made lyke to me / therfore it is to them greate coÌforte ioye / to suffre peyne for me ¶ The seruauntes of the worlde ben tourmented / bothe within and without and specyally within / for the greate drede they haue to lose theyr temporall goodes / and also for loue / desyrynge that they maye not haue ¶ Other maner vexacyons that they haue besyde these / ben two pryÌcypall causes / that is drede of losynge / loue of wynnyÌge / whiche thy tongue is not suffycyent / nor yet able to tell ¶ Sees thou not now therfore the in this lyfe ryghtwysemen beÌ at more ease in soule thaÌ synners me thyÌke thou sholde for thou hase nowe seen the lyuynge and the endynge of bothe ¶ How a drede that is bouÌden / or a seruyle drede ben not suffycyent to obtayne euerlastyÌge lyfe / and how with excercyse of this drede a man may come to the excercyse of vertues NNw I haue sayde to the and declared / that there be some the whiche felen them tourmented of worldely try bulacyons / and I wyll that it be so / that a soule maye knowe her imparfeccyoÌ and ende / also to knowe that this wretched lyfe / that worldely vanyce is vnparfyte and traÌsytory ¶ This a soule maye knowe by this token / whan she desyreth inwardely me / that am her ende by suche inwardely desyre / a soule begynneth fyrst to put awaye the cloude that hathe longe blynded her fro the clere syghte of vertu ¶ And than by seruyle drede of trybulacyons / she begynneth to come out of the floode that she had loÌge be dreÌched in / castyÌge out fro her the venym / with the hate that she was poysoned with / the whiche was cast out of the scorpyon in the lykenesse of golde / and so was receyued vnmanerly / and nothynge manerly / wherfore it was tourned to them that dyd receyue it / in to venyÌ Â¶ They knowyÌge this begyÌnynge gracyously to aryse / towarde the hauen begyn to set theyr pases / cleâynge fyrste to the same brydge / of the whiche I spake of before ¶ Neuerthelesse it is not ynoughe onely for to go to this brydge with seruyle drede / for that drede dothe nothyÌge ellys but purgeth a soule fro deedly synÌes / but it fulfylleth not her with vertues grouÌded iÌ loue ¶ And therfore it is not ynoughe onely in seruyle dride to wynue euerlastynge lyfe / but yf the fete be sette vpon the tyrste steppe of the brydge / that is desyre and affeccyon / the whiche be e the fete of the soule / bryngyÌge her in to affeccyon of my very sothefastnesse / of the whiche as I sayde before / I haue made a brydge ¶ This is the ladder / vpon the whiche I wolde ye sholde step vp / for my very sone hath made ladders to step vpon ¶ Neuerthelesse sothe it is / that this is a generall rysynge / whiche comynly worldely men do vse / that is for to ryse fyrste for drede of peyne ¶ And also bycause that ofte tymes aduersytes of this worlde bryngeth them in to greate heuynesse / and therfore a man begynneth to be dyspysed with them ¶ And yf they vse this drede with lyght of trewe feythe / doubte not but they shall come to the loue of vertu ¶ There ben some that gone out so dull so slugyshly out of this depe floode of worldely loue / that ofte tymes they fallen therin agayne ¶ For after tyme they come to the haueÌ of that stoode / by comynge agaynst them of contrary wyndes / the ben ouertyrued agayne by the reawes of the see / vnto the cloudy vallaye of derkenesse of the wretchydnesse of this lyfe ¶ And thoughe ther come a happy wynde / they wyll not in no wyse quyckely step vpon the fyrste degre / that is affeccyon and loue of vertu to ghostly delyces / but as meÌ the were made dull / slugyshly they gone forthe / I doubte not but that with suche a myse ruled plesaunce / they shal tourne backewarde ¶ Also yf the wynde or tempest blowe by vnpasyence / they wyll tourne theyr backes / bycause they hate not verely synne / onely for the offence done to me / but onely fro drede of peyne / the whiche peyne foloweth them / as them semeth ¶ This is no parfyte rysynge / for all vertues rysynge go forthe with parseuerauÌce / without whome / no man maye come to the effecte and spede of his desyre / that is to that ende for whome he brgan / to the whiche he shal neuer come with out parseueraunce / and therfore that his desyre maye be fulfylled / parseuerauÌce is ryght nedeful ¶ I sayd also to the that suche tournen them after dyuers styrrynges / that fall to theÌ / other by impugnynge of theyr owne sensualyte within themselfe agaynst the spyryte / or els by tournynge of theyr affeccyons / by vnordynate loue to all creatures without me / or els by vnpasyence of wroÌges that ghey do suffre / other offendes / or of dyuers outwarde batayles / and other whyle by styrrynge chastysynge or vexynge of ghostly enemyes / that they myght brynge them the soner in to shame and confusyoÌ / sayenge thus to theÌ Â¶ The good thynge the whiche thou hase begonne / shall be to the no profyte / for thy synnes and defautes be more than those ¶ This the enemy dothe / for he sholde leue of / cees of suche vertues and desyres / that he hathe begonne ¶ Otherwyse also he teÌpteth hym with to moche delyte and delectacyon of his good dedes / that is with the hope that he receyueth of my mercy / sayenge thus to hym ¶ Why wyll thou laboure and vexe thyselfe / be glad and ioyfull in this lyfe / thynkynge that at the last thou shall haue mercy ¶ In this wyse and in many other sotell dyuers maners of temptacyons wretchydly they gone abacke / and in no wyse they ben parseuerauÌt and stydfast ¶ And the cause of al this is nothyÌge elles / but that the roote of her owne propre loue is not fully put awaye ¶ And therfore they ben not stable and abydyÌge / but with ryght grete presumpcyon they receyuen mercy by the hope that theyr enemy hathe put them in ¶ Not for they sholde worthely receyue my mercy / but that vncuÌnyngly as presumptuous people they shold trust therin / the whiche mercy is euery day offended by theÌ Â¶ I gyue not my mercy to theÌ / they for to offende it by presumpcyoÌ / but bycause they sholden defende them therby fro wycked desyres of fendes fro the mysruled and dysordynate confusyon / and shame of the soule ¶ But they done the contrary / for with the arme of my mercy / they offenden me / and that is bycause they vse not / nor haue not in excersyce / theyr fyrst
chaungynge that they began / for to aryse with drede fro peyne / fro manyfolde pryckynges of trybulacyons / and fro wretchydnesse of deedly synnes ¶ And therfore by cause they withdrawe them out fro this depenesse none otherwyse / therfore they maye not attayne for to come to the loue of vertues / nor they maye wynne no parseuerauÌce ¶ A soule is euer mouyÌge / and therfore yf it go not forth by vertues / it must nedes go backe warde in vyces / to stonde styll the maye it not all suche may neuer profyte in vertu / as loÌge as they atteyne not the loue therof / but they must nedes go styll backewarde ¶ The .iii. chapytre telleth / how this soule fell in a mournynge for the blyndenesse of them whiche were drowned in the floode before sayde Also how the grees beÌ fygured in the forsayd brydge / that is to saye in goddes sone / betokeneth the very .iii. myghtes of the soule / and of other maters / as is wryten before in the kalender Ca. iii. THan this deuoute soule anguysshed by grete desyre and coueted to knowe her imparfeccyoÌ / bothe of herselfe and of other / hauynge ruthe pyte vpon the blyndenesse of suche wretchyd creatures ¶ And whan she had longe beholden the goodnes of god / that in what state ony creature reasonable stoÌdeth in / yf he wyl hymselfe / he maye wynne wayes of sanacyon / and not be let ¶ For all thynge may be to hym for excersyce and experyence of vertu ¶ Yet neuertheles by theyr owne propre loue and vnordynate affeccyon / they go backewarde and wyll not amende them / but rather walke in the water of the falne floode beforesayde / so as she semed / they went fyrste to hell ¶ And many of them that dyd begyÌn to go / went fast back warde / whan she had herde by the goodnes of god / the was his pleasure to shewe her of hym selfe / the cause of all this by the whiche she was brought in to greate sorowe / thaÌ she set stydfastly her eye of vnderstondynge to the endelesse fader of lyght / and sayde thê° Â¶ O meruaylous loue of goodnesse / grete dysceyte is ymonge thy creatures / I wolde yf it were plesyÌge to thi endeles goodnes / knowe more largely and dyffusely the thre degrees / fygured in the body of thy onely begoten sone / and what maner men maye holde and kepe / that they maye come parfytely out of the floode / and to go vertuously in the waye of thy truthe / and also who be they that ascende vpon the ladder ¶ How thre degrees ben fygured in the foresayd brydge that is to say in goddes sone / be to keneth the thre myghtes of the soule Than the meruaylous goodnes of god / beholdyÌge the desyre ghostly hongre of that soule / with the eye of his mercy / answered sayde thus ¶ Ryght well byloued doughter / I am no dyspyser of holy desyres / but rather a deuoute receyuer of holy desyres / and therfore I wyll declare to the / all that thou does aske of me ¶ Thou does aske thre degrees to be declared to the / and also I shall tell the what maner of wyse they sholde haue theÌ that comen out of this floode / wyl ascende vpon this brydge ¶ And thoughe I tolde the before the dysceyte and blyndenesse of man / and how he tasteth in maner in this worlde the ernest of hell / and how they receyue euerlastynge dampnacyon / as the beuyls martyrres / whose maner of lyuynge is rehersed before / the whiche I tolde the toke of the wycked werkes of fendes / wher also I tolde the by what maner wyse they maye wtdrawe theÌ fro suche maner lyuynge yf they wyll ¶ Neuerthelesse to till fyll thy desyre / I shall declare to the them more largely ¶ Thou knowes ryght well / that all maner of wylles be grouÌded in a mannes propre loue / the which loue is a maner of a cloude / that taketh awaye the lyght of reason / that is the lyght of very feythe / whiche the reason kepeth wtin her / and that one may not be lost without the other ¶ At the begynnynge whan I made mannes soule I made it to the ymage lykenesse of me / gyuynge to her mynde / understondynge and wyll ¶ But the worthyer party of the soule is intelleccyon or vnderstondynge / for vnderstondynge is moued of affeccyoÌ / and vnderstondynge moueth affeccyon ¶ The mouynge or styrrynge of loue that is to saye of affeccyon / enformeth the mynde and teeheth it how that it sholde not forgete the benefytes receyued of me / by the whiche mynde / the loue is made bely nothynge slowe nor dull / and the loue or the affeccyon of loue / maketh the mynde kynde and nothynge vnkynde ¶ And thus one myghte or power of the soule / is helpynge and contrybutory to an other / and so is the soule fed in the lyfe of grace ¶ A sânle may by no maner of way lyue without loue / but euer it must loue some thynge / for of loue it is made ¶ And therfore I sayde to the yf thou haue good remembraunce that affeccyon of loue is moued or styrred by vnderstondynge / as thoughe he sayde thus ¶ I wyll loue / for the meet that I vse / is loue ¶ ThaÌ efte sones she felynge herselfe styrred by the effecte and spede of loue / anone she aryseth as thoughe loue sayde thus yf thou wyll loue well / that thou askes I shall gyue ye. ¶ And anone with that she arysethe vp / and beholdeth so greate worthynesse of me and vnworthynese of the soule / in the whiche vnworthynes / she is fall by her owne synnes ¶ And how by the worthynesse of theyr owne beynge / she tasteth my vncreate charyte and meruaylous goodnesse / by the whiche I made her / and in beholdynge of her owne wretchydnes she fyndeth and tasteth my mercy / for by my mercy I haue drawe her out of derkenesse / lende her a tyme space of amedement / thaÌ is affeccyon noryshed in loue / openynge the mouthe of her holy desyre / by the whiche sheeteth deuoureth by dysplesauÌce hate her propre sensualyte with very mekenes parfyte pasyence / the whiche she hathe wonne by the hate of herselfe ¶ After tyme therfore vertues be coÌceyued / whether a soule worke with them parfytely or vnparfytely / as she vseth parfeccyon / or vnêfeccyoÌ in herselfe / as I shall tell the afterwarde ¶ Yf it so be that the outwarde felynge of affeccyoÌ moue herselfe so / that the eye of her vnderstondyÌge onely e loue outewarde sensyble thynges / than the affeccyon moueth herselfe / and onely putteth before the eye of vnderstoÌdynge with her owne propre loue worldely and traÌsytory vanytes / with dysplesaunce of vertu and loue of vyces / wherby she draweth to her bothe pryde and vnpasyence ¶ And so the mynde is with
made graunted of me to you / that ye take by theym youre dethe but youre lyfe ¶ There is nothynge so delectable to me / as is loue / therfore I aske nothyÌge elles of you / but loue / that is loue of me / loue of youre neyghbours / the whiche maye be had and kepte in all tymes / all places / and in euery astate that a man is in / louynge and kepynge / to worshyp glory of my name all thynges ¶ Also knowes thou not how I sayd to the / that some passe forthe in this lyfe dysceyued with worldely goodes / not goynge with lyght / but couerynge them by vnordynate loue / louyÌge creatures / and kepynge suche temporall goodes wtout me ¶ All suche I tolde the be so greately tourmented / that they be passyngely intollerable to themselfe ¶ And yf they with drawe not / and put away suche vnordynate loue in the maner before sayde / they passe very faste to endeles dampnacyon ¶ And now at the last I haue tolde the / what maner a man shall kepe most generally ¶ The fourte chapytre telleth whan oure lorde wolde shewe to this deuoute soule / that the thre grees of the brydge be fygured by the thre states of the soule ¶ Than he bad her lyfte vp herself aboue herselfe to beholde this sothefastnesse Also how this deuoute soule beholdynge in the myrrour of god sawe dyuers creatures go in dyuers wayes / of other maters / as is rrhersed in the kalendre Ca. iiii BIcause I sayde to the before how they sholde go that be in comyn charyte that is for to saye / they that kepe the counseyles mentally / and the coÌmaudymeÌtes actually ¶ Now therfore I purpose to shewe to the of theÌ that haue begone to ascende vpon the ladder / and begynne to go in the waye of parfeccyon / that is in the obseruauÌce of the commauÌdymentes and counseyles actually / wherin I shall shewe to the thre degrres and states of the soule / also thre degrees the whiche I put to the before in generall for the myghtes of the soule / of the whiche degrees / one is vnparfyte / an other parfyte / and the thyrde is founde most parfyte ¶ One is to me a hyred seruaunte / an other as a trewe seruaunte / and the thyrde is a well byloued sone / bycause he loueth me onely wtout ony other cause but onely for myselfe ¶ These ben those thre states the whiche must be in many creatures / and also they must be in one creature alone ¶ In one creature they muste be / whan suche a creature with parfyte besynesse / renneth by the same waye beforesayde / spendynge well his tyme ¶ So that he may with suche good vse of his tyme speÌdynge / come fro the drede of bondage / vnto the drede of fredome / and so at the laste come fro fre drede / vnto the chyldely drede that is to the loue of chast drede ¶ Lyft vp therfore thyselfe aboue thyselfe / and opeÌ thy eyes of vnderstondyÌge beholde these pylgrymes strauÌgers how they pas forthe ¶ Some by the waye of couÌseyle vnparfytely gon / and some partytely holdynge vsynge the same waye ¶ Se and beholde clerely by theÌ / where is parfyte parfeccyoÌ / and also how greate the dysceyte is / that a soule receueth in herselfe / for the roote of her owne loue / is not yet put awaye fro her ¶ In what state that euer a man stondeth in / hym nedeth therfore to slee and dystroye his owne propre loue in hymselfe ¶ Than this soule brennynge in loue / and gredy in desyre beholdynge herselfe / sawe in the swete myrrour of the godheed creatures goynge in dyuers maners in dyuers wyses / atteynynge to the same ende / that they seken ¶ Also she sawe many that dyd begynne to ascende vp / bycause they felde them prycked of seruyle drede that is to saye dredynge theyr owne propre peyne they lefte of ¶ And some she sawe by excersyce of her fyrste callynge / come by ascencyon to the seconde gree / but sewe she sawe come to the most parfyte degre of parfeccyon ¶ How this deuoute soule beholdynge in the myrrour of god / sawe dyuers creatures / go in dyuers maners THan the goodnesse of god yeldynge satysfaccyon to the desyre of suche a deuoute soule / saâde thus ¶ Sees thou not these that with seruyle drede haue cyse fro the vomyte of deedly synnes / yf they ryse not with loue of vertu / seruyle drede is not suffycyent alone to gyue theym euerlastynge lyfe / but it be medled with holy drede and chaste / that is with my loue of vertu / for in loue holy chast drede / the lawe is sette ¶ The lawe of drede is the olde lawe / the whiche I gaue to Moyses / that was grounded onely in drede / bycause assone as they had synned in his dayes / anone they dydde suffre peyne therfore ¶ But the lawe of loue / is the newe lawe / gyuen of my very sothefast sone Ihesu / the whiche is grounded in charytable loue ¶ And yet the olde lawe is not broke for the newe / but rather fulfylled / so saythe my sothefaste sone Ihesu / I came not for to breke and vnlose the olde lawe / but for to fulfyll it ¶ He coupled knytte the lawe of drede / with the lawe of loue / the imparfeccyoÌ of the drede of peyne onely / was withdrawe fro it / onely by abydyÌge the imparfeccyon of holy drede ¶ I call that holy drede / that wyll not of sende me / that am moste souerayne good / and that rather is aferde to offende me / than for ony peyne that it sholde haue for ony offence the whiââ dothe ¶ And the lawe of imparââccyon is made parfyte and holy / by the parfyte lawe of loue ¶ After ââme the breÌnynge chare of my onely âothefast sone was come to the whiche brought with hym fere of my brennynge charyte in to mankynde / the peyne of hasty punyshment of synnes done iÌ this lyfe / was done away by the habundaunce of my mercy ¶ For creatures were not / nor be not punyshed anone as they hadde done offeÌses agaynst me / as it was done in olde tyme in the lawe of Moyses / without ony interuall of tyme / but nowe mercyably / I abyde the repentaunce of mankynde ¶ Neuerthelesse synne shall not yet be vnpunyshed / for though it be not ameÌded here / it shall be correcked in an other place / but yf it be worthely punyshed here / by dewe and parfyte coÌtrycyoÌ Â¶ As longe as a maÌ lyueth here / it is tyme of mercy to hym / after tyme he is deed / than is tyme of ryght wysenesse ¶ Therfore euery man shold now aryse fro seruyle drede / and besy hym for to come to my loue and holy drede / or els with out ony remedy he shall be drowned in
/ and than also I fulfyll theyr desyre shewynge openly to the syghte of the eye of theyr vnderstondynge / my sone Ihesu ¶ Otherwhyle they do serche me in the mekenesse of the holy ghost / thaÌ my endelesse goodnesse maketh them to taste the breÌnynge fyre of my dyuyne charyte / and also maketh them to conceyue very ryall vertues / grouÌded iÌ the pure charyte of neyghbourhode ¶ The fyfte chapyter telleth how god sheweth hymselfe somtyme to a soule that loueth hym ¶ Also why cryste sayde not Ego manifestabo c. I shall shewe my fader / but he sayde / I shall shewe myselfe what maner of gouernaunce a soule shall kepe / that she maye come vp to the seconde gree of the holy brydge ¶ And of other maters / as it is rehersed before in the kaleÌder Ca. v. IN this wyse than maye the clerely comprehende and parceyue the truthe / after the sayenge of my sothefast sone Ihesu / wher he saythe thê° / he that loueth me / he shall be one with me ¶ For al the shewe his doctryne / be made one with hym / by the affeccyoÌ of loue ¶ And lyke as ye be one in hym / so be ye one iÌ me / for he and I be but one togyder in substauÌce / and so shewe I me to you / for we be all one ¶ Neuerthelesse yf my sothefaste sone had sayde to you thus / I shal shewe you me the fader / he had sayd sothe / for yf he shewe hymselfe he sheweth me / and yf he shewe me he sheweth hyÌselfe ¶ But why sayd he not / I shall shewe you my fader onely ¶ Truly for thre maner causes ¶ One is this / bycause he wolde it were knowe that I am not departed fro hym / nor he fro me / and therfore it was that he sayde to seynt Phylyp / that asked of hym thus ¶ Lorde shewe vs thy fader / it is ynoughe to vs ¶ Phylyp he sayde / he that seeth me / seeth my fader / this was truly sayde / for he was one with me / that he had he had onely of me / and not I of hym ¶ And that was the cause that he sayde to the Iewes thus ¶ My doctryne is not my doctryne / but his doctryne that sende me in to this worlde / that is my fader ¶ Thê° by this cause my ryght swete onely sothefast sone cometh fro me / not I fro hym ¶ And he he sayeth also we be all one / therfore it was that he sayde not / I shal not shewe you my fader / but he sayde / I shall shewe you me / that is bycause I am one / and the same with my fader ¶ The seconde cause was / in asmoche as he shewed you hymselfe / he shewed to you no other / than he had of me his fader as thoughe he sayde thus my fader hathe shewed me hymselfe / bycause we be one ¶ Therfore I shall shewe you my fader and me / by medyacyon of myselfe ¶ The thyrde cause was / for I that am inuysyble / may not be seen of you that ben vysyble / but whan ye be departed oute fro youre deedly bodyes / thaÌ all ye shall se me face to face / and my sothefast sone Ihesu cryst intellectually / vnto that tyme of the generall resurreccyon ¶ Therfore now as I am / ye may not se me for this cause I haue hyd couered my dyuyne nature / by the veyle of your humanyte / that ye myght so se that is inuysyble as vysyble ¶ As thoughe I gyue you dwellynge amonge you my sothefaste sone Ihesu / couered in the vayle of youre maÌhode ¶ And soo he sheweth me to you / therfore he sayde not / I shall shew you my fader / but he sayde I shall shewe you me ¶ As thoughe he meÌt thus / lyke as my fader hathe gyuen it to me / so shall I shewe me to you ¶ Thus thou maye knowe that in this sheweynge of me / he shewed hymselfe ¶ Aud thus thou hase lerned why he sayd not / I shal shewe you my fader that is thus bycause it is vnpossyble to you for you to se me in this deedly body as it is sayde before / and also bycause he is one with me ¶ And here after shall be shewed what maner of gouernaunce a soule shall kepe / how she shall ascende vp to the seconde gre of the holy brydge NOw thou knowes in what maner of excellence he dwelleth / that cometh to the degre of the loue of a frende / suche one goeth vpon his fete of affeccyon / and so cometh to the pryue secretes of the herte / that is fro the fyrste grees / to the seconde be fygured in the body of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu ¶ I tolde the that those thre grees were betokened or marked in that thre myghtes of the soule / betokenynge pryncypally / the thre states of the soule ¶ Now therfore or that he come to the thyrde gree / I shall shewe the how he shal come to be a dere freÌde ¶ And after tyme he is comeÌ to be a dere freÌde to me / anone he is made a chylde of my loue that he hathe to me / and I to hym / as to my owne dere chylde ¶ But fyrste how that he worketh whaÌ he is made a freÌde / I shall tell it to the. ¶ At the begynnyÌge he was vnparfyte / by seruyle drede / and by the parseuerauÌte vse of the same drede / he came to the loue of ghostly delectacyon / fyndynge in me comforte and auauntage of his owne profyte ¶ In sothe this is the waye / and this waye he muste geâ that wyll come parfytely to parfyte loue of a dere chylde and of a frende ¶ Why is that loue parfyte ¶ Truly for he receyueth my herytage / in the loue of my sothefast sone Ihesu ¶ And bycause the loue of adere sone is not wtout the loue of adere freÌde / and therfore I sayde to the / that of a dere freÌde / cometh a dere chylde ¶ But what maner of gouernauÌce muste he holde / that shall come to this parfeccyon / I shall tell the ¶ Euery parfeccyon and euery vertu / cometh oute of charyte / and charyte is nouryshed of mekenes / mekenesse cometh out of knowlege and of holy hate of hymselfe / that is of his owne sensualyte and his very propre wyll ¶ And for to come to this a man muste abyde parseuerauÌtly / and dwelle in the Cell of his owne knowlege ¶ In the whiche knowlege of hymselfe / he shall fynde my mercy in the blode of my sothefaste sone Ihesu drawynge to hym by holy desyre my dyuyne charyte / and also by excersysynge hymselfe in dystroyeÌge al maner of wycked wylles bothe spyrytuall and temporall / hydynge hymselfe iÌ his owne house / as Peter and other dyscyples dyd / the whiche Peter after
beholdeth the affeccyon of charyte of me that am the gyuer / and that a soule maye not be excused / but that she maye do so / yf she be mekely dysposed / I haue puruayed before for to knytte the gyfte with the gyuer / and that was whan I grauÌted my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste the whiche is one with me and I with hym for to knytte and ioyne togyder my dyuyne nature with the kynde of manheed / and therfore by this vnyeyoÌ and oneheed ye must not beholde my gyfte / but ye beholde the gyuer ¶ Sees thou not now with how moche affeccyoÌ of loue / ye sholde loue and desyre the gyfte and the gyuer / yf ye do thus / ye shall be in ryghte pure loue / not in hyred loue / as they be that be euer locked vp in the house of theyr owne propre delectacyoÌ Â¶ By what maner a soule cometh fro vnparfyte loue / and cometh to parfyte / freÌdely / a louely louyÌge loue Hyderto I haue shewed that in many maner wyses / how a soule ryseth fro imparfeccyon / attayneth to parfyte loue / and what it dothe after tyme that is to come / to the loue of freÌdely louely louyÌge loue ¶ That is how she shut herselfe vp / closed her in the house of her owne knowlege / the which knowlege of her selfe wyll be medled with the knowlege of me / leste she fall in to confusyon and shame by remeÌbraunce of her synnes and also by knowlege of herselfe / she maye wynne sencyble hate of her owne propre passyons / also of the delectacyons of her owne ghostly comfortes / so of hate grouÌ ded in mekenesse / she maye wynne pasyence / in the whiche pasyence she shall be made stronge and myghty / for to withstonde the fendes batayles and assaylynges / also agaynst the parsute of meÌ / and also agaynste me / whan I withdrawe fro her profyte good delectacyon of her owne ghostly coÌfortes ¶ All these she sufrreth with these vertues of pasyence / yf that her owne sensualyte for dyffyculte or hardenes wyl lyfte vp his heed and aryse vp agaynste reason / than sholde the Iudgement of the conscyence aryse and ascende vp aboue herself / gyue a ryghtwyse Iudgement with holy hate agaynst sensualyte / and suffre not in ony wyse the styrrynges the whiche be of that soule to passe / without correccyon or examynacyoÌ / not onely those styrryÌges the whiche be agaynste reason / but also the styrrynges that come of my dyuyne charyte ¶ For a soule that slondeth in holy hate / euery day she correcketh and repreueth herselfe / and foment my seruaunt seynt Gregory whan he sayde thus it is the coÌdycyoÌ of good soules euer for to fere synne there no synne is / that he sayd of cleÌnesse and purete of conscyence / so sholde a clene soule do / that wyll aryse fro imparfeccyon abydynge in the house of her owne knowlege and my ordynaunce and prouydence with that lyghte of very seythe / as my dyscyples dyde / whiche were dwellyÌge in an house / abydynge therin with holy watche / meke prayers / and coÌtynuall parseueraunce / the sendyÌge downe of the holy ghoste / so must a soule do / that is in wyll for to aryse fro imparfeccyoÌ to parfeccyon / that she be euer wakynge in the doctryne of my sothefast sone Ihesu / with the eye of vnderstoÌdynge / coÌtynuynge euer iÌ deuoute prayer of holy desyre / and so shall she knowe the affeccyon of my charyte ¶ This thyrde chapytre telleth of tokens / wherby it is knowen that a soule is come to parfyte loue ¶ And how vnparfyte men wyll onely folowe the fader / but parfyte meÌ folowe the sone ¶ Also god sheweth a vysyon / the whiche this deuoute mayde hadde / in the whiche vysyon is shewed of dyuers baptymes and of other fayre thynges profytable ¶ And of other maters / as it is rehersed before in the kalendre Ca. iii. NOwe shall I tell the how thou shall knowe whan a soule is come to parfyte loue / and that is by that same token that was shewed to the holy dyscyples after the tyme they had recyued the holy ghost ¶ The whiche wente out of theyr hose and preched the doctryne of my very sothefaste sone Ihesu / puttynge awaye fro them fere and drede / nothynge dredynge the dethe nor peynes / but rather were ioyfull of peynes / they were not aferde for to go before tyrrauntes and wycked Iustyces / and there to saye before them the truthe in glory and presynge of my name ¶ Ryght so sholde a soule do that hathe well abyd in knowlege of herselfe / as it is rehersed before ¶ To suche a soule I shall come with fyre of my charyte / as longe as she dwelleth abydeth with parseueraunce in the house of loue by affeccyon she conceyueth vertues / takynge parte of my myght and power / with the whiche myghte power / she receyueth suche domynacyon / that she ouered meth all her owne propre sencyble passyons vertuously / and in the same charyte also she taketh parte of my sones wysedome / in the whiche wysdome she seeth and knoweth my very truthe with the eye of Intelleccyon ¶ And also she seeth therby the dysceyte of ghostly sencyble loue / that is the imêfyte loue of her owne ghostly coÌforte / as I haue tolde that before ¶ And also therby she knoweth seeth the dysceyte malyce of the fende / the whiche dysceyte he gyueth to a soule bouÌde in the vnparfyte loue / therfore sythe a soule is veryly ryseÌ with hate of the same imparfeccyon / and loue of imparfeccyon / in the same charyte also she taketh parte / maketh stroÌge her wyll by grace goodnesse of the holy ghost / they be of wyll for to suffre peyne for my loue / to go out iÌ my name of theyr house to enforme theyr neyghbours vertuously in the knowynge of truthe ¶ I saye not that she sholde go oute of the house of her owne knowlege / but I saye that those vertues shold go out of the house of the soule / the whiche were coÌceyued by affeccyoÌ of her owne coÌforte / to make theÌ encrese growe iÌ tyme of nede / to the helthe sanacyon of her neyghbours / for the drede is go the letted vertues for to be gracyously conceyued / boldly for to sprede abrode the whiche drede wolde not suffre vertues to abyde for fere of losynge her owne ghoostly comforte / as I haue rehersed before ¶ But after tyme she is come to parfyte lyberall loue / she gothe oute as I sayde before leuynge and forsakynge her owne ghostly sencyble comfortes ¶ And so this thynge ioyneth theÌ with that forthe state / that is in asmoche as a soule is rysen fro the thyrde state / the whiche is êfyte / in the whiche thyrde state she hathe tasted / put
affeccyoÌ of my charyte / and therefore she fyndeth in the mouthe of her soule peas / and suche peas that there maye none trouble her / bycause she hathe forsaken her owne seÌcyble wyl ¶ Al suche bryÌge forthe vertues withoute peyne vpon theyr neyghbours / not for the peyne that they suffre is no peyne to other / but to a wyll mortyfyed it is no peyne / for wylfully and frely in my name and for my name she suffreth peyne / suche people do renne without neclygence / by the techynge and doctryne of my onely sothefastesone Thesu cryste crucyfyed / and let not theyr sournaye for no wronges that be done to them / nor for no parsecucyon / nor for no delectacyon that the worlde myghte gyue them / but all these they shold lyghtly ouerpas by ghostly strengthe and very parseueraunce / bycause theyr affeccyon is veryly ââme out of the affeccyon of charyâe / taslyÌge that meet of helthe of soules / with very parfyte pasyence ¶ The whiche pasyence is a to ten that a soule loueth most parfytely and withoute lokynge of ony rewarde / for ys she loued me and her neyghboare for onye profyte or rewarde / she were vnpacyent / and she sholde ware slowe and dull in her iournaye / but that they loue me for me / bycause I am the moste souerayne good and worthy to beloued / and also they loue themselfe for me / and theyr neyghboure for me / that they sholden yelde laude and preÌsynge to my name / and therfore they be pacyent and stroÌge / and also parseueraunte for to suffre ¶ And now I shal declare to the of the workynge of the soule / after tyme it is asceÌded the thyrde gre of that holy brydge THese ben the gloryous vertues grouÌded iÌ very tharyte the whiche be abydyÌge in the heyghte of the tree of that same charyte before sayd / that is pacyence / streÌgthe / and parseueraunce / whiche be crowned with the lyghte of blessyd feythe / with the whiche lyght they renne without derkenesse by the waye of truthe / and also be enhaunsed by holy desyre ¶ And therfore there maye no man hurtâ that soule / nor the fende with allâis temptacyons / for he dredeth suche a soule that is brent in the furneys of charyte / nor also backebyters nor wronges and miuryes of men / and yet thoughe the worlde parsu her / he is aferde of suche a soule ¶ Thus by my endelesse goodnesse / suche a soule is made stronge and magnyfyed in the worlde before me / bycause of mekenesse in her owne syght / she is made lytle ¶ This is wel knowe in my seyntes whiche for my loue made them lytle by mekenesse iÌ this worlde / therfore I haue made theÌ grete iÌ my endeles lyf aboue ¶ And also iÌ my mysteryal body of that moder of holy chyrche / wher of theÌ is made coÌtynuall memory ¶ For iÌ me whiche am the boke of lyfe / theyr names be wryteÌ / also the worlde hathe theÌ in reuereÌce / bycause they dyspysen the worlde ¶ All that lyuen yet in erthe of such coÌdicioÌ hyde not vertu for dredt but for mekenesse / yf theyr neyghbours haue nede of theyr seruyse / they hyde not theyr mynystracyon for drede of peyne / nor for that drede of losse of theyr owne ghostly comfort ¶ For in what maner of wyse they excercyse theyr lyfe and theyr tyme for my worshyp / they be glad ioyful and fynde peas and rest of soule ¶ Whiche is that ¶ In sothe bycause they chosen not for to serue after theyr owne maner / but after my maner / and therfore they charge asmoche the tyme of ghostly comfort / as they do the tyme of trybulacyons and of prosperyte / as they do of aduersyte / asmoche greueth theÌ that one as that other / for euer in all thyÌges they fynde my wyll / they do besy them with all theyr desyre for to comforte them in all thynges / ouer all bothe in thoughte dede to seke worke after my wyl ¶ They se well aspy in the pryuyte of my dyuyne prouydence / that without me is made nought / that is to saye synne / and therfore they hate synne / wherfore they be so stedfaste stronge in ghostly strengthe iÌ theyr owne wyl / the they go myghtely by the waye in the way of truthe waxe not wery / but feythfully truly they seruen mynystreÌ to theyr neyghbours / takynge no hede to the ygnorauÌce vnkyndenes of theyr neyghbours / nor thoughe a vycyous man saye to theÌ other whyle wroÌge / repreue theyr good dedes / but moche rather they crye ghostly in my syghte / by holy prayer prayenge for them / hauyÌge more pyte ruthe for the offence that is done to me / for that harme of theyr soules / th aÌ for theyr owne imuryes and wronges / al suche do saye with my chosen seruaunte seynt Paule Daledicimus et benedicimus c. we be cursed of men and sayde euyl of / but we blesse agayne / we suffre psecucyoÌs / but we bere it pasyently / we be blasphemed / we beseche praye / for we be made as or fayle of all this worlde / the whiche is cast out therof ¶ Sees thou not dere doughter and consyders thou not these swete tokeÌs / specyally aboue al to kens / the synguler vertu of pacyence in the whiche a soule sheweth well in sothefastnes / that she is rysen tro vn parfyte loue come in to êfyte loue / folowynge suynge the swere vnde fouled laÌbe my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / the whiche haÌgynge vpoÌ the cros fast helde with nayles of loue come not done fro that cros for all the cryenge of the Iewes / that dyd crye to hyÌ thus Descendae nunc de cruce ¶ c. Come he downe now fro the cros we shal byleue in hyÌ Â¶ Nor also he wtdrewe hyÌ not nor came not downe fro the cros for no maner vnkyndenesse whiche was shewed of you / but abode vnder my ovedyeÌce with suche pasyence / that his crye was not herde / by no maner grutchyÌ ge ¶ In the same wyse these welbyloued chyldreÌ / my deuoute seruauÌteâ / se then folowen the doctryne ensample of my sothfast sone Ihesu And thoughe the worlde wold withdrawe theÌ for to loke backe warde / they wyl not / but onely loke forwarde in the myrroure of my very sothefastnes ¶ suche wyll not go out of the felde of batayle for the coote that is lefte at home / that is for theyr owne coote of plesaunce to creatures / and them dredynge rather than me / but with loue and delyte in me they dwel styl abydynge full ghostly drunke with the blode of my blessyd sone Ihesu in the felde of batayle / whiche blode my endeles charyte hathe reserued put it before you to be your shelde in batayle / whiche is
felynge / nor yet grace fro them / but my vnycyoÌand oneheed / and that is the cause why oft tymes soules with longynge desyres / teÌne with vertues by the brydge of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryst cru cyfyed that is by his passyou / and after tyme they haue so longe ruÌne / they t be come to the grete brode gate of the passyon / where they drynke tast abuÌdauÌtly the precyous blode of my onely sone Ihesu / tyll they be very ghostly drunke ¶ And after tyme they be so ghostly druÌke with that blessyd blode / and be brenned iÌ the fyre of my loue / anone they talt in me the endelesse godhecd / the whi che is to them as a peaseable see in the whiche see that soule hathe caughte suche an vnyon and oneheed / that suche a soule hathe no maner mouynge / but in me ¶ And thoughe a man in suche a state of vnycyon be deedly / yet he tasteth than the endclesse good of innrortalyte vndeedlynesse ¶ Wherby they receyue agy lyte and swetenes of body / not with stondynge the ponderosyte of the body ¶ By the whiche parfyre vnyon often tymes the body is lysted fro the erthe / and so the greuous and ponderous body is made lyght ¶ This is the vnyon by the whiche the soule in me is more parfyte / than is the vnyon whiche is bytwene the body and the soule ¶ Neuertheles yer is not therfore the ponderosyte of the body withdrawe / thoughe it other whyle by suche vnycyon be lysted / but it is the strengthe of the spyryte / the whis the is oned in me that lyfteth vp that ponderosyte of the body / and so the body is all brente by affeccyoÌ of the soule in somoche that it were possyble for to lyue / yf my goodnesse byclypped it not with a newe strengthe ¶ And therfore I wyll that thon knowe that it is more myracle for to se / that a soule gothe not out of the body in this vnyon and oneheed / than for to se many bodyes aryse fro dethe to lyfe ¶ For this cause it is that I withdrawe sometyme that vny on fro a soule / makynge it tourne agayne to the body / the whiche was alyened by affeccpoÌ of that same soule ¶ For I wyll not that a soule sholde so departe fro the body / but onely by medyacyon of bodyly dethe ¶ Neuexthelesse ur suche rapt / the myghtes of the soule and the affeccyon of the soule oned in me passen oute fro the body / for the mynde of the soule is not full but with me and the intelleccyon on of the soule is lyfte vp / be holdynge the truthe of my very sothefastnesse ¶ The affeccyon that foloweth intelleccyon loueth oneth herselfe in that thynge the whiche that eye of intelleccyon sayeth ¶ Whan all these myghtes of they soule be gadered togyder / oned and drenched by loue in me / the body loseth his felynge in me / for the eye seynge seeth not / the ere herynge hereth not / the tongue spekyÌge speketh not / but as I suffre it sometyme to speke / after the abundaunce of the herte of suche thynges that it feleth / for glory and laude of my name / so thoughe that it speke it speketh not / the hande also felynge feleth not / nor the fote also goynge goeth not ¶ All these lymmes and felynges of the body / ben bounde and occupyed by the in warde sencyble felynge and bonde of loue / by the whiche bonde of loue they be so bounde and subiecte to reason with affrccyon of the soule / that all they crye with one voyce to me / endelesse fader in wyll for to be departed that body fro the soule / and the soule fro the body / the whiche is in maner agaynst kynde ¶ And suche a maÌ so yllumy ned by suche specyall onynge / cryeth with seynt Paule that gloryous apostle / wher he sayde thus Oinfelix ego sum c. That is to saye ¶ O wretched man that I am / who shal departe me fro the deedly body that I bere aboute / I se an other lawe in my outewarde wyttes of the body / the whiche repugneth the iwatde lawe of my soule ¶ Paule sayde not this onely of the impugancyon the whiche the sencyble felynges dyd agaynst the spyryte / for he was in ma ner certyfyed of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / and made syker therof whan he sayde to hym thus Paule sufficit tibi grÌa mea That is Paule holde that well apaye / for my grace is suffycyeÌt for to kepe that / but wherfore sayde he so than Truly for the eye was bounde and myght not se me endâ lesse trynyte / by the syghte and vysyon of blyssed and vn deedly spyrytes / the whiche euer yelden to my name ioye and laude / and for bycause he fouÌde hyÌselfe amoÌge deedly creatures that euer and con tynually offenden me / departed fro my syght / that is not seynge me veryly in my propre essencyal beynge / therfore he sayde so / for cuery vysyon and syght that a soule receyueth as derke in rewarde of that syghte the whiche a soule hathe whan it is drpatted fro the body / and so it semed to seynt Paule / that the felynge of the bodyly syghte impugneth the vysyon and the lyght of the soule that is that mannts felynge / or the ponderosyte of the body letteth the eye of mtelleceyon / the whiche suffreth not it to se me face to face ¶ It semed that his wyl was bounde / that it myght not loue asmoche as it desyred to loue / for cuery loue in this lyfe is vnparfyte / vnto the tyme that it come to the parfeccyon that it loueth ¶ I saye not this for the loue of seynt Paule / and the loue of other of my dere seruauntes that they were vnparfyte to grace / and to receyue the parfeccyoÌ of charyte / for so they were parfyte / but thy were vnpar fyte / bycause theyrloue was not coÌplete / and therfore in maner theyr loue was peyneful / bycause it was not full / for yf theyr desyre hadde be fulsylled as they dyd loue it sholde haue hadde no peyne / but whan that soule is departed fro the body / than theyr desyre is fulfylled / and than it loueth withoute pâyne ¶ Neuerthelesseâet than it hathe hoÌgre and desyre for to loue more / but peyne is there none in that hoÌgre and desyre and all bycause it is departed fro the peynfull body ¶ Than is the besfell full in me stabled made stroÌge in me in truthe / that it maye no thynge desyre but yf it haue it ¶ She desy reth for to se me / she seeth me face to face / she delyreth for to seloy and praysynge or louynge of my name in my seyntes / she seeth one wyse in the nature of angelles / and an other wyse in that nature of maÌ Â¶ How worldely men yelden glory
your helth ¶ Ryght so a blessyd soule by departynge fro the body endeth peyne / but the charpta ble desyre of soule helth endeth neuer ¶ For yf that my affeccyon of charyte / the whiche I shewed to you by meane of hym / had thaÌ be ended agaynste you ye sholde neuer be in asmoche as ye be made of loue / yf the loue were withdrawe fro me that I sholde not loue ye sholde neuer be / but my loue hathe made you / my loue hathe kepte you coÌserued you ¶ And so my onely sothefaste sone ended iÌ his passyon peyne of desyre / but neuer loue of desyre ¶ Thus loserth a soule in blysse / that euery seynt euery soule that is in blysse / is there without peyne of desyre of helthe of soules / for the peyne ended in her departynge fro the body / but she is not there without affeccyon of charyte ¶ For whaÌ suche a soule departeth fro the body / she passeth out ghostly drunke in the blode of my onely sothefast sone that vndefowled lambe / and so bathed in his blode / and arayed with the cote of chary te of neygh bourheed / entreth iÌ me that am the pease able se ¶ And than for euer suche a soule is departed fro mpatfeccyon / that is fro vnfulfyllyngenesse / and come to parfeccyon fullylled with al good / the whiche good she vseth ende lesly ¶ And here it shall be shewed how that seynt Paule after tyme he was assumpte and take to the gloty of them that be in blysse / he coueted to be vnbounde and vnlosed fro the body / and so do they the whiche be come to the thyrde and the fourthe state before sayd O Hat lame good Paule sauoured and tasted / whan I rauyshed hym to the thyrde heueÌ that is to the heyghte of the trynyte by the whiche tastynge he knewe the sothefastnesse therof / where he receyued fully my spyryte / and lerned verely and truly the doctryne of my onely sothefalt sone IIhesu cryst crucyfyed / and the soule of hym was oned by ryghte that tyme to me the fader by selynge / and arayed with the shynynge clerenesse or the blessyd endeles lyfe / saue that his soule was not departed fro the vody / but onely by felynge and vnycyon ¶ It plesed and lyked me tyght well / for to take vp and rauysshe suche a chosen vessel / bycause he sholde beholde and se in to the depenesse of my ende lesse trynyte / there for to lerne to suffre for my name by inspeccyoÌ of my onely fothefaste sone Thesu cryste crucysyed / the whiche suffred ryght sharpe flagellacyoÌs with many byt ter peynes for the saluacyon of man kynde / by the whiche bytter passyon he was lerned and taught for to say as he sayde / whan the he sayde thus ¶ Lorde what wyll thou that I shall do / tell me what I shal do / and that tyght gladly wyll I do ¶ Than I taughte hym whan I putte before the eye of his intelleccyon / the passy on of my sothefast sone Ihesu cryst / endowynge hym with the doctryne of my truthe and yllumynynge hyÌ with the lyghte of very knowlege / by the whiche very knowlege / he amended hym of his lyuynge / and so grounded in very charyte / aryde hym with the very doctryne of my sones passyon / and that doctryne of the passyoÌ he kepte so truly / that as he sayde hymselfe it went neuer fro his backe / nother by temptacyon of fendes / nor by pryckynge of his flesshe / the whiche oft tymes ipugned hym / the whthe I suffred hym to haue for my goodnesse / that he sholde encrese in grace / in mede / and also in mekenesse ¶ This clothe of crystes passyon after the tyme that Paule hadde tasted the very depenenesse of the holy trynyte / myght neuer be take frome hym / nother by temptacyons nor trybuiacyoÌs / but he kepteit so streyte to hym / that he dydde lose his bodyly lyfe therfore ¶ In this wyse the holy doctoure seynt Paule knewe the experyence what it was for to taste me without greuaunce of the body / not by separacyon fro the body / but by felynge of oncheed ¶ Therfore whaÌ he was come to hymselfe so arayed with the clothe of crystes passyoÌ / hym semed that his loue was inparfyte / consyderynge the inparfeccyon of loue / the whiche he tasted in me aboue lyght the whiche loue seyntes departed fro the body / dyd tast euerlastyÌgely ¶ Wherfore hyÌ semed that the ponderosyte of the body rebelled agaynst hym / and letted the greate parfeccyon of endelesse plentuous desyre or loue / the whiche after departynge fro the body a chosen soule feleth tasteth ¶ His mynde also was as hym thoughte vnparfyte and feble the whiche inparfeecyon and feble the whiche inparfeccyon and feblenesse letted hym for to haue fresshe remembraunce of that he hadde tasted before in truthe with parfeccyon / as seyntes receyuen of me in heuen ¶ So that al thynges as hym semed as longe as he abode in the body / were to hym a contrary lawe / the whiche inpugned and rebelled agaynste the lpyryte ¶ Not onely by inpugnacyon of sytme / for as I haue sayde to the / I made hym syket that he sholde not fall / excepte the he wolde wylfully worke agaynste grace / for I sayd to hyÌ thus / Paule my grace is suffycyent to the / for to kepe the frome fallynge yf thou wyll bucdy suche inpugnacyon / that is lettynge parfeccyon of the spyryte to se me / in my owne effencyall beynge / the whiche syghte was lette by greuous ponderosyte and contrary lawe of the body / and therfore he gemented / with greate wemytacyon he cryed thus Infelix ego homo c. That is to say ¶ O wretched man that I am / who shal departe me fro this deedly body / the whiche I bere aboute ¶ I se an other lawe in the outewarde felynge of my body / the whiche repugneth the inwarde lawe of my soule / and ledeth me in to the lawe of synne / the whiche lawe is belefte in my bodyly sencyble wyttes ¶ And thus in sothe it is / that the mynde is inpugnynge of the inparfeccyon of the body ¶ The intelleccyon is also letted and bounde of the greuous poÌderosyte of the body / bycause it may not se me iÌ my effncyall bynge as I am ¶ And the wyll is also bounde / bycause it maye attayne not for to tast me endelesse good with the greuous heuynesse of the body / but with greate peyne / as I haue tolde the before ¶ And so seynt Paule sayde truthe / whan he sayde thus / Ileus my bodyly lymmes a strauÌge lawe repugnynge the inwarde telynge of the soule ¶ Thus in the same wyse all my specyall seruauntes the whiche be come to the thyrde and to the fourthe state or gree of parfyte vnyon / all they do saye as seynt Paule sayde /
me / whiche dysposycyons I refuse not ¶ Thus thou may se that the eye of intelleccyon receyueth lyghte in felynge by grace aboue nature / in the whiche lyghte doctours and other seyntes dyd knowe lyght in derkenesse / and of derkenes they dyd make lyght by the same grace ¶ For intelleccyoÌ was rather made than scrypture / wherfore cunnynge cometh of intelleccyon ¶ In this wyse holy faders propheres dyd knowe and had vnderstondynge / the whiche dyd prophecy bothe of the comynge and also of the dethe of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu ¶ And in the same wyse the apostles dyd / after the comynge of the holy ghost by the same lyght aboue nature / were yllumyned the euangelystes / martyrs / confessours / and vyrgynes / all these were illumyned of this parfyte lyght ¶ And eche of them had in dyuers maners after the nede of theyr helthe / and after the nede of creatures ¶ Some dyd declare holy wrytte by the same lyght aboue nature as docters dyd some preched as the apostles dyd / some dyd expouÌde the gospels of the euangelystes / and some dyd shede blode for declaracyon of the truthe as martyrs some dyd declare the truthe by purete and affeccyon of charyte / as vyrgyns dyd ¶ Some declared the truthe ofobedyence of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / in that that they do obey in theyr relygyoÌ shewynge in theyr lyuynge parfeccyon of obedyence / the whiche appered shynyngely in my sone Ihesu cryst / whan by vertu of that obedyence whiche I put to hym / he ranne myghtely to the cruell dethe of the crosse ¶ All this was done / is by this lyghte aboue nature in the newe lawe / and that maye thou well knowe by the exposycyons and prechynges of the gospell / how in dyuers wyses it is declared to chrysten men ¶ In the olde lawe also how holy faders and prophetes dyd prophecy by the same lyght aboue nature ¶ And therfore bycause the newe lawe is expouned and declared / and the olde lawe prophecyed by a lyght / the newe lawe breketh not nor loseth not the olde lawe / but bothe be knytte togyder ¶ And the newe lawe hathe take awaye fro the imparfeccyon of the olde lawe / for that lawe was is grounded in drede ¶ But whan my onely sothefast sone Ihesu came in to the worlde with the lawe of loue / he fulfylled it gyuynge to it loue / remouynge awaye drede of peyne / and leuynge it full with holy drede ¶ Therfore it was that my onely sone sayde to his dyscyples thus NoÌ venisoluerelegem c. I come not for to breke the lawe / but for to fulfyll the lawe / as thoughe he sayde to them thus ¶ The lawe is no we inêfyte / but with my blode I shall make it parfyte / and so I shall fulfyll in it the fayleth / with drawynge and remouynge drede of peyne / grouÌdynge it in loue holy drede ¶ Thus than after the fulfyllynge of the lawe by loue and holy drede / al the truthe that cometh oute of holy wrytte / cometh by this lyghte aboue nature before sayde ¶ And therfore vncunnynge proude clerkes / be blynded in that lyghte for pryde / and the cloude of theyr owne loue couereth taketh awaye that lyghte fro theÌ Â¶ Wherfore they vnderstonde rather holy wrytte after the letter / or after theyr owne felynge / than after the very vnderstondynge / so by tastynge onely of the lettre / they make many bokes / but they taste not the pythe / and that mary of that same lettre ¶ For they lacke the lyght that I spake of by the whiche is declared all holy wrytte ¶ Wherfore they wondre fall in grutchynge for to se so many rude folke ydyotes of holy wrytte as themsemen ¶ And yet neuerthe lisse they be so yllumyned and lyght ned by the lyght aboue nature iÌ know lege of the truthe / as yf they hadde studyed longe tyme therm ¶ This is no wondre / for they haue the pryn cypall cause of the same lyghee / the whiche is mekenes / by the whiche cometh all maner of âuÌnyÌge ¶ But bycause they haue loste that lyghte â the cause of the wynnynge therof / they se not nor knowe not my endelesse goodnesse in that lyghte / whiche is gracyously tecte oute or cast oute vpon my scruauntes ¶ And therfore I saye to the / better it is for the to aske couÌsayle of soule helthe to one that is meke hathe an holy ryght coÌsyeÌce / thaÌ a proude lettered clerke the whiche hathe longe studyed in holy wryte / for he gyueth nothynge elles but suche as he hathe within hym / the whiche ofte tymes gyuen derke couÌsayle / after theyr derkelyuynge ¶ The contrary is hadde in manye seruauntes / for the lyghte that they haue within theym / they gyue it with desyre of helthe to maÌnes loule ¶ Lo ryghte swete doughter all this haue I tolde the / that thou myght knowe that parfeccyoÌ of that state of vnyon / where the eye of intelleccyon is rapte by that fyre of my endelesse charyte / in the whiche charyte is receyued lyghte aboue nature / with whiche lyghte I am loued / for loue renÌeth after vnderstoÌdynge ¶ And the more a soule knoweth / the more it loueth / and the more it loueth the more it knoweth / that one norysheth that other ¶ With that lyghte / soules come to the endelesse gloryfyed syghte of me / where they se me and in truthe taste me ¶ Whan they be departed fro the bodyes / as I tolde the whaÌ I declared to the of the blessydnesse that a soule receyueth iÌ me ¶ This is that excellente state the whiche yet a deedly man lyuynge ymonge deedly creatures maye taste / by the which oft tymes he cometh to suche vnyon / that vnneth he knoweth whether he be in his body or oute of his body / and so he tasteth the ernest of euerlastynge lyfe ¶ That myghte he not do / but yf his wyll were morty fyed and sleyne before / by the whiche ghostly dethe / he is made one with me / for elles myghthe parfytely fele that blessyd ernest / but yf he were depryued frome his propre wyll / the whiche wyll dothe let hym for to receyue suche a blessyd and holy ernest ¶ Here is a profytable reperycyon of many thynges whiche be sayde / and how god induceth this deuoute soule to praye for euery creature / for all holy chyrche NOw hase thou seen with the eyes of thy intelleccyon / and herde with thy sencyble ere of me endelesse truthe how thou maye behaue the for to do bothe profyte to the and to thy neyghbour / by the doctryne and very knowlege of my sothefastnes as I haue tolde the in the begynnynge wher I sayde to the that thou maye come to the knowlege of of my truthe / by knowlege of thyselfe oned and medled with the knowlege
of me / where thou maye fynde mekenesse / holy hate / dysplesaunce of thy selfe / and feruent fere of my endelesse charyte / by the whiche thou oughte to come to the loue of thy neyghbour / shewynge to hyÌ bothe profyte by bodyly mynystracyon / and also profyte of doctryne holy lyuynge ¶ I shewed the also a brydge as it stondeth / and also I shewed the the grees generall put for thre myghtes of the soule / how ther may none haue lyght of grace / but yf he ascende vpon all thre grees ¶ That is that they be gadered togyder in my name ¶ And also I declared to the the same thre grees partyculerly / for the states of the soule fygured in the body of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu chryst / which hathe made ladders for to ascende vpon / shewynge in his fete that were nay led a ladder to ascende vp by the openynge of his syde / the whiche is the seconde ladder for to ascende vp by to his mouthe / wher a soule tasteth peas rest in a maner beforesayde ¶ I shewed the also inparfeccyoÌ of seruyle drede / iÌparfeccyoÌ of suche louers that loue me vnparfytely / for swetenes that they fynde in that loue ¶ And also parfeccyon of the thyrde state of them the whiche become to peas and rest of the mouthe / by the rennynge vpon the brydge of my sones passyon with longynge desyre / fyrste ascendynge vp vpon the thre generall grees / that is to gader all the thre myghtes of the soule / wher they gader togyder all theyr vertues workynge in my name / and also of other thre grees partyculers the whiche they ascede after tyme they be passed out of the inparsyte state / and thus in sothe thou hase seen theÌ renne / and also I haue made the to taste parfeccyon of soule with araymeÌtes of vertu ¶ And also to know dysceytes / the whiche a soule fyrste tasteth or that it come to parfeccyon ¶ I haue also declared to the that wretchydnes of them that gone and drenchen them in the floode / not kepynge theÌ by the brydge of my sothefastnes / whiche I put bycause they sholde not peryshe ¶ Yet as fooles they had leuer be drenched in wretchydnes and fylthe of this worlde ¶ Also this I haue declared to the that the fyre of holy desyre myghte encrese in the / and compassyon and sorowe of daÌpnacyoÌ of soules / that bothe sorowe loue shold coÌstrayne the to come to me with welyÌge wepynge teres ¶ With teres namely of meke and contynuall prayer offred to me with the fere of most breÌnyÌge desyre / and not onely to wepe for the / but also for many other creatures / and my seruauntes that heten all this / be they that sholde be coÌstrayned by charyte for to wepe as thou does so that thou and they togyder sholde praye / and in maner constrayne me for to shewe mercy to all the worlde / and to the mystery all body of holy chyrche / for whome thou prayes to me somoche / yf thou haue mynde that I sholde fulfyll theyr desyre / and gyue theÌ refresshynge to theyr laboure ¶ Therfore for to satysty to your peynes full desyres / I grauÌt reformyÌge of holy chyrche by good and holy curates ¶ Not for to reform holy chyrche by warre or by cruelte / so for to dystroye the enemyes of holy chyrche / but by pease and reste / and by waylynge and wepynge of my seruauntes whom I haue sende as labourers for wynnynge of soules in the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / and for to labour to increse vertues ymonge neyghbours / offerynge to me contynuall mayer for them and for all my creatures for ymonge them is grete defaute of vertuous lyuynge ¶ And therfore I wyll that they and ye laboure and shewe profyte to neyghbours / and in suche wyse ye maye yelde to me the fruyte of your vyne ¶ Yet shold ye not cese to gyue to me encense of youre wyll / smellynges / tyghte swete prayers / for helthe of soules / for I wyll do mercy to that worlde / and to holy chyrche ¶ For now late I shewed the how her face is all foule as a leper / and that was the defaute of her mynystres / and all crysten relygyon / the whiche do noryshe theÌ at the brest of this spouse of whose defautes I shall tell the in another place ¶ The fyfte chapyter of this party sheweth of the state of holy teres ¶ And fyrst how this holy soule desyreth for to knowe of the states the fruytes of holy teres ¶ Also of the dyfference of the foresayde teres / and how ther be fyue maners of teres ¶ Also a shorte repetycyon of the menes before / and of other maters / as it is shewed in the kalender before Ca. v. THan that soule with a grete louyÌge desyre dyd ryse vp as a druÌken soule / as wel by the vnyon that she had in god / as by that she herde and tasted of his ryght swete sothefastnes ¶ And also she had grete heuynesse of the ygnorauÌce of creatures / the whiche knewe not theyr maker gracyous benefactour / the whiche tasted not affeccyoÌ of his dyuyne charyte ¶ And yet she had a maner of gladnesse hope / of the promyse whiche god shewed to her / techynge to her a maner of forme / that she all his seruauÌtes owe to kepe / for to styrre hyÌ to gyue mercy to the worlde ¶ And with that she lyfte vp the eye of intelleccyon to the ryght wel byloued sothefastnes wherin she was knytte / desyrynge somwhat for to knowe of the sayde states of the soule / of the whiche god tolde here / by the whiche she consydered that a soule cometh to that state with teres / wherfore she desyred to knowe of god the dyffereÌce of teres / and what they ben frome whense they came / and of the fruyte that foloweth after wepynge teres / how many kyndes ther be of teres ¶ Bycause the truthe of sothefastnes maye not be knowe / but by endelesse sothefastnes / therfore she asked the endelesse sothefastnesse ¶ And bycause also nothyÌge may be veryly knowe / but it be seen with the eye of intelleccyon / wherfore she desyreth of sothefastnes to haue clere syghte of very trewe feythe / in the clere syghte of her intelleccyon ¶ ThaÌ after tyme she knewe of god that he wolde gyue her clere lyghte / knowynge thereof she lyfte vp herselfe aboue herselfe / with a greate longynge desyre oute of the corse of the bodyly felynge / with the lyghte of lyfely feythe / she opened her eye of intelleccyon in the endelesse sothefastnesse / in whome she sawe and knewe the truthe / of the thynge that she asked ¶ For god shewed to her hymselfe / that is her endelesse benygnyte / and oned it with her brennynge desyre / so fulfylled
her desyre ¶ Of the dyfference of the foresayde holy teres THan sayde the ryghte swete sothefastnesse of god to her O ryght well byloued and dere doughter / doughter thou askes and desyres to knowe of me the dyffereÌce in kynde of teres / and of theyr fruytes / and I haue not dyspysed thy desyre ¶ OpeÌ therfore the eye of thy intelleccyon / and I shall shewe that by the thre states of the soule before sayde vnparfyte teres grauÌted and set in drede ¶ But I shall fyrste tell that of the teres of wycked men / and these fyrst teres / be teres of dampnacyoÌ Â¶ The seconde maner of teres be teres of drede / of suche that ryse fro synÌe for drede of peyne / for drede they wepe ¶ The thyrde maner of teres be teres of theÌ that after tyme they be rysen fro synne / they begynne to taste me / so with swetenesse they wepe and begynne to serue me ¶ But bycause theyr loue is vnparfye / therfore theyr wepynge is vnparfyte / as I shall tell the afterwarde ¶ The fourthe maner of teres be of them that become to parfeccyon in charyte of theyr neyghbours / louynge me wtout ony maner beholdynge of them selfe / suche wepe and theyr wepyÌge is parfyte ¶ The fyfte maner of teres / is oned knytte with the fourthe before / castynge out teres of swetenesse / the whiche is a vertuous wepynge / as I shall tell the afterwarde ¶ I shall also tell the of brennynge teres without wepynge of the eye / for to satysfy to theÌ that ofte tymes desyre teres and maye none haue ¶ And I wyll that thou knowe that al these dyuers states maye be in one soule by rysynge vp fro drede vnparfyte loue / and comynge to parfyte charyte / and to the state of vnyon ¶ How there be fyue maner of teres NOw I shall begynne to tell of these fyue maner of teres / fyrste shortely of the teres of wycked men / whose loue is without me vnornately sette ¶ At the begyÌnynge I wyl that thou knowe / that al teres come out of the herte / for there is no membre in a mannes body / that wyll somoche shewe and satysfy the entent of the herte / as wyl the eye ¶ Yf the herte haue sorowe / the eye sheweth it / yf it be a sencyble sorowe / the eyes do shede hertely teres / the whiche teres in a wycked man ben deedly teres and teres of dethe / bycause of his vnordynate loue / and affeccyoÌ that he hathe wherfore his wepynge is no thyÌge plesynge to me / neuerthelesse then greatenesse of the trespas wepynge is iesse or more after the meture and quaÌtyte of his vnordynate loue ¶ All suche vnordynate louers and wycked lyuers thoughe they wepe theyr teres be teres of dethe ¶ Now shall I tell the of those teres that do begynne to gyue lyfe / that is or suche that knowe theyr owne synnes / and for drede of payne they wepe ¶ These be teres of the herte and sencyble teres / that is bycause they be not yet come to the parfyte hate of synne / but for offence that they haue done to me / they arysen with a maner hertely sorowe for drede of peyne / the whiche peyne foloweth after the trespas done ¶ Therfore the eye wepeth / bycause he satysfyeth the sorowe of the herte / after this that the louie hathe excersysed her in vertu / she begynneth to leue that drede / for she knoweth well / the drede is not suffycyent ynoughe to grauÌte her the blysse of heuen / as I haue tolde the in the seconde state of the soule before ¶ And therfore she aryseth with loue for to knowe herselfe and my goodnes in her / and so begynneth to presume of hope in my mercy / iÌ the whiche the herte releth gladnesse medled with sorowe of synne hope of my merci togyder ¶ ThaÌ begyÌneth the eye to wepe / that moche wepynge gothe out of the well of the herte / bycause it is not yet come to parfeccyoÌ / oft tymes she casteth out sencyble teres / the whiche be called teres of ghostly loue as thus whaÌ the soule desyreth ghostly comfortes by meane or medyacyon of ony creature whom he loueth ghostly / whan she is pryued of that she loueth / or of inwarde comfortes or out warde / than yf temptacyons folowe or parsecucyons of men / than the herte anone hathe a sorowe / and than the eye the whiche feleth that sorowe peyne of the herte / begyÌneth to wepe by teÌdernesse / and that is bycause theyr owne wyll is not yet fully forsake ¶ Suche teres be called sencyble teres of ghostly loue / or of ghostly coÌpassyon ¶ But whan a soule excercyseth and vseth herselfe in the lyghte of her owne knowlege / she conceyueth a maner of dysplesaunce parfyte hate in herselfe / of the whiched yf plesaunce and hate / she draweth out very knowlege of my goodnesse / with the fyre of loue / and begynneth to owne herselfe / and to conforme her wyll to my wyll / and so she begynneth to fele ioye compassyon / ioye in herselfe by affeccyon of loue / and compassyon vpon her neyghboure ¶ For than the eye whiche wyll alwaye satysfy to the herte / wepeth for hertely loue in me / and for compassyoÌ of the offence that is done to me / bothe for the offence that her neyghbour dothe to me / and for her owne trespas / and not for the peyne that she or they be worthy for to haue for theyr trespas / but for the offence that is done to me ¶ ThaÌ suche a soule delyteth with longynge desyre for to receyue ghostly meet and meet of comforte vpon the table of the blessyd cros that is the passyon of my sone Ihesu cryst / conformynge herselfe with meke pasyence / to the vndefouled lambe my onely sone Ihesu cryst / of whome I haue made the a brydge / as it is rehersed before to the. ¶ After tyme that she hathe thus swetely walked by the foresayde brydge / suynge the doctryne of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryst / suffryÌge with very swete pasyence all maner peyne heuynesse for her soule he le / and not onely that she suffre pasyently / but gladly for my name to suffre parsecucyon / syth it so is that she hathe hym that she suffreth fore ¶ Than suche a soule cometh to so greate a loue tranquyllyte of herselfe / that her tongue is not suffycyent for to tell it ¶ Than she resteth in me that am the very peaseable see / her herte is oned in me by affeccyon of loue / and so by the felynge of my endeles god heed / the eye begynneth to wepe teres of swetenesse / the whiche teres be as a maner of mylke / that norysheth the soule with very pasyence ¶ All suche
of suche as lyue wretchydly in the worlde / makynge to theÌ theyr god of creatures / and of theyr owne propre sensualyte / of the whiche procedeth all maner harme / the cometh bothe to the body and to the soule ¶ I tolde the yf thou remembre the / that all maner of teres came oute of the herte and sothe it is for an herte of a louynge soule soroweth / in somoche as it loueth worldely men / al suche soules do wayle âepe / whaÌ they fele sorowe in herte / that is whaÌ they be depryued fro that thynge that they loued / yet neuerthelesse theyr wepynges waylynges be moche dyuers fro wepynges of worldely men ¶ Wyl thou know how moche ¶ Certayne somoche as the loue is dyuers / and bycause the roote of her owne seÌcyble loue is corrupte / what euer spryngeth therof muste nedes be corrupte / for that loue is as a maner of a tree bryÌgynge nothynge els fourthe / but fruyte of dethe / stynkynge floures / spotty leues / brauÌches al ybroke and bowed downe to the grouÌde by dyuers wyÌdes / ryght so fareth the tree of the soule yf soules be well dysposed / than they be trees of loue / for wtoute loue they can not lyue / in asmoche as they be made of me by loue / suche a soule the lyueth so vertuously setteth the roote of her tree in the valaye of mekenesse / but al those that do lyue wretchydly / set theyr tree in the mouthe of pryde / bycause it is euyll planted and set / it may not brynge forthe fruyte of lyfe / but deedly ¶ The fruytes be the werkes of them / the whiche be venymed poysoned with synnes / thoughe it so be that they do ony good dede / in asmoche as the roote is corrupte / therfore al the fruyte that sueth therof is corrupte that is for as suche a soule is in deedly synne / euery good dede that it dothe maye not protyte to lyfe euerlastyÌge / bycause it is not done in grace ¶ Neuerthelesse yet good dedes must be done at all tymes / for there is no euyll vnpunyshed / nor good dede vnrewarded ¶ Euery good dede done out of grace / is not suffyeyent / nor profyteth in no wyse to euerlastynge lyfe / as I haue sayd / but my dyuyne bouÌâle and ryghtwysenesse yeldeth therfore an vnparfyte rewarde / as the worke in it selfe is vnparfyte ¶ Otherwyse I rewarde suche one in teÌporall goodes for suche good dedes / otherwhyle I gyue hym tyme and space for to amede hyÌ of his lyuyÌge / and other whyle I do hyÌ this mercy / that is whaÌ I gyue hym lyfe of grace by some maner meane of my seruauntes / the whiche be to me acceptable and plesaunte / as I dyd to my gloryous doctour seynt Paule the whiche by the prayers of seynt Steuen rose fro his mysse byleue parsecucyons that he dyd shewed to trewe crysten folke ¶ So thaÌ by this thou maye well knowe that in what state a creature stoÌdeth in / he sholde not cese to do well ¶ I sayde also that suche a foule is lykened to a tree bryÌgeth forthe stynkynge floures / and sothe it is / the thoughtes of the herte of suche a soule be stynkyÌge floures that lyke me neuer adele / all the thoughtes of suche a soule be nothynge els but hate and dysplesaunce of her neyghbour / hauynge the condycyoÌ of a thefe that robbeth worshyppe and honour fro me that am his maker / and yeldeth and kepeth it to hymselfe ¶ This floure bryngeth forthe the fylthe of ryghte wretchyd and fals Iudgement / the whiche Iudgement is in two wyses / one Iudgement is aneÌdes me / demynge and foriudgynge my pryuy Iudgementes / all that I grauÌte to hym for lyfe / and by my mysteryall pryuytes he tourneth all in to hate mysse demynge me wyckedly / after his seke syght and vnderstondyÌge / bycause he hathe made blyÌde the eye of his intelleccyoÌ by his owne sencyble loue / and couered the clere seynge perle of his most holiest feyth the whiche suffreth not hym to se knowe the truth ¶ The other Iudgement the last is aneÌdes his neyghbour / of the whiche ofte tymes cometh moche euyll / for asmoche as a wretched maÌ knoweth not yet hymselfe / and take vpon hyÌ for to knowe the herte and the affeccyon of an other maÌ or womaÌ / by one dede that he seeth or by worde / or wordes that he hereth or saythe of them / and so demethe affeccyon of thyr hertes ¶ All my seruauntes deme the best / for they be grounded in me that am moste souerayne good / but all other euer deme euyll / bycause they ben grounded wretchydly in euyl ¶ Of the whiche Iudgementes ofte tymes aryseth and spryngeth euyll hate / manslaughter / dysplesaunce anendes neyghbourheed / and with drawynge fer fro the vertues of my parfyte seruauntes ¶ I sayde also that suche a soule is lykened to a tre that bryngeth forthe spotty leues / the whiche be wordes goynge oute of the mouthe / in the whiche vnworshypp of me / and of the blode of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / and harme of neyghbours / they fere neuer for to saye euyll of an other / and for to blaspheme and condempne my workes / and for to saye enyll of euery reasonable creature / as it falleth iÌ to theyr mysse Iudgementes / and they thynke not suche wretched folke / that the tongue is made for to yelde to me honour and worshyppe / for to knowlege theyr owne defautes / and for to worke by loue of vertues / for helthe of neyghbourheed ¶ Thus suche wretches wyll not occupy thyr tongues / but rather by myspekyÌge bryÌge fourth spotty leues of wretchyd synne / for the herte that they come fro is not clene and pure / but moche defouled with doublenesse and moche wretchydnesse ¶ Lo how moche perell falleth of suche myscheuoê° spekyÌge and bryngeth in harme wtout ghostly harme of pryuacyoÌ of grace whiche it dothe in the soule / for bycause of wordes / ye haue seen and herde many chaungynges of states / desolacyons of cytees / and moche manslaughter / ynd many other euylles for a wretchyd worde entreth in to the myndes of the herte of them that it is sayde to / where a swerde sholde not entre ¶ I saye also that this tre hathe seuen wretchyd braunches the be bowed to the grouÌde / of the whiche bothe floures and leues gone out / as it is rehersed before ¶ Thes seuen braunches be the seuen deedly synnes / the whiche be full of many dyuers synnes knytte in the roote fro the stocke of the loue of hymselfe and of his owne pryde / the whiche maketh fyrste wretched and myserable braunches / and floures of many wycked thoughtes ¶ After that cometh forthe spotty leues of wordes / and fruyte of euyll workes ¶ These brauÌches do stoÌde bowed to
the grouÌd that is for to saye that the braunches of deedly synnes do not tourne to none other thynges / but to the erthe of euery frayle vnordynate substaunce of the worlde / and they do not loke after none other thynge / but in what wyse they maye be noryshed vnsacyably of the erthe / for they ben neuer fulfylled ¶ They be vnsacyable / and vntollerable to theÌ selfe / and therfore it is requysyte ryghte coÌuenyent / that euer they be vnquyet and vnrestfull / sythen they desyre suche a thynge that neuer maye fulfyll theÌ / as I haue sayde ¶ This is the cause whiche maye not be fulfylled / for they desyre euer a thynge that hathe ende / and yet they themselfe be endeles as to theyr beynge for theyr beynge hathe neuer ende / thoughe they ende anendes grace / by the cause of deedly synnes ¶ And for bycause a maÌ is set put aboue all create thyÌges / and not vntreate thynges be aboue hym / therfore he maye not be fulfylled nor stonde in quyetnesse / but in a thynge that is greater than hymselfe / and that is no other / but I god euerlastynge ¶ And therfore I alone may fulfyll them / for bycause he is depryued frome me for his synÌe that he hathe done he stoÌdeth coÌtynually in peyne and tourmeÌt / after the whiche peyne foloweth wepynges and welynges ¶ How suche worldely wepers ben smyten with foure maner wyndes ANd whan that the wyndes come they smyte the tree of the propre sensualyte / where he made all his begyÌnynge ¶ Of these foure wyndes other it is a wynde of prosperyte / or a wynde of aduersyte / or of drede / or of conscyence / these be the foure wyndes ¶ The wynde of prosperyte norysheth pryde / with grete presumpcyon / with magnyfyenge of hyÌselfe and lytle regarde on his neyghbour ¶ Yf he be a lorde / the wynde of prosperyte norysheth this pryde with moche vnryghtwysenesse and vanyte of herte / and with vncleÌnes of body and of soule / with his propre reputacyon / and with many other defautes whiche do folowe after them whiche thy tongue myghte not tell ¶ Whether this wyÌde of prosperyte is not corrupte in hymselfe no / nor this wynde nor that other / but the pryncypall rote of the tree is corrupted / where throwe that rote maketh all thyÌges corrupte whiche cometh fro that rote ¶ For I that sende all thynges by my gyfte with abuÌdaunce am all souerayne god / what euer it be in this wyÌde of prosperyte / wherfore waylyÌge foloweth / for his herte is not fulfylled / for he desyreth that he maye not haue / and so whan he maye not haue that he wolde / than he hathe peyne / and that peyne he wayleth ¶ Now I haue sayde to the that the eye wyll make a saute to the herte ¶ After this there cometh a wyÌde of seruage drede / in the whiche wynde a man maketh hym afrayde with his owne shadowe or derkenes dredynge to lose that that he loueth / or he dredeth to lose his owne lyfe / or of his chyldren / or the lyfe of other creatures / or he dredeth to lose his owne state / or the state of his freÌdes and all for his owne loue / or for worshyppe / or for ryches ¶ Here this drede hathe not his delyte in pease / for he hathe not that that he wolde redy ordeyned after my wyll / therfore that drede of seruage foloweth hym / and is made tymorate and the seruaunte of the wretchydful synne / and bycause he maye beholde as is the thynge that he serueth and that is synne whiche is nought / therfore he is come to nought / after the wyÌde of drede hathe smyten hym ¶ And after this anone thaÌ cometh the wyÌde of trybulacyon and of aduersyte of that same that he dredde / taketh fro hym pryueth hym of that he had / sometyme in a partyculer thynge / sometyme iÌ a generall thyÌge ¶ Generally is whaÌ he is pryued of the lyfe for by the streÌgthe of the dethe he is pryued of all thyÌges ¶ Sometyme also the wynde of aduersyte is partyculer / whiche somtyme taketh fro hym one thynge / and sometyme an other thynge / sometyme it taketh a waye of his helthe / or of his chyldreÌ or of his ryches / or of states or of worshyppes / after that I se that it be nedefull for youre helthe whiche am a softe leche / therfore I gaue theÌ to you ¶ And for asmoche as youre freyite it vtterly corrupte and with out ony knowynge / it dystroyeth the fruyte of pasyence / and therfore inpasyence dothe bryÌge fourthe sclauÌders and grutchynges / hateredes / and dysplesauÌces / agaynst me and my curates / they haue receyued in to dethe that I haue gyue them in to lyfe / after the mesure that they had of loue ¶ Now it is come to the waylynge of inpasyence that tourmenteth / and the whiche dryeth vp the soule and sleeth it / and taketh awaye the grace of lyfe / and dryeth vp and consumeth the body / and maketh hym blynde bodyly and ghostly / and pryueth hym of all delytes / and taketh awaye all hope / for he is pryued of that thynge / wherin he had delyte / wherin he set his affeccyon / hope / feythe / so that euer he soroweth and wayleth ¶ And not onely his teres make to hym so many inconuenyentes / but his vnordynate desyre and the sorowe of his herte / for if his herte were ordynate had the lyfe of grace / than were his teres ordynate / and sholde constrayne me euerlastynge god / to do hym mercy ¶ But why sayde I that this was and is the tere of dethe For to the messanger whiche sheweth you the dethe or the lyfe that sholde be in the soule ¶ Forthermore I sayde that there came the wynde of conscyence / and that maketh the goodnes of my godheed / for whaÌ I haue êued theÌ with êsperyte / to that entent that I sholde withdrawe the fro theyr propre loue / throwe my loue ¶ Also whan I êued theÌ with drede / that throwe iÌportunyte they sholde sette theyr loue to loue me with vertu ¶ Also after tyme I haue preued them with trybulacyoÌ that they sholde knowe theyr freylte / and the lytle stablenesse of the worlde to some / there al this êfyteth not / I gyue a prycke or a remors of conscyencè / for I loue more thaÌ can be spoken / and that remors I gyue them / for they sholde aryse for to open theyr mouthe / and caste out the rotten fylthe of theyr synnes by holy coÌfessyoÌ Â¶ But they as obstynate ryghtfully renreued of me throwe theyr owne wyckednesse whiche wolde iÌ no wyse receyue my grace / fle fro that prycke remors of conscyence and lede it all aboute with wretchydfull delectacyoÌs and with dysplesauÌce of me and of theyr neyghbours / and
all this falleth / for the roote with all the tree is corrupte / and tourneth all thynges to them in to dethe ¶ They stoude in contynuall peynes / welynges and sorowes / as it is sayde before .. ¶ And yf they amende them not whyle they haue tyme to vse theyr fre choyse / they pas out of waylyÌge sorowe in this tyme whiche hathe ende / so with that waylynge they sholde come to the sorowe that shall haue none ende / so that that sorowe whiche hathe ende / shal come to them to the sorowe that hathe none ende the cause is for theyr teres were shed with an hatered of vertu whiche was Infynyte that is to saye with a desyre of the soule grouÌded in hate red whiche hathe none ende ¶ Neuertesse yf that they wolde / they sholde haue come out of the hatered by helpe of my dyuyne grace / in the tyme that they were fre / not withstoÌdynge I sayd theyr hatered was infynyte it is infynyte for asmoche as it is of affeccyyon of the beynge of the soule / but not that hate nor loue / whiche sholde be in the soule ¶ For whyle ye be in this lyfe / ye maye hate and loue as ye wyll / but yf youre hate or loue ende in the loue of vertu / thaÌ it receyueth good without ende / whiche is called infynyte ¶ And yf he ende in hatered of vertu / thaÌ ye stonden in hate that is infynyte / and receyuen euerlastynge dampnacyon as it is sayde before whan I shewed to the that they drenchen theÌselfe in the floode in somoche that now whiche be so passed maye not desyre goodnesse / for asmoche as they be pryued of me and of my souerayne charyte / the whiche seyntes do sauour and taste one with an other ¶ They be pryued also of youre charyte / whiche be put here of me as pylgrymes or wayegoers / so that they maye not come to youre ende / whiche is the ende of euerlastynge lyfe ¶ Also prayers nor almes / nor no other goood workynges maye do profyte to them / they be that lymmes and the membres cut of fro the body of my dyuyne charyte / for whyle they dyd lyue they wold not be oned to the obedyence of the commaundymentes of my seruauntes in the pryuy body of holy chyrche / nor in the holy obedyeÌce of her / wherof ye do drawe out to you the blode of the holy lambe that is to saye of my onely begoten sone Ihesu cryste / therfore they haue receyued the fruyte of euerlastynge dampnacyon / with wepynge and gnastynge of tethe ¶ These be the deuyls martyrres / of the whiche I tolde that before / therfore the deuyll gyueth them the same fruyte / the whiche he hathe for hym selfe ¶ Therfore thou sees ryghte well here that thus waylynge here gyueth to them the fruyte of peyne in this tyme that is fynyte / and in the laste ende it gyueth to them a coÌuersacyon of fendes / whiche conuersasacyon shall be infynyte ¶ Of the fruytes of the seconde of the thyrde teres HOw shall I tell the of the fruytes that they receyue / whiche do begynne to aryse fro synne to grace by drede of peyne ¶ Some there ben that do go oute fro dethe of deedly synne / by the grete drede of peynes / this is a general callyÌge / as it is rehersed before ¶ What fruyte thynkes thou suche one receyueth / the whiche begynneth to auoyde so the house of his soule frome vnclennesse by the messanger of dred / the whiche drede is sende by fre choyse / I shall the. ¶ After tyme that suche one hathe purged his soule by drede fro synne / he receyueth pease reste of conscyence / and begynneth for to dyspose his affeccyon / for to open his eye of intelleccyon / for to se his place wherin he stondeth / the whiche or than it was voyde / he myght not se clerely / for bycause it was fufylled with roten fylthe of many dyuers synnes ¶ Also he begynneth for to receyue comforte / for the worme of coscyence is in rest pease / abydynge for to receyue the meet of vertu / as a man dothe / for after tyme his stomake is heled and hathe caste oute bad humoures / he maketh redy his appetyte for to receyue meet ¶ In the same wyse all suche abyde onely that the honde of fre choyse make redy within hymselfe for to receyue with loue meet of vertu / for after that tyme that meet is made redy / he abydeth for to ete it and so it is in sothe for an excercysed soule in vertu after tyme affeccyon of synne is voyded by drede / she begynneth for to araye the soule with vertues thoughe it be yet vnparfyte for all be it that it be arysen fro drede / it receyueth bothe delyte and comforte / for loue of the soule receyueth delyte of very sothefastnesse / bycause that I myselfe am loue / and by the same comforte and delyte that she receyueth of me and in me / she begynneth for to loue me the more swetely / felynge the swetenes of my comforte / orelles of creatures for me / excercysynge the very same loue in the house of the soule ¶ And therfore what man that entreth in to this house of the soule / after tyme that drede hathe puryfyed and clensed it / he begynneth for to receyue the fruyte of dyuyne goodnes / by the whiche dyuyne goodnesse / he hathe a house in the soule for to rest in ¶ And than after the tyme that loue is entred for to take possessyon of that house / it begynneth for to taste / receyuyÌge by suche tastynge / many folde dyuers fruytes of comforte / an so abydynge to the laste state / it receyueth a fruyte for to set and make redy the meettable ¶ That is after tyme a soule is passed fro drede to loue of vertu / she setteth and maketh redy the meettable / and that is entrynge in to the thyrde teres in the herte / by the whiche teres the soule prepareth or makethe redy and setteth forthe the meettable of my ryghte wel beloued and sothefast sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed on the cros / of his blessyd passyoÌ / in the whiche blessyd passyon / she fyndeth meet of ryghte grete swetenesse and amyable wordes of helthe / the whiche wordes donâââ shewe the greate honoure and worshyppe of me / and youre helthe / for the whiche helthe / the syde of my ryght dere and well beloued sothefast and onely sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed was opened / gyuyÌge hyÌselfe to you in to meet ¶ ThaÌ such a soule begyÌneth to tast the worshyppe of me helthe of soules / with dysplesaunce hate of synnes / what fruyte suche a soule receyueth of this maner state of teres I shall tell ye. ¶ She receyueth a maner of streÌgthe iÌ holy hate / agaynste her propre sensualyte / grounded and sette stably
maner beholdynge to her owne profyte / but onely to the honour and worshyp of me / and helthe of soules ¶ Beholde therfore ryght swete doughter how swete this state is how gloryous / in the whiche state a soule hath made suche an vnyon / and oned at the brest of charyte / for ryghte as a mouthe that souketh is neuer founde without the brest / nor the breste without mylke / in the same wyse that holy desyre of suche a soule is neuer founde without cryst crucyfyed / nor without me endeles fader / the whiche soule fyndeth in me by tastyÌge / souereyne and endeles godheed ¶ O I wolde a man myghte se how the myghtes of the soule be fulfylled / the mynde is fulfylled with contynuall remeÌbrauÌce of me / drawynge by loue to her my benefytes / not onely the dede of my benefytes / but the affeccyon of my charyte / the whiche I haue gyuen to her / and namely the synguler benefyce of a creature / seynge herselfe made to the ymage of me and lykenesse / in the whiche benefyte rehersed in the fyrst state before sayde / she knoweth in herselfe the peyne of vnkyndenesse / the whiche folowed her ¶ And therfore by the benefytes of the blode of Ihesu cryst / she arose fro wretchednes / in the whiche blode I haue reformed her agayne to grace / wasshynge the faces of youre soules fro lepre of synne by the same blode / wherin a soule fyndeth herselfe in the secunde state / tastynge ther one maner of swetenesse of loue / the whiche mysse lyketh all synne / in the whiche swetenesse / she seeth well how synne dyspleaseth me somoche / that I punyshe it vpon the body of my onely sone Ihesu vpon the cros ¶ After this she fyndeth that coÌforte of the holy ghost that hathe declared and clereth a soule in very sothefastnesse ¶ But whan receyueth a soule this truthe ¶ In sothe after tyme it knoweth in herselfe my benefytes / by the fyrste secunde state ¶ Than it receyueth a parfyte lyght of me / that am endeles fader / knowynge my very truthe ryghtwysenes sothefastnes that I haue made here by loue / for to gyue her endeles lyfe / this is that sothe and truthe / whiche truthe I shewed you with the blode of my onely sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed ¶ After tyme she knoweth this she loueth / by loue she sheweth it / louyÌge that I loue / hatynge that I hate ¶ Thus she fyndeth herselfe in the thyrde gre of charytable neyghboureheed / so that the mynde at this brest is fulfylled with parfeccyon / for it hathe my benefytes in mynde ¶ The intelleccyon also receyueth this lyghte / and for inwardely beholdynge in mynde / it knoweth the truthe / leuynge the blyÌdenes of her propre loue / it dwelleth remayneth stydfastly iÌ the clere syghte of eryst crucyfyed / where it knoweth bothe god maÌ / the whiche knowlege cometh not of kynde as I haue sayde nother by workynge of her owne êpre vertu / but of grace gyuen of my most swetest sothefastnesse / the whiche very sothefastnes / dyspyseth neuer loue nor longynge desyre / nor labours / nor trauayles / that in suche loue loÌgynge is offred to me ¶ Wyll also and affeccyon that foloweth after intelleccyon / cometh and coupleth hym with parfeccyoÌ / most brennynge loue ¶ Yf it were than asked / whan the myghtes of the soule be thus fulfylled / whether this be a soule It myght be sayde yes / thoughe it be alterate by vnyon of loue ¶ What toÌgue were that / that myghte tell the excelleÌce of this last vnytyue state / also of these dyuers fruytes that such a soule receyueth whan the myghtes ben fulfylled so by the techynge of my endelesse god heed ¶ This it that swete coÌgregacyon of the whiche I made mencyoÌ to the in the thre generall grees before / declarynge by the worde of my sothefastnesse / the whiche no toÌgue is fuffycyent for to tell ¶ But holy doctours illumyned by this gloryous lyghte / do shewe well that it is sothe / the whiche doctours declared holy wrytte by the same lyght / lyke as it is founde of the gloryous doctoure seynt Thomas Alquyn / the whiche had the cunnynge and scyence of all holy wryte / rather by contynuaunce excersyce of holy and deuoute prayers / and by lyftyÌge vp of the soule / lyght of vnderstoÌdyÌge / than by ony study and besynesse of man ¶ He was a lyghte whiche I sende in to the mysteryall body of the moder of holy chyrche / for to queÌche the derkenesse of erroures ¶ And yf thou wyll tourne the to the gloryous euangelyst seynt Iohan / thou maye se what lyght of grace he gate vpon that precyous brest of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryste / with the whiche lyghte by suche grace goten / he preched aboute / as longe as he dwelled in erthe ¶ And so this gracious lyght ran aboute that it came to all the apostles doctours of holy chyrche / so that all they dyd shewe the same truthe of crystes doctryne by the same lyghte / one one wyse / and an other an other wyse ¶ Neuertheles the inwarde felynge that they had by that gracyous lyghte and vnspekeable swetenesse / also êfyte vnyoÌ couthe nor can no tongue tel / for it was is a thynge that is infynyte / so it semed to seynt Paule whaÌ he sayde thus no eye may se / nor no ere may here / nor in to mannes herte maye ascede the sencyble swetenes and parfyte vnyon that god hathe ordeyned to them that ben parfyte louers ¶ O how swete is that swere mansyon / and that parfyte vnyon aboue all swetenesse that suche a soule hathe in me / for iÌ herselfe hathe she no wyl but her wyll was in me and she is one with me / suche a soule cryeth euer with the voyce of holy desyre / not with the voyce of a man in the syghte of my dyuyne maieste after heithe of soule ¶ These be the vnytyue fruytes that a soule receyueth and eteth in this lyfe in the last state of teres / goten with moche labour / wepynges / and syghyÌges / and so it passeth parfytely forthe with very parseueraunce fro lyfe of grace that is fro this vnyon the whiche is vnparfyte as longe as it is bouÌde in the body / for in this lyfe it maye not be fulfylled / of that thyÌge that it desyreth ¶ And therfore bycause it is yet bounde with a contrary us lawe / the whiche lawe thoughe it be a slepe by affeccyon of vertu / it is not yet deed / wherfore it may yet be waked / yf the instrumeÌt of vertu be put asyde / the whiche maketh it slepe ¶ Neuertheles yet this inparfyte vnyoÌ ledeth the soule for to receyue euerlastyÌge durable parfeccyon / that in no wyse it maye be take awaye fro her / wher
thou Iudge ony creature / nother generally nor specyally / nor the soules of my seruauntes / whether thou fynde them dysposed or not / and there I tolde the the cause why thou sholde not Iudge / for yf thou dyd gyue Iudgement / thou sholde be dysceyued in thy owne conceyte ¶ But thou sholde haue compassyon bothe thou and al my other seruauntes / and commyt Iudgementes to me ¶ I taughte the also a doctryne / as for a pryncypall fouÌdament how thou sholde behaue the to them that do come to that for to aske counseyle / of suche namely that were in purpose for to haue gone out of the waye of derkenesse of deedly synne / and folowe the waye of vertu ¶ That is that thou gyue to them in the waye of couÌsayle the pryncypall foundament / that they sette theyr affeccyon and loue in vertu in knowlege of themselfe and of my goodnes in them / and that they flee and forsake fully theyr owne propre wylles / that in no wyse that they be rebell to me ¶ And counseyle them to do penaunce / and that they take it as for an instrument / and not for a pryncypall affeccyon as it is rehersed before not to eche lyke / but as they be able for to bere and after theyr myght and state / to some lesse and to some moche as they maye ¶ And bycause I sayde to the / that vndertakyÌge was not lefull to the for to vse it but in generall after the maner as I haue tolde the yet I wolde not that thou shold suppose / that yf thou sawe hym synne deedly / that thou myghte not correcke hym charytably bytwene the and hym / suppose not that / for so thou maye not do / also yf he were obstynate / wolde not correcke and amende hym / thou maye than tell his synne that thou hase seen to two or thre / and yf that profyte nor / thou maye tell it to the mystery all body of youre moder holy chyrche ¶ But I tolde the that it was not fefull to the after thy felyÌge within thy soule / nor after thy outwarde felynge / lyghtly to styrre thyself to vndertake hyÌ / but yf thou knowe veryly the truthe / orelles that thou haue in thy soule by expresse reuelacyon / that thou shold vndertake hyÌ vnder suche a fourme as I haue tolde ye. ¶ For that I tolde the is the surer party / in the whiche the wycked fende maye not dysceyue the vnder the mantell of the parfyte charyte of thy neyghboure ¶ The secuÌde chapyter is of tokens to knowe vysytacyons or ghostly vysyons / whether they come of god or of the fende ¶ Also how god is the fulfyller of holi desyres of his seruauntes ¶ And howe it pleaseth god moche whan a maÌ axeth and prayeth with parseuerauÌce / and knocketh at the gate of his sothefastnes / and of other maters / as it is shewed before in the kalender Ca. ii I Haue fulfylled here dere doughter to the now declared that that is spedefull to coÌserue and encrese parfeccyon iÌ thy soule ¶ Now therfore I shall declare that that thou askes of me by what tokeÌ thou sholde knowe whan a soule receyueth my vysytacyon / whether it were of vysyons / or of other ghostly comfortes / wher I shewed the tokens / how thou sholde knowe whether it were of me or not ¶ And it was this token / gladnes that be lefte after vysyons in a soule / and hongre of vertu / and namely whan it were oned with the very vertu of mekenesse / and also brenned with the fyre of charyte ¶ But bycause thou askes me whether in suche gladnes maye be receyued ony dysceyte of the feÌde / for yf thou kewe it / thou wolde cleue to the surer party ¶ Therfore I shall tell the the dysceyte that maye be receyued in suche gladnes / and how thou shall knowe whan gladnes is very trewe / whan it is not trewe ¶ Dysceyte may be receyued in this wyse / I wyll thou thou knowe that what maner thynge a reasonable creature loueth or desyreth to haue / after tyme he hathe it / he hathe it iÌ hate ¶ And the more he loueth that he hathe / the lesse he seeth therin / and the more vncunnynge he is for to knowe with prudence whens it cometh that he hathe / and that is for the loue that he hathe in that coÌforte / for the ioye in the receyuynge of that thynge that he loueth wyll not suffre hym for to se it / nor he repenteth not though he neuer se it ¶ In the same wyse / they that delyte theÌ moche and loue mentall comforte / they seke after vysyons / and they set more theyr pryncypall affeccyon in delyte of comforte / thaÌ pryncypally in me / as I haue sayd to the before ¶ And of all suche namely that be yet in the state of imparfeccyon the whiche rather beholden to the gyfte of comfortes that I gyue them thaÌ to affeccyon of my charyte / whiche I gyue them more specyally ¶ In this they maye receyue dysceytes / how they be dysceyued I shall tell the. ¶ After tyme suche haue coÌceyued a grete loue iÌ receyuyÌge of ghostly coÌfortes or vysyons / iÌ what wyse that euer they come they fele a ioye / for they haue the thynge whiche they loue and desyre / and this maye come of the fende / for thoughe it come with gladnes / yet it endeth with peyne pryckynge of coÌscyence / and voyde fro the desyre of vertu ¶ For yf suche gladnesse be founde without seruet desyre of vertu and very mekenesse / brenned in the ouen of my dyuyne charyte / that vysytacyoÌ / comforte / and vysyon / that suche a soule receyueth is of the fende not of me / thoughe she fele a token of gladnes / but bycause gladnes is not oned with affeccyon of loue as it is sayde thou maye openly knowe that suche gladnesse is of her owne propre delectacyon / and that is the cause of her ioye / bycause that âhe hathe that she desyreth / for the condycyon of loue is this / for to loue that ioye that it feleth ¶ Therfore thou maye not truste iÌ ioy alone / though it seme the ynoughe in receyuynge of suche ghostly comfortes / for an vncunnynge loue in suche ioye maye lyghtly be dysceyued of the fende / yf it haue none other prudeÌce ¶ And yf it be wtyse / it shall se a token withoute dysceyte of the fende / that is yf it walke with affeccyoÌ of vertu / or not ¶ This is a very shewynge tokeÌ for to knowe whaÌ it is dysceyte / and whan not ¶ In the same wyse it is of the gladnesse that thou receyues in thy soule of me / and of that gladnesse whiche thou receyues in the soule of thy owne propre spyrytuall delectacyon ¶ For the gladnesse the whiche is of me / is oned to affeccyon of vertu
/ and that gladnesse the whiche dothe come of the fende / is but gladnesse alone wtout folowynge of ony vertu / for asmoche vertu he feleth whaÌ it is gone as he dyd at the begynnynge ¶ An suche gladnesse cometh of the loue that they haue in the ghostly comforte / as it is rehersed before ¶ I wyll also that thou knowe that al be not dyseeyued by suche gladnesse / but onely suche vnêfyte folke / that set all theyr ioye more in the gyfte of comforte and delyte of vysytacyon / than in me that am the gyuer ¶ And all suche that with ony beholdynge of other thynge than of me / beholdeÌ feruently rather to affeccyon of me that am the gyuer / thaÌ to the gyfte / and so they loue the gyfte for me / not for theyr owne coÌforte maye neuer be dysceyued of theyr gladnesse / in tyme of vysyoÌs or vysytacyons ¶ And therfore they knowe ryghte well whan the fende cometh in forme of lyghte / for to dysceyue by suche maner of gladnes / as soone as they aspy it is he / anone they knowe theÌselfe with theyr owne very knowlege / and dyspyse suche comforte / grypynge and clypped the doctryne of my charyte ¶ And for shame the fende gothe fro them / but all suche that loue theyr ghostly comforte do the coÌtrary ¶ For they may knowe yf they wyll his dysceytes as I haue sayde that is fyndyÌge in theyr owne soules ioye withoute vertu / not goynge oute of the same pathe of mekenesse / and very charyte / and hongre of my worshyp endeles god / and also of helthe of soules / lyke as my parfyte and trewe louers done ¶ Lo doughter my endelesse goodnesse hathe prouyded thus / for parfyte and vnparfyte / in what state that they stonde / for to knowe dysceytes of the fende / in tyme of vysyons and vysytacyons / that they be not dysceyued / yf they wyll kepe the lyghte of intelleccyon / the whiche I haue gyuen to you / with the clere syghte of ryghte holy feythe / the whiche lyghte letteth the fende for to shadowe vpon you his dysceytes / and therfore neuer auoyde this lyghte of grace awaye fro you / for yf ye neuer auoyde it awaye fro you / there is none that maye take it awaye fro you ¶ How that god is the fulfyller of holy desyres of his seruauntes / how it pleaseth god moche whan a man dothe aske with parseuerauÌce / and knocketh at the gate of his sothefastnesse NOw dere doughter I haue fully declared to the and yllumyned the eye of thy intelleccyon / agaynste the dysceytes that the fende maye do to the / and so I haue satysfyed thy desyre of that thynge thou dyd aske me / for I am not a dyspyser of the desyres of my seruauntes / but I gyue to the the asker / styrre the for to aske / he dyspleaseth me ryghte moche that knocketh not veryly at the gate of my sothefastnesse that is Ihesu suynge the doctryne of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryst / shewyÌge his doctryne / whiche is nothynge elles / but a maner knockynge and cryenge to me endelesse fader / by the voyce of holy desyre / with meke and contynuall prayers ¶ I am that fader that gyueth to you breed of grace / by medyacyon of the gate that is of my sone Ihesu / and other whyle sor to proue your desyres and êseuerauÌce / I feyne me as thoughe I vnderstode you not in youre askynge / and yet I vnderstonde you well ynoughe / and yet in the mene whyle / that that is spedefull for you I gyue you ¶ For I gyue you bothe hongre and wyll / by the whiche ye cryen to me ¶ And thaÌ I seynge your stydfastnes and parseuerauÌce / in that that they be ordynately dyrecte to me I fulfyll ¶ To this callynge my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu hathe styrred you / where he saythe thus / knocke and it shall be opened to you / aske and you shall haue / serche and you shall fynde ¶ So I wyl that thou do / that thy desyre neuer cease iÌ askynge of my helpe / nor bowe not awaye thy voyce fro me endelesse fader / that I maye shewe and do mercy to the worlde ¶ Nor cese not for to knocke at the gate of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / in suyÌge of his steppes ¶ Delyte therfore iÌ his passyon / erynge with hym vpon the table of the crosse the meet of helthe of soules / for ioy / presynge / and honour of my name / and wayle there hertefully the bethe of mankyÌde / whome thou sees fall in grete wretchednes ¶ For ther is no toÌgue in erthe suffycyent / to tell the wretchednesse that is vsed iÌ this worlde / therfore by suche waylynge / wepynge / and cryenge / I wyll shewe mercy to the worlde ¶ This thyÌge it is that I desyre and requyre of my seruauntes / and that is a tokeÌ that they loue me veryly and therfore as Isayd I shal neuer dyspyse nor sette lytell by theyr deuoute desyres ¶ Howe this deuoute soule dothe meke her and yeldeth thaÌkynges to god / and how that she prayeth for all the worlde / and specyal for holy chyrche / and also specyally for her ghostly dyscyples / and for her two ghostly faders / and after this she asketh to her of the dedes of mynystres to holy chyrche T'Han that deuoute soule was veryly drunke by vnyon of loue / by the whiche she was alyened and rapte fro herselfe / and her bodyly felynges / and araysed herselfe aboue herselfe / beholdynge with the eye of intelleccyon in the endeles truthe of god / and sayde thus ¶ O souerayne endeles goodnesse of god what wrecthe am I / that it shall please the my swete souerayne endeles fader to shewe to me thy sothefastnes / and also the pryue subtyltes of the fende / and dysceytes of my owne sensualyte / the whiche dysceytes bothe I and other myghte receyue in this wepynge worde / and knowe them not / but yf we hadde be enformed before ¶ Good lorde who styrred the here to ¶ Certayne thy owne loue / for thou dyd loue me / or than I loued the. ¶ O fyre of loue / thankynge be to that endelesse fader / I vnparlyte and full of derkenesse / and thou parfyte and full of lyghte hase shewed me parfeccyon / and a clere shynynge waye of doctryne / of thy onely sothefast sone Ihesu ¶ I was deed / and thou hase yraysed me / I was seke and thou hase gyueÌ me medycynes / and not onely the medycyne of the blode that thou gaue to maÌkynde by medyacyoÌ of thy sones passyoÌ / but thou hase gyueÌ me an other specyal medycyne agaynst my pryuy sekenesse / the whiche I neuer knewe before / by that doctryne that thou hase gyuen me / that in no wyse I shold Iudge ony maner reasonable creatures and specyally thy seruauntes / of whome
ofteÌtymes as a blynde wretche / and lan gorynge in this sekenes / vnder colour of the honour worshyp of thy name and helthe of soules / I haue gyue Iudgementes ¶ Wherfore I thanke the endeles infynyte goodnesse / for thou hase made me knowe by manyfestacyoÌ or shewynge of thy sothefastnesse / bothe dysccyte of the fende / and also the infyrmyte of my owne passyoÌ / wherfore of synguler grace and mercy I beseche the / that fro this dare forewarde I go neuer oute fro thy doctryne / that thy endelesse goodnesse hathe taughte me / also for all those that wyll folowe the same doctryne ¶ For withoute the is nothynge done / to the therfore I fle the endelesse fader / and I maye not praye for me to the endelesse fader / but for all the worlde / and specyally for the mysteryall body our moder holy chyrche / that this truthe of doctryne shyne in the mynystres of holy chyrche / yet specyally I praye the for them all / that thou hase take for to loue in specyall loue / whome thou hase made one with me / for they sholde be my refresshyÌge coÌforte / whan I se them renne by this doctryne vndefouled / and mortyfyed to all theyr owne wylles ¶ And without ony demynge or / sclauÌdrynge / or grutchynge of theyr neyghbours to the worshyp honour of thy holy name ¶ I praye the therfore infynyte loue / that none of theÌ be withdrawe fro thy hondes by the fende of hell / but that they maye come to the / that arte the ende of all theyr laboure ¶ Also I praye that for two pyllers / the whiche be my two ghostly faders / whome thou hase leÌde to me for my kepynge and doctryne of me most wretched and seke fro the begynnyÌge of my lyuyÌge vnto this tyme / that thou make theÌ bothe one of two bodyes one soule / that none of theÌ take hede to none other thynge pryncypally / than for to fulfyll the mynystery of theyr offyces the whiche thou hase put in to theyr hondes for helthe of soules to the worshyp of thy holy name ¶ And I vnworthy moste wretched seruaunte and not a doughter may teÌderly kepe theyr doctryne with du reuerence and holy drede / and that also I maye drede them reuerently for thy loue / that it be to the worshyp / and to theÌ pease and quyetnesse and edyfycacyon of theyr neyghboure ¶ I am ryghte certayne endelesse truthe / that thou shall not dyspyse my desyre / nor my askynges that I haue asked of the / for I knowe well by the shewynge that thou hase shewed to me / and moche more by experyeÌce that thou art accepter taker of holy desyres ¶ Therfore I thy vnworthy seruauÌt shall besy me after the grace that thou hase gyuen me for to kepe thy doctryne byddyÌge ¶ O endeles fader I haue myÌde of thy worde that thou told me / whaÌ thou tolde me certayne thynges of thy ministers of our moder holi chyrche thou sayde that thou wolde tell me more playnly iÌ an other place of theyr wyckednesse that they vse these dayes / wherfore yf it be lykyÌge to thy goodnes / I desyre that thou tell me some what therof / that I maye haue mater therof for to encrese in sorowe compassyon and loÌgynge desyre for the helthe of theyr soules ¶ For as I remembre me nowe / thou sayde that to all those that haue compassyon / peyne / wepynges / sorowes / swetynges / and prayers for synners / thou wolde gracyously refresshe them by reformynge of holy chyrche / with good and holy pastoures or shepeherdes ¶ Therfore bycause al these sholde encrese in me / I aske the and praye the of this thyÌge ¶ How that god beholdeth the besynes of this soule aboute prayer / and answereth to some of her petycyons ¶ Than endelesse god tournynge to her the eye of his mercy / not dyspysynge her desyre / but rather receyuynge and alowynge her askynge / wyllyÌge for to satysfy to the laste petycon that she made of his behestes / sayde thus ¶ O ryghteswete and dere doughter iÌ that that thou hase asked of me / I shall satysfy thy desyre / so that thou be not vpon thy syde ygnoraunte neclygente / for it were more greuous to the and worthy more reprefe / suche ygnoraunce and neclygence now than fyrste / for thou knowes now more of my truthe / than thou knewe than ¶ Besy the therfore for to pray for al reasonable creatures / for the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / and for them whome I haue coÌmytted to the / that thou loue them specyally / that thou be not neclygent for to praye for theÌ / bothe by ensample of lyuynge spekynge by worde / repreuynge vycys / coÌmendynge vertu after thy power ¶ Of those pyllers whome I haue leÌde to the / of whome thou hase tolde me / and sothe it is that they be pyllers ¶ Do so that thou be a mene for to yelde to eche of theÌ after the ablenes of them / as I thy maker shall make open to the / for with out me / thou may nothyÌge do ThaÌ I shall fulfyll thy desyres / therfore loke thou fayle not / nor they neuer in my hope / for in you shal not lacke my prouydence / and eche of theÌ shal receyue that thynge / the whiche he is able for to receyue ¶ And in the same wyse euery mynystre shall receyue that thyÌge that I shall gyue hyÌ for to mynystre / after his maner as he receyueth taketh of my goodnes ¶ In this thyrde chapyter god sheweth to this soule of the dygnyte of preestes / of the sacrament of his holy body / of them that do receyue that sacrament worthyly ¶ Also how all the bodyly wyttes or felynges be dysceyued iÌ that foresayd sacrameÌt / but not the felyÌunges of the soule ¶ Therfore with that felynges or wyttes of the soule that holy sacrament shall be seen / rasted / feled / and of other maters / as it is rehersed before in the kalender Ca. iii. I Shall answere to the of that thou askes me of the mynysters of holy chyrche / that thou may veryly knowe the truthe / open the eye of thy intelleccyon / and beholde the excellence of them in how greate dygnyte I haue sette theym ¶ But bycause a contrary is lyghtly knowe by his contraryte / I wyll shewe the fyrste the dygnyte of them that haue vertuously onely excercysed the tresour that I haue betake to theyr hondes and so by that thou shall the better knowe theyr wretchydnes / that these dayes fede them at the brest of this spouse holy chyrche ¶ Than this deuoute soule for to obeye to his byddynge / dyd beholde coÌtemplatyfely in the sothefastnesse of hym / in the whiche sothefastnesse she sawe vertues shyne / in very tasters
¶ ThaÌ endeles almyghty god sayde to this deuoute soule / dere doughter fyrste I wyll tell the the dygnyte of them in the whiche dygnyte I of my goodnesse haue sette them and ordeyned them / and shewed them loue aboue the generall loue / that I haue to all other creatures / makynge theÌ fyrst as I haue made all other reasonable creatures / to that ymage lykenes of me ¶ And also in the reformynge of theÌ / as I haue reformed all other reasonable creatures / iÌ the precyous blode of my swete sone Ihesu ¶ Also aboue all this I haue sette you in suche excelleÌce by vnyon of my godhed / that I haue to them in maÌkynde / that they haue more excellence dygnyte thaÌ an angell / for youre kynde I haue take vpon me / not that kyÌde of an angell for as I haue sayde to the I god was made man / man was made god / as by vnyon of my dyuyne nature / in youre nature ¶ These thyÌges in generall I haue gyueÌ to euery reasonable creature / but ymoÌges these creatures I haue choseÌ my specyal mynystres for your helthe / that by theÌ maye be mynystred to you the blode of my onely meke and vndefouled lambe Ihesu cryst ¶ To suche I haue gyue the sone for to be mynystred / gyuynge also ther with to them the lyghte of cunnyÌge and the fyre of my dyuyne charyte and also oned with lyght of hete / that is with the blode and the body of my sone / the whiche is one sonne / for it is the same with me / that am very sonne ¶ And in somoche it is oned to me / that the one of vs maye not be departed fro that other / no more than maye the hete of the sonne fro the lyghte / nor the lyghte fro the hete ¶ That sonne is neuer deuyded / yet to all the worlde / and to ony creature that wyll be made warme by hym / it gyueth lyghte / this sonne is neuer defouled / for none vnclennes ¶ In the same wyse my onely sone that is flesshe and blode / is one sonne / all god / and all man / for it is one the same with me / and I with hym / my myghte is neuer departed fro his wysedome / nor the heer of the fyre of the holy ghost is neuer departed fro me the fader / nor fro my sone / for he is one with vs / for the holy ghost goth out fro me the fader / my sone / and not fro the trynyte / and we be one the same sonne ¶ I am the same sonne endeles god / of whome gothe out bothe the sone and the holy ghost also ¶ To the holy ghost fyre is appropryate / to the sone wysedome / in the whiche wysedome my mynystres do receyue a lyght of grace / for that same lyghte is mynystred with lyght / and with kyndenes of benefytes receyued of me endelesse fader / shewynge the doctryne of this wysedome that is of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu ¶ This is the same lyghte / that hathe iÌ hym the colour of youre manheed / the one is knytte with the other / so the lyghte of my godheed was the same onely lyghte with the colour of youre manheed / the whiche colour was man shynynge / whaÌ he was impassyble by vertu of the god heed in dyuyne nature / and that by mene medyacyon of this my onely sothefast sone incarnate / coÌmyxte and medled with the lyghte of my goodheed in dyuyne nature / and with fyre and hete of the holy ghost / ye receyuen lyghte ¶ To whome haue I gyuen that lyghte to be mynystred ¶ Certeynly to my mynysters mynystryÌge in the mysteryal body of holy chyrche / that ye may veryly haue euerlastynge lyfe / I make them for to gyue to you that blessyd body in sacrament of the auter vnto youre ghostly meet / and that blessyd blode in to ghostly drynke ¶ I sayde also to the / that that body maye not begyue without blode / nor blode and body withoute the soule of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / nor soule and body withoute godheed of me endelesse god / for there maye none of all these be departed fro other / for byuyne nature ones knyte to mankynde / maye neuer be departed fro it / nother by dethe nor by yet no other thynge / and so ye receyue all the sencyble beynge of god in that swete sacrament / vnder the whytenesse of breed ¶ And ryghte as the sonne maye not be departed / ryghte so all god and all maÌ in this whytenesse of the blessyd sacrament maye not be departed / thoughe the hoste were deuyded in to a thousande partes / iÌ euery party I am all god and al man / ryghte as a myrrour that is dyuyded / in euery dyuysyoÌ is seen the ymage of a man / and yet the ymage is not deuyded / ryght so this host dyuyded / and yet it is not dyuyded all god and all man / but it is in euery party of it hole and al / nor it is not therfore lessed in it selfe ¶ For ryghte as the lyghte of a candell / to the whiche thoughe all the worlde come for to fetche parte of his lyght / his lyghte is neuerthelesse / and yet eche that fetcheth therof haue al lyght ¶ Neuerthelesse thou maye parceyue that all take not lyght egally / for some take more some lesse / after the mater that the fetcher bryÌgeth with hyÌ / that thou may the better vnderstoÌde mâ / I shal shewe the an ensaÌple ¶ Yf ther were many that bare caÌdels or tapers / some of an ouÌce / some the weyghte of two ouÌces / some of a pouÌde or more / al sholde go fetche lyghte with theyr tapers / thou wolde saye thou sawe theym all bere lyght / hete / and colour / and yet neuerthelesse thou wolde deme that he bate lesse lyght in his taper of an ounce / than he that bare the canof a poude ¶ In the same wyse it happeth of theÌ that do receyue this sacrament and bere theyr candeles / that is theyr holy desyre / by the whiche holy desyre this sacrament is receyued / the whiche caÌdell of holy desyre is quenched in it selfe / and by receyuynge of this holy sacramente / it is extyncte and quenched as I se it in it selfe for of youre selfe you be noughte ¶ Neuerthelesse I gyue you mater / by the whiche ye maye receyue and noryshe in yourselfe this lyghte ¶ This mater is nothynge elles / but loue / for pure of loue I haue made you / and therfore without loue ye maye not lyue ¶ This essencyall beynge gyuen to you by loue receyueth dysposycyon in the holy baptym / the whiche baptym / ye dyd receyue in that vertu of the blessyd sacrament of my onely sothefast sone for in none other wyse ye maye take parte of that lyghte that is reherced
before but rather ye sholde be lyke to a candell without wyke / that in no wyse maye brenne / nor receyue that lyghte within hym ¶ In the same wyse / yf you do not receyue in youre soule the wyke that receyueth this lyghte / the whiche is called the lyght of very fey the / and also be not come to that grace / the whiche ye dyd receyue in the holy baptym / with affeccyoÌ of youre soule / formed and abled by me for to loue / the whiche affeccyon is so apte for to loue / that wtout loue it maye not lyue / for loue is his meet ¶ But where catcheth suche a soule lyght so oned / as I haue sayde ¶ Certayne at the fyre of my dyuyne charyte / louynge me dredynge me / and suynge the doctryne of my onely sothefaste truthe ¶ Neuertheles as I sayd some do catche more lyghte / and some lesse / after the mater that he bereth / and gyueth to the fyre ¶ For thoughe all ye haue one mater / that is bycause ye be all made and create / and formed to the ymage of me ¶ And that also ye haue receyued the lyghte of holy baptym / and so be made crysten men / eche of you maye encrese in loue and vertu as it is plesauÌte and lykynge to my grace for to gyue you ¶ Not for to chaunge the shappe and forme that I haue gyueÌ you / but that ye make encrese / and that vertues maye growe in you by loue / vsynge in youre vertu fre choys / and vsynge also affeccyon of charyte / so in loue ye maye encrese as it is reherced with the whiche loue / ye sholde come for to receyue that swete and gloryous lyghte / the whiche I haue gyue to you for to be mynystred / by mene of my mynysters that I haue gyuen to you / in to youre ghostly meet / and ye receyue somoche of that ghostly lyghte / as you bere of loue and holy desyre / and thoughe it so be as I sayde the ye receyue all the lyghte by ensample as I shewed to you by them that bare tapers that after the quantyte of the weyghte / so they dyd receyue lyghte lesse or more / all be it thou se hole lyghte in eche of those tapers / not dyuyded / for that maye not be for no maner of imparfeccyoÌ of you / nother of the receyuer nor of the mynystre / but ye take asmoche of that lyghte in you that is of grace / whiche ye receyue in this sacramente / as ye dyspose you for to receyue by holy desyre ¶ And yf ony go to this blessyd sacrament with trespas of deedly synnes / he shall in nowyse receyue grace of it / all thoughe he receyue actually all god and all maÌ in the same sacrament / as it is before sayde ¶ Wyll thou knowe how suche a soule stondeth that receyueth this sacrament vnworthely ¶ It stondeth lyke a caÌdle / in the whiche water is fall / the whiche neuer ceseth to crye make noyse / as loÌge as the water toucheth the fyre in the wyke / as soone as the water is fully entred iÌ to the wyke / it is quenched is lost / than is no fyre iÌ it / but onely smoke ¶ In the same wyse the soule bereth iÌ herselfe a caÌdell of gracyous lyght / that it receyued in the sacrament of holy baptym / in to the whiche soule entreth water of synne / and quencheth the wyke of lyght of gracyous baptym / where it waxeth vndysposed / and so vnchaufed at the fyre of very contrycyon / she is confessed generally of al her synnes / and in that wyse she gothe to the auter for to receyue that blessyd sacrament actually / and not meÌtally ¶ Thus this very gracyous lyghte dwelleth not in a soule vndefouled by grace / that dysposeth her not as the sholde dyspose her to suche a worthy sacrameÌt but it gothe awaye / than in suche a soule dwelleth and abydeth ryght greate confusyon shaiue by greatenes of the synne / after tyme that lyght is so queÌched / for of that blessyd sacrament suche a sole feleth none other thynge / but onely cryenge noyse by remors of conscyence / not for defaute that is in the lyghte / for that maye in no wyse be hurte / but for defaute that is in the water whiche is founde in the soule / and letteth affeccyon of the soule / in suche maner that the soule maye not receyue this gracyous lyghte ¶ And thus thou knowes well / that in no wyse this lyghte maye be departed / fro the hete and coloure of the same lyghte / nother for the lytell desyre that the soule hathe in receyuynge of this sacrament / nother for defaute that is iÌ the soule the whiche receyueth it / nor also of hyÌ that mynystreth it / as I haue tolde the by ensample of the sonne / that thoughe it shyne vpoÌ a foule thyÌge / yet it is not therby defyled ¶ In the same wyse this ryght well byloued lyghte in this blessyd sacrament in no wyse maye be defouled / nor deuyded nor lessed ¶ I sayde also that that lyghte of the sofie maye not be deêted fro his spere / though al the worlde take bothe lyghte and hete of hym ¶ In that same wyse this blessyd body the sacrament of the auter / my blessyd onely sothefaste sone / that very sonne maye not be departed fro me the sonne that am endelesse fader / thoughe all it be mynystred by the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / to what reasonable creature that wyll receyue it / but rather it is all hole / it is all receyued bothe god and maÌ as I gaue the ensample by lyghte / wher I sayd / thoughe all the worlde toke lyghte of thy candell / yet is thy lyght neuer that lesse / but it is all hole / and neuerthelesse al receyue it hole ¶ How all the bodyly wyttes or felynges be dysceyued iÌ the foresayde sacrament / but not the felynges of the soule / therfore with felynges wyttes of the soule that holy sacrament shall be seen / tasted / and feled / and here of is a vysyon whiche this deuoute soule dyd se within this mater folowynge DEre doughter open the eye of thy intelleccyon for to se that depenes of my charyte / for ther is no reasonable creature but that he sholde melte dyssolue his herte by affeccyon of loue / yf ymonges al other benefytes the whiche he receyueth of me / he beholde worthely to the benefyte that he receyueth in this blessyd sacrament of the auter ¶ And with what eye dere doughter sholde thou other beholde / se / touche / parceyue this blessyd mystery Not onely with touchynge and syghte of the body / for all the bodyly felynges and wyttes fayle iÌ that sacrament / thy bodyly eye seeth nothynge / but whytenesse of breed / the same
neuer / that nother to theÌ nor to theyr subiectes shall fayle temporall substauÌce / in asmoche as they do lyue ymonge them / with very mekenesse / hope / feythe / therfore with largenesse they do departe to the poore men / the temporall substauÌce of holi chyrche ¶ And so they dyd kepe to the full / that y they sholde kepe do / for asmoche as they dyd departe the temporall substauÌce of holy chyrche to the nede and necessyte of pore meÌ iÌ holy chyrche ¶ They dyd not kepe no tresour of temporal goodes / for to departe to poore men after theyr dysceyses ¶ But there were many of them that for largenesse that they dyd to poore meÌ / lefte theyr chyrches in dette / and that was for the greate charyte and hope that they had in my prouydeÌce ¶ They auoyded fro them all seruyle drede / and therfore they were aferde of no lackynge / nother spyrytual nor temporall ¶ This is a very token that my creature hopeth in me and not in hyÌselfe / in asmoche as he dredeth not by seruyle drede / but all suche that hopeÌ in themselfe / dredeÌ theyr owne shadowe / and euer they thynke that heuen and erthe wyll fayle theym ¶ With that drede and that wycked hope that they put in theyr lytel felynge / they take so grete wretched besynes vpon them in gettynge of remporal goodes and in kepynge therof / that they put behynde them as it semed all ghostly goodes / vnneth is ther ony fouÌde that chargeth those goodes ¶ But suche proude vnfeythful wretches / thynke not alone that I am he that prouyde and ordeyne for all in dewe tymes bothe for bodyes soules / though it so be that with the same mesure y they hope wtin me / with the same shall be yelde to you my prouydence godly ordynaunce ¶ All suche presumptuous wretches beholde not veryly / that I am he that am / they be they that be not / here beynge they receyue of my endelesse goodnesse / and they receyue therto grace aboue their beyÌge ¶ And therfore he laboreth in vayne that kepeth his Cyteâ / but it were kepe with me for me / all his labour is in vayne / yf he thynke by his laboure or desynes for to defende hyÌselfe withoute me / for I am he alone that kepeth hyÌ sothe it is that the beynge and the grace that is set aboue the beynge of you / I wyll that in tyme ye excercyce it in vertu / vsynge fre choyse that I haue gyueÌ you with lyghte of reason / for I haue made you without you / but without you I maye not saue you ¶ I loued you or that ye were / and that my well beloued mynynsters do knowe saye ryght well ¶ Wherfore woÌderly of the loue that they had with so greate largenesse they dyd hope in me / and they had no drede in nothynge ¶ Syluester dredde not whaÌ he stode before the emperoure Constantyne / dysputynge with the twelue Iewes before a greate company / but by feythe he byleued as longe as I was with hym / ther myght none be agaynst hym / all my other mynysters dyd after the same maner ¶ They were neuer alone / but they hadde the felyshyp of me / in asmoche as they dyd stonde and dwell in me by loue of charyte / and of me they soughte the lyght of wysdome / that is of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu ¶ Of me in sothe they dyd take myghte / and beynge stroÌge myghty agaynste prynees and tyrauntes of the worlde / also of me they had the fyre of the holy ghost ¶ This loue in them was and is felyshypped to hâm that wyll parte with other / with lyght of feythe / with hope / streÌgthe / with very pease / with loÌge êseuerauÌce / in to the last ende of that dethe ¶ Thus thou may knowe that they be not alone but they be felyshypped and therfore they be not aferde ¶ Onely he that feleth hymselfe without me hopynge in hymselfe and depryued fro the loue of charyte dredeth / and euery lytel thyÌge maketh hym aferde / in asmoche as he is depryued fro me / whiche gyue grete sykernes to suÌthe a soule namely that hathe me by affeccyon of loue ¶ They proue this wel that be my wel beloued chyldreÌ / there maye nothyÌge noye theyr soules / but they themsefe noye fendes / and ofteÌ tymes they be lefte bouÌde / may not complete the malyce / for the vertu and streÌgthe that I haue gyuen to them / to worke vpoÌ suche fendes ¶ Thy tongue is not suffycyent to tel the vertues of them / nor the eye of thy intelleccyon for to beholde the fruyte that they receyue in euer lastyÌge lyfe ¶ They be as precious stones / and so they dwell in my syghte / for I haue receyued theyr labour / and the lyghte that they haue sende in with odour of vertu in to the mysteryall body of my spouse holy chyrche / and therfore I haue set theÌ in endelesse lyfe the neuer shall fayle / and in greate dygnyte ymonge the ordres of angels ¶ And they also receyue blessydnes and ioy in my meruaylous syght / for they gaue ensample of honest lyuynge / and with lyghte they dyd mynystre the lyghte of my onely sothefaste sones body blode / and also other sacramentes ¶ And therfore syngulerly they be moche loued of me / not onely bycause they haue mynystred my tresoure with mekenesse all other vertues whiche I haue put iÌ theyr hondes / but bycause they dyd cease neuer to reduce and brynge in beestes that were loste to the felde of holy chyrche / as good shepeherdes or curates sholde do ¶ For they dyd dyspose them for hoÌgre and helthe of soules / by affeccyon of loue to dye for soules / that they myght therby pull out soules out of the fendes daunger ¶ They were seke with seke men / that they sholde not fall to dyspayre / they dyd wepe also with wepers / ioyed with ioyers ¶ And so swetely they do couet to gyue to eche soule meet of his helth by coÌpassyon ioyfulnesse / conseruynge them that were good by ioyenge of theyr vertuous lyuynge / confortynge them therin / they freted not themselfe not with enuy for theyr owne good lyuynge / but they were large in charyte to me and to all theyr subiectes / and they that were enfected / they drewe out charytably of theyr defautes / makynge theÌselfe vertuously ful of fautes / seke with theÌ as I haue sayd before so with holy and very coÌpassyon / with charytable correccyon and penaunce for theyr defautes / they bare penaunce with them / that is for the loue that they had to theyr soules / they bare more peyne on themselfe by compassyon than they dyd receyue of them / and somtyme ther were some of theÌ that wolde bere the same
/ for thou fulfylles it with wyckednesse and dyshoneste of lyuyÌge ¶ The eye of thy intelleccyon thou sholde put full of lyghte of feythe vpon the passyon of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryst whose mynyster thou arte made / thou before hym hase set delyces rychesse of the worlde with wretched vanyte ¶ Thy affeccyoÌ sholde onely loue me without ony other / thou hase sette wretchedly for to loue creatures and thy owne body / and so thou loues beestly thynges more thaÌ me ¶ What is that cause of this ¶ Certayne the propre vnpasyence that thou hase to me / what thynge that I take awaye / that thyÌge that thou loues more than me ¶ And also the dysplesaunce that thou hase to thy neyghboure / whan it semeth to the that thou does receyue some teÌporall harme of hym / and so thou hase hym in hate and blaspheme / goynge awaye fro my charyte ¶ O vnhappy wretche thou arte made mynyster of the fyre of my dyuyne charyte / and thou for thy owne propre mysruled delectacyons and for one harme that thou receyues of thy neyghboure / thou does lose that mynystracyoÌ Â¶ O dere doughter this is one of those thre wretched pyllers that I haue rehersed before ¶ How that auaryce reygneth in wycked mynysters in lenynge to vsury / and specyally in byenge and sellynge of benefyces and prelaces / of moche euyll that hathe come in to holy chyrche for his couetyse NOw shall I tell the of the secunde that is of auaryce / for that thyÌge whiche my sone gaue in greate largenesse / that is al his blessyd body hangynge vpon that crosse full of turmeÌtes and peynes / where as my blessyd lambe ryghte largely shedde his moste precyous blode / thus my swete laÌbe payde the rauÌsome of mankynde / with no golde nor syluer / but with that precyous blode ¶ And yet not halfe the worlde he rauÌsomed / but all the worlde / bothe they that be passed / they that be present / and they that be to come / and yet he gaue you not onely his blode / but also he gaue you fyre of breÌnyÌge loue / for he gaue hymselfe to you by the fyre of brennynge loue / and yet not onely his precyous blode and the fyre of brennynge loue / without my dyuyne nature ¶ For the nature of the godheed was and is parfytely owned to the nature of manheed / yf that blode so oned with the largenesse of dyuyne loue hathe made the a mynyster / and thou with so grete couetyse and auaryce that thynge whiche my sone gate on the crosse that is soules raunsomed with so greate loue and that also he hathe graunted the that thou sholde be a specyall mynyster of that blode / thou does sel by suche couetyse the grace of the holy ghost / makynge thy subiectes to by of the that thou hase frely receyued of me ¶ Thou hase not dysposed thy throte for to wynÌe soules by techyÌge but to deuoure soules by monye takyÌge / and thou arte made so strayte in charyte of that thynge the whiche thou hase take in so greate largenesse that thou may nother receyue me by grace / nor thy neyghbour by loue ¶ The substauÌce of temporall goodes that thou receyues by vertu of the blode / thou receyues it largely ¶ And thou auarycyous wretche does good to none but to thy selfe yet not to thy selfe / but as a thefe worthy endelesse peyne does robbe the goodes of thy moder holy chyrche and the goodes of poore men / also thou spendes it vycyously with women and dyshonest men / and in delyces / and with thy kynred / and also there with thou noryshes thy chyldren ¶ O you vyle wretches where be youre chyldren of vertu that ye sholde haue vnder your gouernauÌce / wher is youre feruent charyte with the whiche ye sholde mynyster / where is also the greate desyre of my honour and helthe of soules that ye sholde haue / where is that greate and dole full sorowe that ye sholde haue for to se the wolfe of hell to bere awaye thy shepe ¶ There is none in thy strayte herte thou couetous wretche nother loue of me nor of them / thou alone loues thyselfe with thy owne sencyble loue / with the whiche loue thou enuenymes thyselfe other ¶ Thou arte that wycked spyryte and fende of hell that deuoures theÌ with mysruled loue / thy throte desyreth no other / and therfore thou takes no thoughte thoughe the inuysyble deuyll bere theÌ away ¶ Thou thyselfe arte a very instrument for to sende them to the inuysyble deuyl of hell ¶ Of the goodes of thy moder the holy chyrche / thou delycately arayes thyselfe and other synfull and wretched lyuers with âhe / and thou byes grete horses more for lust than for nede / there as thou sholde haue them for nede / and not for lust ¶ These lustes worldely meÌ do vse / but lustes sholde be for to fede and araye the poore men / and for vysyte the seke men / helpynge all suche peple in theyr nedes bothe ghostly and bodyly / for I haue ordeyned the a mynyster for none other / nor gyuen the suche a dygnyte / but for theÌ Â¶ But bycause thou arte become a wylde beest / therfore thou settes thy ioy in suche beestes thou sees not but thou arte blynde and wyll not se the tourment that is ordeyned for the. ¶ Thou sholde amende the wretche / and sorowe that thou hase thus bone / and so ameÌde the. ¶ Sees thou not dere doughter what wretchednesse reygneth ymoÌge these wretched synners what shall I more saye ¶ I sayde to the that some of theÌ lene to vsury not for to beyholde open vsurers but in many subtyll wyses by theyr couetyse / for selden tymes to theyr neyghbours they lende of theyr goodes / the whiche in no wyse is lawfull to be vsed ¶ Yf it were a gyfte of lytell valu / and he with entent receyueth it for a prys aboue the loue that he hathe lent it hym it is vsury and so of all other thynges that he receyueth in the meane whyle with suche entent ¶ I haue ordeyned hym for to forbydde leculers fro that synne / and he dothe the same / moreouer yf one come to hym for to aske couÌseyle of his mater / bycause he is gylty in the same and hathe loste therby the lyghte of reason / he gyueth derke counseyle of the same passyon that he feleth in his soule of the same mater ¶ These and many other defautes do sprynge of suche streyte couetous hertes / it maye be sayde of theÌ the worde that my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu sayde whan he wente in to the teÌple where he founde sellers and byers / and he bette them out with scourges sayenge thus to theÌ my house shall be called a house of prayer / ye make it a denne of theues ¶ Thou sees well doughter that
not to kepe a hounde that sholde berke agaynst the wolfe that cometh to the shepe / but suche one he holdeth in kepynge as he is ¶ And so these mynysters and shepeherdes be that cause that they haue no besynesse themselfe aboute theÌ / they wyll not haue the hounde of conscyence / nor the state of ryghtewysenesse / nor the rodde of coÌreccyon it is no wonder for theyr owne conscyence wyll not barke agaynste theyr owne defautes / and therfore they can not well vndernyme theyr subiectes that be spred a brode in mysse ruled lyuyÌge / wherfore the hell wolfe deuoureth theym ¶ Yf they wolde suffer the hounde of conscyence to barke / and they to take theyr defautes vpoÌ them with the staffe of holy ryghtwysenesse / they sholde auoyde theyr shepe out of the deuyls crouches / and brynge them home agayne to the folde / but bycause suche shepeherdes be without the roodde and hounde of barkynge conscyence / theyr shepe do peryshe / it is no wonder thoughe the hounde of theyr conscyence barke not / for he is made feble for defaute of meet ¶ The meet that sholde be gyueÌ to this hounde of conscyence / sholde be the meet of my vndefouled lambe Ihesu cryst / for yf the mynde be full of his precyous bloode / the conscyence is fedde therw t / that is for mynde of that blode the soule is strengthed to hate vyces / and for to loue vertues / whiche hate whiche loue do puryfy the soule fro the fylthe of deedly synÌe / it gyueth so greate strengthe to the coÌscyence that is noryshed therby / that as soone as ony enemy of the soule whiche is synne wyll enter in / anone the conscyence as an hounde barketh agaynst it eycyteth reason to helpe hyÌ for to do ryghtwysenesse agaynst hym / for he that hathe coÌscyence hathe ryghtwysenesse / therfore all suche vnworthy mynysters the whiche be worthy to be called vnreasonable creatures for they be lyke to beestes in theyr lyuyÌge / it may not be sayde of theÌ that they haue the hounde of coÌscyence / nor the staffe of ryghtwysenesse / nor the that rodde of correccyon / for they haue somoche fere / that they be afrayde of eueri shadowe not for holy drede but seruyle drede ¶ And that cause is that they be encuÌbred with theyr owne mysse lyuynge / they sholde dyspose them to dethe / for to delyuer theyr shepe fro the feÌdes hoÌdes / they theÌselfe feÌde theÌ to the fende / not gyuyÌge theÌ doctrine of good lyuyÌge / nor they wyll not suffer one worde of wroÌge for theÌ / oftetymes it happeth that the soule of his subiecte is encuÌbred with ryght greuous synnes / he taketh no hede to the / but to his householde / he ordeyneth rather the another wretched preest shall here the confessyon of suche a troubled soule thaÌ he hyÌselfe / whiche hathe the charge therof ¶ O what wretched leche is he to whom is coÌmytted the cure of soules / wyll not do his dewte / he shold lyue that he myght fulfyll his dewte ymoÌge his subiectes / but suche a wretche hathe fere to do his dewte / other for a worde that is sayde to hym of wreÌge / or for drede / or suche other that he dare not fulfyll his charge / so that what for drede what for dysplesauÌre / he shall leue that soule in that deuyls hondes armes / and dare not saye hym the sothe / in that wyse shall he take hym the body and the blode of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / and veryly seeth he that / that he is not losed fro that derkenesse of deedly synnes / and yet neuerthelesse for plesauÌce of worldely men / and for a mysse ruled drede / or for some gyfte / or by the queste that he receyueth of hym / he mynystreth to hym the sacrament / and yet ther to he buryeth the same cursed man in holy chyrche with grete worshyp / where they sholde rather throwe hyÌ out as a beest / or as a membre cut fro the mysteryall body of holy chyrche ¶ Who is cause of this ¶ Certayne proper loue / and the hornes of pryde / for yf they dyd loue me aboue al thyÌges / also the soule of that wretche for me / they themselfe also were meke / than without seruyle drede / they wolde be dylygent aboute the helthe of that wretched soule ¶ Sees thou not what euylles do folowe these thre vyces / whome I put to the as thre pyllers / of whome all other synnes do come / that is pryde / coueryse / and vnclennesse / bothe of theyr bodyes and vf theyr soules / thy ere 's be not suffycyent to here those euylles that do come of these thre pyllers / as they dyd come fro the deuylles meÌbres / for pryde they do many dyshonestes moche couetysenesse / as somtyme thou dyd knowe to whom suche thynges dyd happe / thou knowes wel somtyme ther were certayne parsones of good feythe and of good lyuynge / whiche were taryed in theÌ selfe with certayne dredes / wenyÌge that they had in theÌ a wycked spyryte / they comen to a wretched preest / supposynge to be delyuered there of by his counseyle / and he as a couetous man receyueth gyftes of theÌ / also as a dyshonest wretched maÌ spake to theÌ of dyshonest wretched lynnes sayeÌge thus to them this defaute the ye fuffre maye not be heled but iÌ suche a wyse so wolde wretchedly haue do cursed synne with theÌ Â¶ O deuyll aboue all deuyls / in all thyÌges thou arte worse thaÌ a deuyll ¶ There be many deuylles that hate that synne / thou that arte worse thaÌ he walowes therin / as a hogge in that myre ¶ O vnclene beest / is it the thynge that I aske of the / I ordeyned the tor to put out deuyls out of soules by the vertu of my sones blode / but thou puttes in deuyls ¶ Sees thou not wretche how the axe of my ryghtewysenesse is sette at the roote of thy tree ¶ One thyÌge I saye to the / that suche thynges sholde stoÌde to the to vsury / for one tyme shall be that I shall aske the bothe of mysspeÌdyÌge of thy tyme of thy place but yf thou amende the punyshe thy wyckednesse here with penauÌce coÌtrycyon of herte I shal not spare the thoughe thou be a preest / but more wretchedly shall thou be punyshed / and greater peyne shall be putte to the / more cruelly than to other ¶ Than loke thou whether thou can put awaye the deuyll fro the / with the deuyll of couetyse ¶ Ther was also another wretche / yet is suche to whome creatures the be bounde in deedly synne come to for to be assoyled and losed of those synnes / they bynde theÌ faster iÌ some other synne lyke them or greater / with newe fyndynges and wayes of
bothe coÌsyeÌce fre choyse togyder / knewe well ynoughe by lyght of iÌtelleccyoÌ / who was his frende who was his enemy ¶ To the freÌde that is to vertuous and holy thoughtes of the herte they gaue loue affeccyon of loue / excercysynge theÌ with greate ghostly besynesse ¶ And to the enemy that is to vyces shrewde thoughtes / they gaue hate dysplesaunce / and with the swerde of loue / hate / and with the lyght of reason / and the hoÌde of fre choyse / they smyte myghtely theyr enemyes / so that afterwarde in the poynt of of dethe / the conscyence freteth not hyÌselfe / for he hathe made good kepynge / and so stoÌdeth iÌ peas / neuertheles a soule of mekenesse vndernymeth hymselfe in the tyme of dethe / for that tyme he knoweth clerely the tresour of his tyme / and the precyous ghostly stones of vertu / consderyÌge than the he hathe excercysed that tyme ryghtely tell / yet that is no peyne that tourmenteth hym / but it is a peyne that impugneth hym / for it maketh the soule to gader all hole in to herselfe / puttynge before her the blode of the meke and vndefouled laÌbe my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / and he turneth hyÌ not to his vertues that he hathe vsed before / for he wyl not nor he may not hope in his vertues / but onely in that blode / iÌ the whiche he fyndeth my mercy / and as he hathe lyued in his lyfe / hauyÌge myÌde of my blode so in his dethe / he shall be fulfylled with the same / made drunke ther with / and he forsaketh than hyÌselfe in that blode ¶ Fendes maye not than vndernyme hym of synnes / for the malyce of them he ouercame in his lyfe with wysedome / yet they came for to se hym / yf they myght thaÌ ony thynge wynne / and of them cometh in a maÌnes dethe horryble syghtes to make hym afrayde with theyr foule lokynge / and with many dyuers fantases ¶ But bycause in the soule is no venyme of synÌe / theyr lokyÌge shall in no wyse make theÌ afrayde / as they shall make suche afrayde the haue lyued in the worlde wyckedly ¶ Whan the fendes do se that suche a soule is entred in to crystes blode with feruent charyte they maye not suffre that / but they stonde all a fer throwynge to the soule dattes / yet theyr batayle / theyr warre / theyr greate cryes maye not noye it / bycause the soule begynneth to taste endelesse lyfe in heuen / for with the eye of intellecyon / he hathe the clere lyght of holy feythe / that is me that am his infynyte good / whiche he hopeth to haue of grace not of dewte but in the vertu of my sones blode shed in his passyon / and therfore the same soule spredeth out his armes of hope / and with the hoÌdes of loue clyppeth that bolde to hyÌ / entrynge in to the possessyon therof / or than he be therin ¶ Howmoche galdnes trowes thou receyueth than a soule that seeth hymselfe parfytely come to this peas / for he tasteth of the good of angels kynde / and ryghte as he lyued in charytable fraternyte with his neyghboure / ryght so he than receyueth the good of all trewe tasters fo charyte / eche of theÌ with other / generally all suche as do passe oute of this worlde so swetely / receyuen this thynge ¶ But my mynysters of whome I tolde / the whiche dyd lyue as angels iÌ erthe / they receyue of it moche more / for iÌ this lyfe they dyd lyue with more knowlege and with more honger of my worshyp helthe of soules ¶ I saye not that they do receyue onely of the lyghte of vertu purely whiche generally al maye haue but these had the lyghte of of cunnynge added to the lyght of vertuous lyuynge / the whiche is a lyghte aboue kynde / by the whiche cunnynge they knowe more of my truthe / and he that moche knoweth moche loueth / he the moche loueth more receyueth Your mede is mesured to you after the mesure of loue / for one that hathe no cuÌnynge this is not comunely sayde of all but of certayne specyall folke / and yet they receyue more worthynesse by state of theyr preestheed / for properly to them it is gyuen for to hoÌger soules for my worshyp thoughe it longeth to all in generall for all sholde stoÌde in the dewe loue of charyte of neyghbourheed ¶ But these that be my mynysters / is gyuen mynystracyon of my sones precyous blode and geuernaunce of soules / all suche that be so besy with affeccyon of vertu / sholde receyue more thaÌ other ¶ O how blessyd be theyr soules whaÌ they come to the poynt of dethe / for they were shewers and defenders of the feythe for theyr neyghbours ¶ Also they haue incorporate the same feythe in the pythe of theyr soules / with the whiche feythe they se theyr places in me ¶ The hope also that they lyuen with / hopynge in my prouydence / losynge the hope of theyr owne truste / that is not hopynge in theyr owne proper conceyte / by the whiche losse of theyr owne truste / they sette no ordynate affeccyon in no maner creature / nor in no maner create thyÌge / for they do lyue ryght poore wylfully / wherfore that same blessyd hope they dyd extende to me with greate delyte ¶ The herte also of them whiche is a vessell of loue that bare my name aboute with ryght feruent and brennynge charyte / techynge and prechynge bothe with ensample of good and holy lyuynge and doctryne to his neyghboure / aryseth with meruaylous loue / and clyppeth me with affeccyon of loue that am his ende / bryngynge to me the Margaryte stone of ryghtewysenesse / for euer he bare that precyous ghostly stone before hym / doynge to euery creature ryghtwysenesse / and yeldynge his dewte dyscretely / and therfore he yeldeth to me with very mekenesse ryghtwysenesse / he yeldeth also ioy presyÌge to my name / to hymselfe he yeldeth indygnacyon / holdynge hymselfe vnworthy to receyue so greate grace ¶ His conscyence also yeldeth to me good wytnesse / I yelde to hym the corowne of ryghtewysenesse arayed and set with Margaryte stones of vertu / that is of the fruyte that his charyte drewe out of vertu ¶ O erthely angell all this is good to the / for thou was neuer vnkynde of the benefytes that thou receyued of me / nor thou was neuer ygnorauÌte nor neclygent / but besyly with very lyghte thou hadde the eye of thy intelleccyon open vpon thy subiectes / and as a trewe and a maÌly shepeherde thou folowes the doctryne of the very shepeherde Ihesu cryste my onely sothefaste sone and lambe / and therfore thou goes by hym all bathed in his blode with the flocke of thy beestes / whome by thy holy lyuynge and techyÌge many of them thou base
i veâât iÌ noiÌedât THan the moste souerayne and endeles fader with his meruailoê° benygnyte tourned his heed of mekenesse to that soule / shewynge her that his prouydence neuer sayled to man / yf he wyll receyue it / shewynge in this wyse to her / with a swete couplynge sayenge thus ¶ O my dere doughter / lyke as I haue sayde to the in manye places / I wyll shewe mercy to the worlde / prouyde to euery reasonable creature in all his nedes ¶ But an ygnoraunte man taketh that to dethe that I gyue hym for lyfe / so he is cruell to hymselfe / and yet I wyl prouyde for hym / for I wyl that thou knowe it / that what that euer I gyue to man it is of my souerayne prouydeÌce / for with my prouydence / I made hym of noughte ¶ It lyked me and dyspleased me for to make hym with grete prouydence / to the ymage and lykenesse of me / by the whiche I pro uyded so for hym / that I gaue hym myÌde for to kepe and thynke on my benefytes / so to make hym partetaker of the myghte of me endelesse fader ¶ I gaue hym also intelleccyoÌ / that in the wysedome of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / he myght vnderstonde and knowe the wyll of me endelesse fader / that haue gyuen hyÌ grace with so grete fyre of loue ¶ I gaue hyÌ also wyl for to loue the myldenesse of the holy ghoste / that he myght the better loue that thynge / whiche intelleccyon seeth knoweth ¶ All this hathe my prouydence done / onely that he myghte be partetaker and able for to receyue the grace of vnderstondynge and tastynge of me / and so ioyenge of my endelesse goodnes in euerlastyÌge blysse ¶ And I haue tolde the in many places before that heuen was shytte for the synne of Adam / the whiche knewe not his owne dygnyte / consyderynge nothynge with what prouydence and meruaylous loue I made hyÌ of nought ¶ Wherfore he fell by suche ygnoraunce in to inobedyence / and fro inobedyence to vnclennesse / by pryde plesaunce of women / rather wyllynge for to coÌdescende to please his felowe / in gyuynge to her credence of that she sayd / than for to obeye to my byddynge / so he condescended rather to breke my byddynge / that for to make her fory ¶ And thus by this inobedyence came al maner euyll / al ye that haue take of that venym / of the whiche inobedyence I shall tell the in another place how perylous it is / in coÌmendynge of very obedyeÌce ¶ And for bycause this dethe sholde be take awaye fro man / I prouyded gaue to you my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste with greate prudence and prouydence / so to prouyde to youre nede ¶ I saye that I dyd it with prudence / for with the meet of your maÌheed / and the hoke of my godheed / I toke the deuyll whiche myghte not knowe my truthe / whiche truthe that is my onely sone came for to dystroy his lesynge / wherwith he dysceyued man / and therfore in that I dyd vse gâete prudeÌce prouideÌce ¶ ThyÌke dere doughter that more myghte I not vse / thaÌ for to gyue you my sone / to hyÌ also I gaue a greate obedyeÌce / that I myghte pull awaye that venym whiche fell to mankynde by in obedyeÌce ¶ Therfore he as a louer that is rauyshed / and as a very obedyent lambe ranne to the most shamefull dethe of the crosse / and with that dethe / he gaue you lyfe / not in the vertu of his manheed / but in the vertu of his godheed / whiche for satysfaccyon of synÌe that was done agaynst me / whiche am infynyte good / requyred a satysfaccyon infynyte that is to saye for that mankynde whiche had offended and was fynyte / sholde be oned with an infynyte / so to satysfy infynytely / to me that am infynyte ¶ And as ofte as a man offendeth / yfhe wyll tourne to me in his lyfe / he shall fynde euer parfyte satysfaccyoÌ Â¶ This is done by my prouydence that is to saye for bycause the peyne that my sone suffered on the crosse was infynyte / therfore ye receyue infynytely by vertu of the godheed ¶ Thus prouyded the infynyte endelesse prouydence of me god the fader in euerlastyÌge trynyte for to araye man / after tyme that he hadde loste his arayment of innosency / and so was made naked fro al vertu / and peryshed for hoÌger / and dyed for colde in this lyfe / so was subiecte to all wretchednesse ¶ The gate of heuen was locked / and of heue he lost al his hope / for yf he myght haue hadde hope / it hadde be to hyÌ a greterefresshynge in his lyfe / but he hadde it not / therfore he stodeââ greate afflyccyoÌ Â¶ I therfore with my seuorayne prouydeÌce prouyded a remedy to this necessyte / not coacte nor coÌstrayned by youre ryghtewysenes nor by youre vertues / but of my owne goodnesse ¶ I gaue you rayment by meane of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / whiche vnarayed hymselfe fro lyfe / and arayed you with innosency and grace / whiche innosency grace ye dyd receyue in holy baptym by vertu of his blode / for that baptym wasshed awaye the spotte of orygynall synne / in the whiche ye be conceyued / takynge it oâ your fader and moder / and therfore my prouydence hathe prouyded to you that same remedy of baptym / to putte awaye the spotte / not with peyne of body / as it was vsed in the olde lawe whan chyldren were cyrcumsysed / but with swetenes of holy baptym / so is man arayed ¶ Also I made hym warme by the fyre of charyte / whiche was shewed to you by the holes of my sones woundes / whiche was couered with the clothynge of youre manheed ¶ Whether the this myght not make warme the colde herte of mankynde / that by obstynacy is made colde / and blynde by his owne proper loue / yet maye it yf he wyll forfake the loue of hymselfe / loue me ¶ My prouydeÌce also hath gyuen hym ghostly meet for to comforte hyÌ / as loÌge as he is in this lyfe a pylgrym / as I haue tolde the in another place ¶ I haue also made his ghostly enemyes feble / for none maye dysease hym but he hymselfe And what meet is this As I haue tolde the before / it is the body and the blode of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed / all god all maÌ / meet of angels meet of lyfe / suche meet as fulfylleth that ghostly honger / of suche that delyte to ete of that meet ¶ That meet muste be receyued in ghostly gladnesse and delectacyon / with the mouthe of holy desyre / and tasted by loue ¶ Thus thou maye se that of my good godly prouydence I haue prouyded to hym coÌfortacyon in his pylgrymage of
this lyfe ¶ How that god prouyded to gyue hope in his creatures / and how he that moste parfytely hopeth / moste tasteth the prouydeÌce of god ¶ Forthermore I haue gyuen to hym refresshynge of hope / yf he be holde with lyghte of very feythe that pryce of my sones blode / whiche was payed for to gyue hym stydfast hope and sykernesse of helthe / and that shame and reprefe that cryste Ihesu suffered in his passyon is his worshyp ¶ For yf he in all the lymmes of his body offended me / as anendes that for a remedy / my blessyd swete sone iÌ all his body suffered greuous tourmente ¶ And also with his obedyence he releued youre inobedyence / of whose obedyence ye haue all take grace / and for inobedyence / al ye haue take and receyued synne ¶ This is grauÌted and prouyded by my prouydence / was fro the begynnyÌge of that worlde vnto this daye / and shall be vnto that laste daye / euer for to ordeyne a remedy to youre necessytes / and to that helthe of mankynde / by dyuers and sundry wyses / as I that am a very ryghtewyse leche / se it be spedefull to your infyrmytes / that parfyte helthe maye that soner be restored / orelles for to kepe hym in helthe ¶ Therfore my prouydence shal neuer fayle theÌ / to suche as wyll receyue it and haue parfyte hope in me / for all that haue parfyte hope in me they knocke and crye in sothefastnesse not onely by worde but by affeccyon / and so with lyghte of very feythe they shall taste me iÌ my prouydeÌce ¶ But not suche that knocke crye in sothefastenesse with the voyce of wordes / sayenge thus to me lorde lorde all suche but yf they crye and aske me other wyse / I shall not knowe them by my mercy / but by my ryghtwysenes HOr in sothe my prouydence shall neuer fayle to hym that veryly hopeth in me / but he that hathe dyspeyre iÌ me and hopeth in hymselfe knowes thou not well that hope can not be sette in two contraryes / whiche my sothefaste sone taughte you in the gospel / where he sayd thus ¶ No maÌ may serue and please two lordes / for yf he serue that one / he hateth that other ¶ Seruyce is not wtout hope / for a seruaunte that serueth serueth for hope of his rewarde profyte that he seeth in his seruyce shall come to hym / or els for hope that he hathe to please his lorde ¶ In the same wyse thynke dere doughter that it happeth to a soule / for other it muste be that she serue and hope in me / or els that she serue and hope in the worlde and iÌ herselfe / for by somoche she serueth the worlde wtout me / in asmoche as she serueth and loueth her owne êpre sensuà lyte / of the whiche loue seruyce / she hopeth to haue delyte / plesaunce / sencyble felyÌge ¶ But bycause theyr hope is set in vanytes and transytory thynges suche as haue ende / therfore it muste nedes fayle here / and of that she loued she maye haue none effecte / as longe as she hopeth in herselfe and in the worlde / she maye not hope in me for the worlde that is worldely desysyres of man / be to me hate / they were to me somoche in hate and abhomynacyon that is for dystruccyoÌ of them I sende my onely sothefast sone Ihesu to the most repreuable dethe of the crosse ¶ The worlde I maye not acorde / but a soule that parfytely hopeth in me / and serueth me with all her herte / and all her affeccyon / anone by very nede it must mysse trust of herselfe of the worlde / and of suche hope namely that is set with her owne freylte ¶ This is very êfyte hope more or lesse parfyte after parfeccyoÌ of loue whiche the soule hathe in me / and so parfyte and vnparfyte do taste of my prouydence / but he that setueth and hopeth for to please me onely for my selfe / receyueth and tasteth me more êfytely / than they that serue me with hope of fruyte that they fynde in me ¶ These be the fyrste of whome I haue tolde to the the parfeccyon iÌ the laste state of the soule ¶ But these that I tell that now whiche go with hope loue of fruyte / be the vnparfyte soules / bothe the seconde and the thyrde / of whome I tolde the before / of the states of the soule ¶ But yet in no wâse nother to parfyte nother to vnparfyte my prouydence shall not fayle / so that a man presume not / nor hope not in hymselfe / whiche presumyÌge and hopynge in hymselfe / is cause of nothyÌge elles / but by goynge out fro my loue / and entrynge in to his owne loue / wherby the eye of intelleccyon is blyÌdfelde / he withdrawynge of the lyghte of very feythe / and therfore he walketh not with lyght of reason for to knowe my prouydence ¶ Neuerthelesse to a man be he neuer so synfull or ryghtewyse / I wyl prouyde / and gyue my prouydence and ordeyne for hym / for all thyÌges be made by crafte of my goodnesse / and I it am that am / and withoute me is nothynge / but synne the whiche is noughte ¶ Thus thou maye knowe that they recerue my prouydence / and yet they vnderstonde it not / and yf they knowe it not / they maye not loue it / and therfore they maye not receyue the fruyte of grace therof ¶ All that be ryghte and to suche it semed croked and as blyÌde men / they se in derkenesse / bycause they haue sette theyr hope in derkenesse / wherby they fall in to murmuracyon and in to inpasyence / how be they somoche fobles ¶ O dere doughter how maye they byleue the I moste souerayne endelesse goodnesse maye nothyÌge wyl but the good of them in small thynges / that euery day suffer to come to theÌ for your helthe / whan they proue by experyence / that I wyll nothynge haue but satysfaccyoÌ of them for theyr helthe in greate thyÌges ¶ Sythen it so is that not wtstoÌdynge all theyr blyÌdenesse they may nothynge do be it neuer so lytell / but yf they se my goodnesse with some maner lyght aboue kynde / and also the benefyce of my prouydence whiche they fynde / and that they maye not deny / what in the fyrste creacyon / and in the secoÌde creacyon that a man receyueth in that blode of my sone / wherin I haue reformed hyÌ by grace / as I haue sayd to the. ¶ This is so clere and so opeÌ that they can not saye the contrary / neuerthelesse they defayle beynge afrayde of theyr owne shadowe / for they haue not vsed nor excercysed this lyghte with vertu ¶ An vnwyse man seeth not that fro that tyme to tyme I haue prouyded generally to the worlde / and specyally to some after theyr astate
lucre that they may the soner receyue euerlastyÌge lyfe ¶ And why thaÌ playne they on me ¶ Certayne for they in me haue no hope / but onely in theÌselfe / wherby they come to derkenes and so they knowe / yet they hate that thynge whiche they sholde haue for theyr beste ¶ And as proude folke they deme my pryue domes whiche be ryghte wyse / but they as a blyÌde man that with touchyÌge of his hoÌde or with tastynge of his mouthe / or with sowne of his voyce wyll deme good for yll / yll for good after his feble knowelege ¶ And they wyll not truste in me that am very lyghte / and I it am that bothe bodyly and ghostly noryshe them / for withoute me they maye nothynge haue / and yf it hap otherwhyle that they be serued of ony creature / I am he that haue gyuen to that creature wyll / ablenesse / myghte / and also cunnynge for to serue theÌ Â¶ But he as a blyÌde man the whiche goeth after felynge of his hondes / whiche is dysceyued in his touchyÌge / for he lacketh lyght to Iudge colours / and in the same wyse his taste is dysceyued / and for he maye not se what vnclene beest sytteth bpon his meet / his ere is also dysceyued in delyte of sowne / for he seeth hym not that syngeth / whiche with the same sowne yf he be not well ware by the same delectable sowne maye bytraye hyÌ to that dethe ¶ In this same wyse do they that be made as blynde / lackynge the very lyghte of reason / touchynge with the honde of sencyble felynge delactacyons and pleasures of the worlde semynge to them good but for bycause they do not se / they can not to eschewe perels / for he is a cloth medled with many thornes / with moche wretchednesse / many anguyshes / in somoche that the herte whiche feleth them is withoute me intollerable to hymselfe ¶ In the same wyse also to the mouthe of desyre / that thynge that he loueth inordynately semeth swete in receyuynge / yet vpon the delycacyes there syt vnclene beestes / and many deedly synnes / whiche make the soule vnclene / and so they bothe withdrawe theÌ fer fro my symylytude and lykenesse / and also fro the lyfe of grace ¶ And therfore yf he drawe not nyghe agayne / with the lyghte of very feythe / to that lykenesse and lyfe of grace / for to be clensed with my sones blode / he shal haue endelesse dethe ¶ Herynge is to hym his owne proper delectacyoÌ / of the whiche delectacyon / it semeth to hyÌ that it maketh a swete sowne ¶ Why semeth it so ¶ Certayne for the soule foloweth the loue of his owne proper sensualyte / and bycause he seeth it not / therfore he is dysceyued of the sowne / and also bycause he foloweth hym by vnordynate loue / wher he fyndeth hymselfe in the dytche / bounde with the bonde of synne / ledde in to the hondes of his enemyes ¶ For as a blynde soule by his owne loue / and with hope whiche he putteth iÌ hymselfe / and in his owne cunnynge / he trusteth not to me / that am bothe the leder and the waye of hym / whiche waye is made to hym of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu that sayde thus ¶ I am waye / truthe / lyfe ¶ And he is lyghte / that who that seeth therby shall not be dysceyued / nor walke in derkenesse / ther may none come to me but by hym / for he is one with me / and I with hym ¶ Of hym as I haue sayd to the I made to you a brydge / that ye myght all come to me that am your ende / and yet neuerthelesse for all this / they trust not iÌ me / whiche wyll nothyÌge els haue of theÌ / but theyr holynesse ¶ To this ende with greate loue I gyue them all thynges / and suffer all thynges to fall to them / bothe coÌfortes and trybulacyons / but they euer be sclauÌdred in me / I bere theÌ alwaye and suffer them with pasyence / for or they had ony loue to me / I loued them without theyr loue / they alwaye parsu me with moche inpasyence / hate / grutchynge / and with moche vnfeythefulnesse / wyllynge desyrynge after theyr owne blynde syghte / deme my pryue domes / whiche be all ryghtwyse / and done for loue / and the cause why they deme thus falsely / is for that they knowe not themselfe / for he that knoweth not hymselfe maye not knowe me / nor veryly my ryghtwysenesse ¶ The secoÌde chapyter sheweth how that god prouyded iÌ some specyall case to the soule that falleth ¶ Here god sheweth his prouydence agaynste his creatures in dyuers maners / maketh his coÌpleynte of the vntruth of his creatures / he expouneth a fygure of the olde testament / and sheweth there a profytable doctryne / with other maters / as is rehersed in the kalender Ca. ii DEre doughter yf thou wyl that I shewe the how moche the worlde is dysceyued of my mynysters ¶ Open the eye of thy intelleccyon / beholde iÌ me so shall thou se specyally of hym that I tolde the of / and ryght as I tell the of hym / so maye I tell the generally of other ¶ ThaÌ the soule for to obeye to the endelesse fader / behelde in herselfe with a loue longynge desyre / and than endelesse god shewed to her the dampnacyon of hyÌ by whome that fallynge dyd fortune / sayenge thus to her ¶ I wyll that thou knowe that for to make hym ascape fro this endelesse daÌpnacyon in the whiche thou sees well he was I suffered hym so for to fal / that with his blode he myghte haue lyfe / in the blode of my onely sone Ihesu / for I forgate not the reuerence and the loue whiche he hadde to the swete moder Mary / that moder of my oneli sone sothefast Ihesu / to whome worthely is grauÌted for that reuerence of my sone Ihesu / that who so euer ryght wyse or synner the hathe her in dewe reuerence / he shall not be pulled awaye deuoured of the fende of hell ¶ She is sette and putte as meet of my endelesse goodnes / for to be take to reasonable creatures / the whiche is is done of my greate mercy / not for to cause men therby to do euyll so for to hope in my mercy / for that were rather cruelte thaÌ mercy ¶ And all that causeth a man to do euyll / than to fall / that is nothynge but the loue of hyÌselfe / whiche withdraweth fro hym lyghte / wherfore he maye not knowe my truthe ¶ Yf they wolde / they sholde lyfte vp the cloulde that is before the eye of theyr intelleccyon / than sholde they veryly knowe loue my sothefastnes / and so sholde they haue all thynges in dewe reuerence / and receyue there
in delyces / rychesse / states of that worlde / but my owne loue coÌstrayneth me / for I loued you or that ye loued me / I loued you meruaylously / that it is whiche coÌstrayneth me / also the prayers of my seâuauÌtes / by the mylde mekenes of that holy ghost / that mynystreth to theÌ the worshyp of me loue of theyr neyghbours / by the whiche they serche helth of theyr soules with meruaylous charyte / besyenge theÌ to please me / and to bynde my hoÌdes of dyuyne ryghtewysenesse whiche a wycked maÌ deserued to haue / thus I am coÌstrayned with meke waylynge coÌtynuall prayer ¶ Who maketh theÌ so for to crye ¶ My prouydeÌce / for I prouyded to the nede of this deed creature / iÌ asmoche as it is sayde of me thus Nolo morteÌ c. I wyll not the the dethe of a synner / but I wyl that he be tourned lyue ¶ In thy soule also dere doughter thou sees my prouydeÌce / yf thou opeÌ the eye of thy soule / that wycked meÌ whiche ly iÌ so greate mysery / that be made stynkynge fylthe of dethe / derke by wantynge of lyght of grace / for they go syÌgyÌge laughynge speÌdynge theyÌr tyme with vanytes / in delyces / in greate vnhonestes / waÌtayne in all thynges / greate glotoÌs / eters dryÌkers so ferforth that of theyr wombes they make theyr god / with hate / raÌcoure / pryde / they go also with all wretchednesse as I haue tolde the in another place they do not knowe theyr owne astate / for they walke in suche awaye that wyll brynge theÌ to the dethe euerlastynge / but yf they ameÌde them in theyr lyuynge go more warely ¶ It were a greate foly for a maÌ that were coÌdeÌpned to the dethe to go syngynge dauÌsyng as he gothe by the way towarde his dethe / shold it not as thou thynkes yes certayne ¶ In suche foly ben suche wretches / in somoche the more wtout ony coÌparyson that they receyue more harme thaÌ they that is peyne of the dethe of soule whiche is more thaÌ the peyne of the body / suche lose that lyfe of grace / they but lyfe of body / such receyue endeles peyne / they but peyne that is fynyte / thus they dye in state of daÌpnacyoÌ / they go thyder syngynge / blynde / fooles / fooles aboue all other fooles / my seruauÌtes be in the state of waylynge wepiÌge / in afflyccyon tourmeÌt of body iÌ holy wakynges / in coÌtynuall prayer with syghynges sobbyÌges / makyÌge theyr bodyes lene for the helthe of theyr soules ¶ But suche syngers as be rehersed before / they scorne all suche and theyr owne scornes fal on theyr proper heeddes / whan they be in peyne / to them that labour for the loue of me / shall be gyueÌ fruyte of theyr labour in the blysse of heueÌ / whiche my owne endeles goodnes haue made hyÌ for to dyscerne / for I god the fader am ryghtwyse / that yelde to eche after his labour / but sothely my seruauÌtes cesse not / nother for êsecucyoÌs / scornes / nor vnkyndenes of theÌ / but rather they encrese in more desyre ghostly excercyse ¶ Who maketh this that they knocke with so greate hoÌger at the gate of my mercy ¶ My êuydeÌce that maketh me prouyde to that helthe of these wretches / to encrese vertu the fruyte of loue charyte in seruauntes ¶ These maners of my prouydences be infynyte whiche I vse in the soule of a synner / that I myghte therby drawe hym out fro that trespas of deedly synÌe ¶ Now shall I speke to the of suche that be rysen fro synne / what my prouydeÌce dothe in theÌ / yet be vnparfyte / I shall not declare that agayne by repetycyon the state of the soule / for therof I haue told the by order / but shortli somwhat shall I saye yt. ¶ Of the prouydeÌce whiche god vseth ordeyneth / for theÌ that be vnparfyte in loue Wyll thou knowe dere doughter what maner I vse for to arayse an vnêfyte soule fro her imêfeccyoÌ / other whyle I êuyde to her of many dyuers thoughtes / brynge hre somtyme in to baraynes of soule / oftetymes it semeth to suche that be forsake of me vtterly / for they fele nothyÌge ghostly / they thynke they be not in the worlde / outtake that they fele this / that his wyll wyll not offeÌde me / this gate of wyll whiche is fre / I wyll not suffer ghostly enemyes to vndo it / but yet I gyue theÌ leue bothe fendes other enemyes / that they maye smyte at al other gates / but not at this the whiche is the pryncypall gate / whiche kepeth the cytee of the soule / neuerthelesse the soule hathe a keper that is fre chose whiche dwelleth at that gate / for this cause I haue made fre chose keper of that gate / the after hyÌ the gate be opened / as he wyll so be it done or not done ¶ There be many gates loÌgynge to that cytee / but princypally there be .iij. of whome there is one whiche euer holdeth hyÌ closed shyt yf he wyl / is the keper of all the other gates / these iij. gates be these / myÌde / intelleccyon / wyl / but that specyal gate whiche I speke of is wyll / for yf wyll coÌsent thaÌ by that gate entreth the enemy of êpre loue / other enemyes that folowe hyÌ / thaÌ intelleccyoÌ receyueth dethenesse / whiche is the enemy of lyght / the myÌde receyueth hate kepeth it / thyÌkynge vpon that iniuryes wroÌges / whiche gate is the enemy of loue of charite of neyghbourheed ¶ It receyueth also kepeth delectacyoÌs of that worlde in dyuers maners / after dyuersyte of synnes / whiche be contrary to vertu ¶ After tyme that these gates be thus opened / the smal dores of the bodyly wyrtes be opened / whiche be instrumeÌtes answerynge to the soule / for thou knowes well the that mysruled affeccyoÌ of maÌ that hathe his gates open / answereth with these instrumeÌtes / whose workes be desyled / the eye of suche an vnordynate affeccyoÌ bryÌgeth none other thyÌge thaÌ dethe / for it seeth nothyÌge els but deed thyÌges vnordynately / where he sholde not ¶ Suche vanyte of herte lyghtenes with other vnhonestes / is cause of ghostly dethe / bothe to hyÌ to other ¶ O wretched man the eye whiche I I haue gyueÌ the for to beholde heueÌ other fayrenes of creatures for me so to se behold my mynysters / thou be holdes rather fylthe in wretchednes of lyuyÌge / so wynnes dethe / in the same wyse the ere delyteth in dyshonest thynges / other to here the dedes of thy neyghbours by false domes / where I wolde thou herde me / the necessite of thy neyghbour
/ a toÌge also I gaue the for to shewe teche my worde / for to coÌfesse thy defautes / that thou shold worke with it to that helthe of soules / thou vses it to the blasphemynge of me that am thy maker / thou vses it to harmyÌge of thy neghbour / bacbytynge / grutchynge / and demynge good workes for euyll / euyll for good / thou also blaphemes with it berynge false wytnesse with slyppery wordes / puttynge thyselfe in perell and other / and thou brekes out with wordes of wronge / whiche be as swerdes cuttyÌge hertes of thy euen crysten / whiche wordes styrre hym to wrothe ¶ O how moche euyl and manslaughter / how moche dyshoneste wrothe / how moche hate losse of tyme that comethout of that bodyly lymme ¶ The odour also in his beynge hurteth with vnordynate mysse ruled plesaunce in his smellynge / in the same wyse of tastynge with vnmesurable gulosyte / mysruled appetyte / desyrynge many dyuers delyces he loketh after none other thynge but for to fyll his woÌbe / suche a wretched soule seeth not nor aspyeth not how her gate is open / whiche gate by vnordynate receyuynge of meet and drynke / maketh the trayle flesshe proude / redy for to be corrupt by vnordynate appetyte ¶ The hoÌdes also in withdrawynge of his neyghbours goodes / with foule wretched touchynge / whiche be made to do seruyce to his neyghboure in tyme of his sekenesse / for to releue hym in his nede with almes ¶ Fete also be gyuen to hym for to serue the body / and for to speÌde his goynge to the profyte of his neyghbour / for the glory and laude of my name / but he iÌpendeth the vse of theÌ for to bere the body to places of reprefe ¶ And thus in many dyuers wyses they tryfle and scorne other creatures / and they corrupte them with theyr wycked lyuynge / after that it is lykynge plesynge to theyr mysruled wyll ¶ All this haue I tolde the dere doughter / for to gyue the cause and mater of waylynge we pynge / and that thou maye knowe how moche euyll cometh fro the pryncypal gate whiche is euyll / in to the whiche gate I wyll gyue leue to none enemy for to enter as it is sayd before but as I sayde to the / I gyue enemyes leue for to smyte at the other gates but not at this by the whiche I suffer the intelleccyon for to be smytte of a maner derkenesse of the soule / other whyle it semeth that the myÌde hathe forgete me / otherwhyle it semeth the al other bodily wyttes be in dyuers batayles / in beholdyÌge touchyÌge holy thynges / herynge delycyous songes / and smellynge swete odours / in goynge to them / all suche thyÌges semen to hym y they sholde brynge in to the soule dyshonestes and corrupcyons / but all these sleen not the soule / nor bryÌgeth it iÌ to deedly synÌe / for I wyll not that he dye so / but yf he be suche a foole for to open the gate of his wyll / I gyue all suche temptacyons ymagynacyons leue for to stonde without the gate / and in no wyse for to enter / for they maye neuer enter / but whan that wyll coÌsenteth ¶ Why than do I holde suche a soule in so greate peynes afflyccyoÌs by her enemyes ¶ Certayne not for she sholde be take of them lost / and so lose the rychesse of grace / but I do it for to shewe it my prouydeÌce and for to make hym truste in me / not iÌ hymselfe / and also for to make hym aryse fro neclygeÌce / and renne to me with all his ghostly excersyce and besynesse / whiche am his protectour defendour / I am a benyÌge fader / for I prouyde for his helthe / that he maye be meke se hymselfe noughte / but his beynge and al his grace sholde be set aboue hymselfe / in knowyÌge of me that am his lyfe / this lyfe he must knowe / yf he wyll receyue the fruyte of my prouydeÌce in all his ghostly batayles / for I suffer not suche batayles alwaye to coÌtynu iÌ all tymes / but they go come as me semeth to be nedefull spedeful for the soule / other whyle it semeth to suche a soule for the greate heuynesse that it hathe in suche temptacyon / and for the wantynge of goodly excercyse that it is in the peynes of hell / and yet not wtstoÌdynge suche baraynes yf she do stryue ther with and open not the gate of wyll / she shal haue and taste endeles blysse for her mede ¶ A clere clensed soule dwelleth hooly with me / what that euer she seeth in suche thynges / for her semeth that she cryeth to me / all for brenned in my feruent charyte / by consyderacyon that she feleth than hathe in my prouydence / for she feeth welshe shall be drenched in that greare floode of temptacyons / but gracyously by hym she maye come out / not by her ghostly excercyse onely / in asmoche as sodeynly she hath receyued lyght not by her owne fyndyÌge but of my meruaylous charyte that I prouyded to her nede in the tyme of necessyte / for than not withstoÌdynge her ghostly besynesse I wolde not putte it awaye fro her ¶ And why in all her ghostly excercyses whaÌ she vsed prayer and other ghostly meanes / wolde I not gyue her lyghte in put tyÌge away suche derkenesse ¶ Certayne for aslonge as she was so vnparfyte / I wolde not lest she aretted to her owne exercyse / whiche was not done by her ¶ This thou maye se that vnparfyte men by excercyse of batayles maye come to parfeccyon / for in suche batayles he proueth by experyence my dyuyne mekenes whiche prouyded hym / and so by experyence I haue made hym syker / wherby he coÌceyueth a parfyte loue in my dyuyne prouydence / and so he knoweth my goodnes / whiche hath made hym aryse fro vnparfyte loue ¶ Forthermore I vse fyrste in hym a maner of holy dysceyte / for to reyse hym out of imparfeccyon / whan I make hym conceyue in his soule spe cyally a ghostely loue / of some certayne deuoute creature / aboue the generall loue had to all ghostly creatures / by the whiche mene he wynneth more vertu thaÌ he had before / and so auoydeth his inparfeccyon / for suche specyall loue maketh hym make his herte naked and spoyled of euery other creature whiche he loued sencybly / be it fader / moder / syster / or broder / he wtdrawith fro theÌ propre sensuall loue / begynneth to loue them that be ghostly / onely for me endelesse god / and this ordynate lone of that meane whiche I haue gyve hym / puttynge awaye vnornate loue / where fyrste he loued creatures ¶ Thus thou maye knowe that suche ghostly loue set in specyal creatures dothe awaye imparfercyon /
but now take hede the loue of this meane techeth more / for it maketh hym proue whether he loueth me / and that meane whiche I haue gyuen hym êfytely or not / also I gaue hyÌ that meane for to proue hym / for to gyue hym cause and mater for to knowe hymselfe / for yf he knewe not hymselfe the whiche is within hym the whiche is myne / he sholde neuer please hym nor dysplease hym / and yet not withstoÌdyÌge this knowlege of hymselfe / he is vnêarfyte it is no woÌder for beynge of that vnaÌfyte loue which he hath to me / he must nedes bevnêfyte / for he loueth me by meane of a reasonable creature whiche is vnêfyte / but êarfyte charyte of neyghbourheed cometh of my êfyte charyte / not my charyte fro them / but with the same êfyte meane wher with he loueth me he sholdè loue creatures / yf he wyll auoyde imparfeccyoÌ Â¶ But how shall this be knowe by suche a meane ¶ In many thyÌges / for yf he wyll open the eye of his intelleccyon / than shall no tyme passe / but that he shall bothe se it proue it / and for bycause I haue shewed that in party this in another place / therfore a lytell more shall I tell the there of nowe ¶ Se whan that he loueth a creature with synguler loue as it is sayde to the before by processe of tyme he shall se well that the delectacyon of that loue shall be mynyshed / and also ghostly coÌfortes as he was wonte to haue of the same creature and other suche mo / or els yf it seme to hym that the creature hathe more and ofter conuersacyon with other creatures than with hym / he feleth than a peyne / whiche peyne maketh hym to enter iÌ to hymselfe knowe hymselfe / and than yf he wyll walke and go with the lyghte of my prouydence as he sholde / thaÌ shall he loue more parfytely the meane than euer he dyd / for with knowlege of hymselfe and hate that he hathe in his owne proper sensualyte / he auoydeth imparferccyon and gothe with parfeccy on / and whan he is thus parfyte / he shal loue creatures with more purer specyall loue thaÌ euer he dyd before ¶ Lo thus I haue shewed my good nesse by prouydence of suche a meane / whiche meane I make hym to vse with hate of hymselfe / and loue of vertu iÌ this way of pylgrymage / but he muste well be ware that in the felynge of the peynes of the loue of creatures lyke as it is rehersed before he brynge not hymselfe in to confusyon and tedyosyte of the soule / and in to heuynes of herte / for the were pereylous / for so that thyÌge whiche I haue ordeyned for hyÌ to lyfe / myght tourne hyÌ to dethe / therfore so shold he not do / but with good besynesse ghostely excercyse / and mekely holdynge hyÌselfe vnworthy for to haue suche comforte as he hathe desyred / and so shall he se that vertu by the whiche suche creatures sholde be loued is not lessed nor mynyshed in hym / for than he shall fele that with honger and desyre he wyll suffer all maner peyne / of what syde that euer it cometh / for the glory and laude of my name ¶ In this wyse he shal fulsyl my wyll / receyuynge in hymselfe fruyte of êfeccyon / wherby I haue suffered trybulacyon / and that meane and suche other that he sholde come to the lyghte of parfeccyoÌ Â¶ Thus in suche wyses I vse my prouydeÌce in vnparfyte men / and yet in many moo wyses in so many that I knowe well thy tonge is not suffycyent to tell theÌ Â¶ Of the prouydeÌce whiche god vseth ordeyneth for theÌ that be iÌ parfyte loue charyte NOw shall I tell the of parfyte folke how I prouyded for them in kepynge of them and prouynge theyr parfeccyon / that they maye alwaye encrese and growe in vertu / for there is none in this lyfe so êfyte / but that he maye encrese in this lyfe to more parfeccyon / ymonge all other I kepe that forme after the wordes whiche my sonefast sone sayde / whiche be these Ogo suÌ vitis vera c. I am a trewe vyne he sayd / my fader is a tyller / ye be the brauÌches / he that dwelleth in that very vyne whiche cometh out fro me the fader suynge his doctryne / he hathe fruyte / that youre fcuyte maye growe encrese be parfyte / I water you as braunches of the same vyne / and gyue you to drynke many trybulacyons / that is with wronges / derysyons / shames / repreues / sclaunders / bothe with worde with dede / also with honger and with thyrste / as it is lykynge to my goodnes for to gyue to you / and as eche of you is able for to bere / for trybulacyon is a token that shewteth parfyte charyte of the soule / also the imparfeccyon of the soule / whan it tasted with iniuryes / wronges and labours / whiche I suffer for to come to my seruauntes pasyence is proued and the fyre of charyte encreaseth groweth in that soule by compassyon / that it hathe to that soule whiche dothe hym the wroÌge / for he soroweth more for the offeÌce whiche he dothe to me / and also for the hurtynge of his owne soule / thaÌ for his owne iniury ¶ Thus do they that be in greate parfeccyon / and so they encrese / and therfore to them I suffer these wronges and suche other / but I leue to them a maner of pryckyÌge of the helthe of soules in suche wyse that bothe daye and nyghte they knocke at the gate of my mercy for them that done them wronge / so ferforthe that they forgoten them selfe as I haue tolde the before in the state of parfyte soules and the more they forsake theÌselfe / the rather they fynde me ¶ But where fynde they me ¶ Certayne iÌ my sothefast sone Ihesu / goynge êfytely in his swete doctryne / they haue redde in that swete and gloryous boke his doctryne / by redynge they haue founde / that he was euer well wyllynge to fulfyl my obedyeÌce / and for to showe howmoche he loued my worshyppe and mankynde / he ranne vnder my obedyence with peyne and reprefe vnto the table of the holy crosse / where he ordeyned meet for mankynde with his peyne / and so with his sufferauÌce with the meane of maÌkynde / he shewed to me how moche he loued my worshyp / and therfore I saye that these well byloued chyldren that be come to parfyte state with parseuerauÌce / with whiche and contynuall prayer shewed to me / that in truthe sothefastenes they loue me / the also they haue well studyed that same doctryne of my sone / folowynge the same with peyne labour whiche they bere for helthe of theyr euen crysten / for they fyÌde none
other meane wherby they myghte she we very loue to me thaÌ by that but al other meanes by the whiche it maye be shewed that they loue me / is set vpon the pryncypall meane of a reasonable creature as I haue sayde to the before where I tolde the that euery good dede must be done vy medyacyon and meane of thy euen crysten / and euery good worke also / for there maye no good be do / but in the charyte of me and of thy neyghboure / but it be do in that charyte / it may be called no good / thoughe the dedes of them be vertuous / and iif the same wyse euery euyl dede is doone by this meane / that is by pryuacyon of charyte ¶ Thus thou sees well that in this meane whiche I haue put to you / êfeccyon is shewed and pure loue whiche they haue to me euer procurynge the helthe of theyr noyghbours with moche sufferauÌce pascyence / therfore I purge them that they maye brynge forthe more and sweter fruyte with moche trybulacyon ¶ Here pascyence casteth to me ryghte good and swete smell / o how swete is this fruyte bow profytable to the soule / for she suffereth without synne / whiche pascyence yf she veryly se it / ther is no creature but that she wolde serche with greate besynes and ioye for to suffer / wherfore I prouyded for to put to them the charges of greate labours / that I myghte gyue them this greate tresoure of paseyence / also that the vertu of the same pascyence waxe not rusty in suche wronges and labours / so that whaÌ tyme cometh that it be nede for to proue the same pascyence / and it shall be fouÌde rusty with the ruste of pryue vnpascyence whiche freteth the soule / somtyme I vse in suche a maner of a plesaunte desyre that they maye the better be kepte in the vertu of mekenesse / for in the tyme of aduersyte I shall make theyr felynges slepe / that it shall seme to them bothe in wyll and in felynge / that no maner trybulacy on nor aduersyte greueth theÌ not / for they fele it not / but as parsones that were aslepe I say not as deed parsones for the sensyble felynge slepeth in a parfyte soule / but it dyeth not / for assoone as they leue deuoute excercyse and the fyre of holy desyre / anone trybulacyons and aduersytes waken them as sore as it was wonte to do / therfore a man that trusteth in this maye be as parfyte as he wyll / but yet it is ryght spedefull for hyÌ that he dwell alwaye stydfastly in my holy drede / for many that trusteÌ in theÌ selfe do fall full wretchedly / whiche sholde not fall yf they put awaye that truste / and therfore I saye in suche that be so occupyed in ghostly excercyse the felynge of them slepeth / for thoughe they bere grete burthons / it semed to them that they fele it not and without grutchynge / of the whiche afterwarde whaÌ they haue lefte theyr ghostly excercyses / they sholde wonder that they dyd not fele none of theyr burthoÌs / this dothe my prouydence that suche a soule myghte encrese and go in the waye of mekenesse / for than suche a soule wysely ryseth vp aboue herselfe / not sparynge herselfe / but with holy hate rebukynge she chastyseth her owne felynge / whiche chastysynge is nothynge els / but for to make it slepe more parfytely ¶ Otherwhyle also I prouyded ordeyned to my grete and ryght specyal seruauÌtes in this wyse ¶ I leue to them a certayne pryckynge / as I dyd to my swete apostell Paule that chosen vessell of eleccyon / to whome whan he had receyued that doctryne of my sones sothefaste truthe in the depenesse of me endelesse fader / yet I lefte with hym a prycke dyuers impugnacyons and conflyctes of his flesshe / where that I myght not nor yet maye not / bothe to Paule and to other of my worthy seruauÌtes / in whom I haue leâte a prycke by dyuers maners / that they sholde not haue it / Ihesus certayne Why thaÌ dothe my êuydeÌce so ¶ Certayne for they shold the more deserue mede / and be kepte in theyr owne knowlege / by the whiche knowlege they wynne very mekenesse / also that they may therby be mylde and meke to theyr neyghbours and not cruell for to haue compassyon of theyr laboure / for they haue moche more compassyon of theÌ that be troubled and dyseased / yf they suffer dysease themselfe / than yf they hadde none / and also they encrese in more loue / bycause they be so anoynted with very mekenesse brenned in the seruyce of my dyuyne charyte ¶ Thus with these maners and other mo infynyte wyses / they come to parfyte vnyon as I haue tolde the before in somoche vnyon and knowlege of my goodnesse / that not wtstoÌdynge they stonde in theyr deedly body / yet they fele and tast the endelesse good of vndeedlynesse / for thoughe they be in the pryson of the body / yet they thynke that they be out of the body ¶ And bycause they knowe moche of me / they loue me moche / and he that loueth moche soroweth moche / for to whome loue encreaseth / sorowe also encreaseth / in the whiche peynes and sorowes / they dwell not in wronges that be done to them / nor iÌ sorowes for bodyly peynes / nor for heuynesse done to them by sendes / nor for none other peynâ that maye come to them / but onely they sorowe for the offence whiche is done to me / seynge and knowynge the I am worthy to be loued serued ¶ And also they sorowe for the harme that falleth to soules / seynge them fall into the derkenesse of the worlde / so dwellynge abydynge in the same blyndenesse / for in that vnyoÌ whiche he hathe made in me by affeccyon of loue / he knoweth and beholdeth in me howmoche he loueth my creature / and in suche beholdynge that she seeth the a reasonable creature representeth my ymage / she is ther with rapte by loue for the loue of me / by the whiche loue she feleth an vntollerable peyne whan she seeth suche creatures be fere sro my goodnes / those peynes be so greate / that all other peynes be the lesse and fayle in the same / of whome he recketh neuer nor careth therfore / for he fareth as thoughe it were not he that receyueth suche trybulacyons ¶ Why is that ¶ For I prouyde for theÌ Â¶ Wher with ¶ With she wynge to them clere syghte and knowlege of myselfe as it maye be in this lyfe in the whiche syghte I shewe them wyckednesse and mysery of the worlde and dampnacyon of soules in comune in specyall with greate bytternessr of themselfe / as it is lykynge to my goodnesse for to shewe them / so for to encrese the more in loue and in peyne / and that also they
crye to me with stydfast hope / and with the lyghte of holy feythe so prycked / and with the fyre of my desyre / for to haue helpe of me / and that I wolde releue them in suche nedes ¶ Also I proued with my dyuyne prouydence for to releue helpe the worlde / sufferynge myselfe to be coÌstrayned of peynfull / swete / and longynge desyres of my seruauntes / noryshynge them encresynge theÌ therby in to more parfyte knowlege and vnyoÌ of me ¶ Thus thou may se how I prouyde to these parfyte folke in dyuers wyses many wayes / for alwaye as longe as ye lyue / ye be able to encrese iÌ state of parfeccyon / and for to deserue mede / therfore I purge them fro all theyr proper vnordynate loue spyrytuall and temporall / and gyue them drynke with the chalyce of many trybulacyons / for to make theÌ to haue the more parfyte fruye as it is sayde before and that greate trybulacyoÌ whiche they suffer / seynge me offended and fooles pryued fro grace / all the lesse felynge is quenched in somoche that all the labours that they maye suffer iÌ this lyfe / they hold it for nought and by that they charge asmoche trybulacyons as they do coÌfortes / for they seke nothynge theyr owne coÌfortes / they loue not me for no rewarde / nor for theyr owne loue / but they seke the glory / laude / honour of my name ¶ Dere doughter sees thou not now / that in euery reasonable creture I extende vse my prouydeÌce in many places / and in infynyte places with meruaylous wyses / vnknowen of men of derke lyuyÌge / for theyr derkenesse maye not receyue suche lyght / but onely they that haue lyght / and knowe parfytely vnparfytely after the parfeccyon of the lyghte y they haue / whiche lyghte is wonne goteÌ by knowlege that a soule hathe of herselfe / wherby it is araysed to lyght / hatyÌge most parfytely derkenesse ¶ A shorte repetycyon of the foresayde wordes / and how god speketh afterwarde of that worde whiche cryste sayde to Peter Mittite rethe ad dexteraÌ parteÌ nauis inuenietis That is to say / caste ye the nette on the ryghe syde of the shyppe / and ye shall fynde I Haue tolde that how that I prouyded for my seruauntes / and how I haue tolde the bothe generall specyall / fyrst I tolde the of the blessyd sacrameÌt how I proued it and by what maner for to make the honger of the soule encrese / how I procure wtin the felynge of the soule to theÌ grace / ymynystred by that meane of that blessyd mynyster the holy ghost / to a wycked maÌ for to reduce hym the soner to grace / to an vnêfyte maÌ for to bryÌge hyÌ the soner to grace / to êfyte meÌ that they maye the more gracyously encrese / that êfeccyon myghte growe in theÌ / for they be able to encrese be they neuer so êfyte / also I prouyde for theÌ / that they may be good êfyte meanes bytwene me maÌ / whiche is fall to me in warre endeles god / for yf thou remeÌbre the wel / thou knowes well that I haue tolde the the with meane medyacyoÌ of my seruauÌtes I wylshewe mercy to the worlde / with suche sufferauÌce of theÌ / I shal reforme my spouse holy chyrche / certayne all suche maye well be called another cryst crucyfyed / for lyke as cryst my sone toke vpoÌ hym the peyne of thou crosse for maÌnes helthe / tyght so they take vpoÌ theÌ his offyce / for he came as a meane bytwene maÌ and me / for to dystroye batayle warre bytwene vs both / for to recouÌseyle maÌ to be iÌ peas by moche sufferauÌce vnto the cruell dethe of that crosse / in the same wyse these gone as all for turmeÌted by coÌpassyoÌ / makyÌge theÌselfe meanes with holy prayers / good holy coÌuersacyoÌ for theyr wyckednesse bytwene me theÌ Â¶ All suche done shyne ymoÌge synners as precyous stones of verttu / beryÌge supportyÌge with pascyence defautes of theÌ / they be my hokes wherby I wynne soules / they also throwe forthe theyr nette vpon the ryght hoÌde not vpoÌ that lyfte hoÌde / as my soly sothefast sone Ihesu bad Peter other dysciples after the resurreccyoÌ Â¶ For the lyste hoÌde that is theyr owne loue is deed iÌ theÌ / but the ryght hoÌde lyueth by a maner of very clere swete dyuyne loue / with the whiche loue they caste forthe the nette of holy desyre iÌ to me the am that peaseable see / ryghte as it was in the story whan Peter other that were with hym drewe his nette / it was fouÌde so full of fyssh / that they called for helpe of theÌ of the other shyppe ¶ In the same wyse whaÌ they drawe theyr nette of holy desyre / they catche so greate copy of yte of fyssh that is of soules that it is spedefull for theÌ to call a felowe to theÌ for to helpe theÌ to drawe vp that nette / for one a lone maye not do it / therfore bothe in castyÌge in drawynge vp / they must nedes haue felyshyppe / that is of very mekenesse they call theyr neyghbours by loue ¶ Peter as I sayde his felyshyp dyd aske helpe for to drawe vp these fysshes of soules / in the same wyse it is sothe in my parfyte seruauÌtes / as thou hase well êued / for them semeth it is so greate a burthon for to drawe these soules whiche be take in that nette of theyr desyres / that they call and crye after felyshyppe / for they wolde that euery reasonable creature sholde helpe them / holdynge themselfe with mekenes vnworthy without theyr helpe / therfore they cry after helpe / thaÌ they drawe vp soules greate pleÌte / thoughe some for theyr owne defautes lepe out of the nette and wyl not abyde therin / the nette of desyre receyueth all / for an hoÌgry soule of my worshyp holdeth her not apayde for to haue one êty / but she wolde haue all / she seketh good that it maye helpe her to caste fysshe iÌ to her nette / for to kepe theÌ therin to the encrese of theyr parfeccyoÌ / she sercheth vnparfyte people for to helpe to make theÌ parfyte / bad to be made good / vnfeytheful mysbyleuers also men lyuyÌge in derkenes of synne / wtoute the feythe of baptym of holy chyrche / to be made feythefull to receyue the feythe of holy baptym ¶ Suche a soule wolde haue all people / of what state or what coÌdycyoÌ that they be / for they coÌsyder and se all how they be made of my goodnesse in my greate fyre of loue / rauÌsomed by the blode of my sone cryste crucyfyed ¶ And thus thou maye well knowe that suche a soule receyueth taketh all iÌ the nette
for to hyde it / but make it freli comune with his brederne / he thyÌketh not on the morowe / but his necessyte he taketh dayly / thynkynge no more but on the kyngedome of heueÌ / on very obedyeÌce / how he myghte best kepe it / bicause it is best kepte by mekenes / he submytteth hym asmoche to the leest chylde as he wold e to the gretest maÌ that is / to the poore as he wolde to that ryche / he maketh hym seruaunte to all / neuer refusynge labour / but he doth seruyce mekely to euery creature ¶ A very obedyencer wyl not make obedyeÌce after his owne maner / nor chose nother tyme nor place / but as his souerayne wyl as that maner of the order wyll / al this a very obedyeÌcer dothe wtout peyne or tedyosyte of soule / suche one passeth lyghtli by the harde wyket of the or der / with the keye of obedyeÌce iÌ his hoÌde wtout ony vyoleÌce / by cause he hath kepte kepeth the vowe of chastite / of very obedyeÌce pure contynece / auoydyÌge the hyghnes of pryde / bow ynge the heed of obedyent mekenesse / wherfore he maye in no wyse breke his heed by vnpacyeÌce / for he is very peaseable with ghostly streÌgthe êseuerauÌte pasyeÌce / whiche be the frendes of obedyeÌce / suche one is in wyll neuer to offeÌde / by styrrynge of the fende / his flesshe / nor the worlde / for he chastyseth his flesshe by mortyfycacyoÌ / spolynge hyÌ fro delectacyoÌs / arayeth hym with labours trauayles of that order with quycke feythe wtout dedygnacyoÌ as a chylde which forgeteth the rebuke that his fader gyueth hyÌ in that same wyse this chylde nother thynketh in his soule of wroÌges done to hym / nor of labours nor greues whiche be done to hym in the order gyueÌ of his souerayne / but whaÌ he is called of hym he goeth to hyÌ / nothynge moued with yre rancoure / but with all maner of mekenesse benyuolence ¶ These be the chyldreÌ of whome my sothefast sone Ihesu spake of / whaÌ his dyscyples dyd stryue togyder / whiche of them sholde be ymoÌges theÌ the most / where he made a chylde to come to hym sayd thus ¶ Suffer chyldren come to me / for of suche is that kyngedome of heuen / he that loweth hym not as mekely as this chylde that is yf he haue not his coÌdycyoÌ / he maye not enter in to the kyngedome of heuen ¶ For dere doughter he that loueth hyÌ shall be enhauÌsed / as my onely sothfast sone sayth in the gospell / as it is ofte fouÌde iÌ other bokes of holy seyntes / therfore these chyldren ryghtwysely maye be called meke / that for loue make theÌselfe lowe subiectes with very holy obedyeÌce / not stryuyÌge nother agaynst theyr order nor agaynst theyr prelates / all suche shal be enhauÌsed aneÌdes me endeles fader / dwell with my very cytesyns iÌ endelesse blysse / where they shall be worthely rewarded for all theyr labour / for to be syker of that / I make theÌ in this lyfe for to taste som what of the endeles blys for theyr ernest ¶ How they that be very obedyent receyue an huÌdreth for one / euerlastyÌge lyfe / what is vnderstoÌde by that one / and what by that huÌdreth IN suche dere doughter is fulfylled that thyÌge which my onely sone sayde to Peter whan he sayde thê° Â¶ Mayster lowe haue for sake al thynge folowe the / what shall we haue therfore ¶ My sone sayde / ye shall receyue an huÌdreth euerlastyÌge lyfe / as my sone sholde saye thus ¶ Peter ye haue do well / for in none other wyse ye myght folowe me / but in forsakynge of al thyÌ ges / therfore I shall gyue the in this lyfe an C. And what is this C dere doughter after the whiche / endelesse lyfe foloweth Of what thyÌge vnder stoÌdeth my sone this / of teÌporall substauÌce Nay not properly / yf otherwhyle by doynge of almes dedes I multyply temporall goodes / but of what thyÌge thaÌ Certayne of hym the gyueth his proper wyll / for the wyl of maÌ is but one / for that one I gyue hyÌ an C. iÌ this lyfe Why is this noÌbre of an C. set Certayne for an C. is a êfyte noÌbre / to that maye no more be added to / but yf thou begynÌe at one / in the same wyse charyte is the most parfyte vertu aboue all other vertues / for a more êfyte vertu maye neuer a maÌ asceÌde to / neuerthelesse thou receyues well all other vertues / whan thou encreces theÌ in merytes to this C. the vertu of charyte / but yet thou comes êfytely to this C. by multyplyeÌge of other vertues / in knowlege of thyselfe / this is that C. whiche is gyuen to theÌ / that haue gyueÌ theyr wylles alone / in generall / êtyculer / specyall obedyeÌce / with this C. they shal receyue euer lastynge lyfe / for charyte alone is the lady whiche entreth iÌ / ledyÌge with her the fruyte of all other vertues / they abyde within me endeles lyfe / iÌ whom they tast endeles lyfe / for I am that endelesse lyfe / to whome they come / for they be iÌ mi possescioÌ / whoÌ they hoped before to haue so all other vertues charite alone as a quene entreth and hathe me / the hathe her ¶ Thus these lytell chyldreÌ receyue an C. euer lastynge lyfe iÌ hyÌ / here ye receyue the fruyte of dyuyne charyte / set for the nombre of an hundreth as it is sayde bycause they haue receyued of me this huÌdreth / they abyde and dwell in themselfe with a meruaylous hertely ioye / for iÌ pure charyte falleth neuer sorowe / but euer holy gladnesse / they that haue this charite / haue a large herte lyberall / and not double strayte / for a soule that is wounded with this swete darte of loue / sheweth not one in the face / another in the tongue / another in the herte / suche one serueth not feyntly and mynystreth to her neyghbour with bolnyÌge bryde for her charyte is open to all creatures largely without fenynge / ther fore a soule that hathe and is had of charyte / falleth neuer in peyne nor sorowe whiche turmenteth / nor it delayeth neuer for to obeye redyly / but euer it is obedyeÌt vnto the dethe ¶ The thyrde chapyter is of the paruersytes / myseryes / labours of theÌ whiche be not obedyent / and of the myserable fruytes that come of vnobedyence / of the imparfeccyoÌ of them that be slowe or vnlusty in relygyoÌ / all be it they kepe them fro deedly synne / of the remedy how they sholde come out of that vnlustynes / and of other maters / as be rehersed to you in the kalder before Ca. iii. A Wretched
they fle not the places wayes whiche brynge them in to suche corrupte thoughtes / but they serche after suche occasyons / that they myght come to the fulfyllynge of the synne ¶ This is the fruyte the sleeth hyÌ bynemeth hym lyfe of grace / gyueth hym endelesse dethe ¶ But what stynke casteth out this fruyte brought forthe with the floure of the tree ¶ Certayne it casteth out styÌke of inobedyeÌce / by the whiche he wyll with the thoughte of his herte enquyre deme in euyll the wyll of his souerayne / he casteth out also vnclennes with many wycked conuersacyons / de lytynge hymselfe wretchedly with his name of a deuoute maÌ Â¶ O wretch thou coÌsyders not that vnder colour of thy deuocyon shall folowe to the many myscheues / as chyldren of inobedyence / for thou hase not receyued nor take to the chyldren of vertu / as a very obedyeÌcer dothe / suche one sercheth for to dysceyue his souerayne / vsynge to hym leues of state rynge wordes / spekynge vnreuereÌtly with greate repreuynge / suche one supporteth not his broder / nor he maye not the leest worde saye anendes hym whan he is vndernymed for his defautes / but anone he casteth out venemous fruyte of vnpacyence and Ire and hate agaynst his broder / demynge in euyll / the he dyd to hym for good / thus suche a soule so sclauÌdred liueth iÌ peyne both wtin wtout ¶ Why is suche one dyspleased with his broder ¶ Certayne for he dyspleaseth hyÌselfe sencybly / such one fleeth his Cell / as he wolde fle venyÌ the cause is for he is gone out of his owne proper Cell of knowlege / wherby he is fall in to inobedyence / therfore he maye not abyde in his materyall Cell / he wyll not also come to the fraytur / but as he wold go to his enemy / as loÌge as he hath ony thynge to speÌde / whaÌ he hathe no more / thaÌ nede dryueth hym thyder ¶ Therfore trewe obedyeÌcers done wel whiche kepe so wel the vowe of pouerte / that they wyl nothyÌge haue for to speÌde / bycause they wolde euer be fed at the swete table of the fraytur / where a very obedyencer norysheth both his body soule in peas quyetnes / he wyl neuer thyÌke nor make ordynauÌce for sweter not better lyue lode thaÌ he fyndeth there ¶ The coÌtrary dothe an inobedyeÌcer / he wyll be the laste comyÌge iÌ to the quere / the fyrste that shall go out / with his lyppes he draweth nygh to me / but his herte is fer fro me / he fleeth also for drede of penaunce that chapyter ¶ What is cause of all this ¶ Certayne inobedyence / suche one also neuer waketh nor prayeth / yet ofte tymes whan he sholde say his dyuyne seruyce / to the whiche he is bounde / and it is vnsayde / he hathe no fraternall charyte wtin hyÌ / for he loueth none but hyÌselfe / and yet not with reasonable loue / but with beestly loue ¶ Thus many euylles ther be the falleÌ vpoÌ the heed of an vnobedyeÌt maÌ / thus many sorowfull fruytes he bryÌgeth forthe / many mo whiche no erthly toÌgue caÌtell ¶ O inobedyeÌce whiche depryues the soule fro lyght of obedyence ¶ O inobedyeÌce whiche depryues the soule fro all vertu / arayes it with all vyces / thou takes awaye fro hyÌ peas gyues hyÌ warre / thou takes fro hym lyfe gyues hyÌ dethe / thou drawes hyÌ out of the shyp of his order drenches hym iÌ the see of this wretched worlde / so straÌgles hyÌ in synne / makynge hym to swymme with his owne armes / ther he sholde swymme with the armes of his order / thou arayes hym with all maner wretchednesse / thou makes hym dye for hoÌger / takynge awaye fro hym the meet of that meryte of obedyence / thou gyues hym coÌtynuall bytternesse / fro all delectacyoÌ of swetenesse thou depryues hym and fro all good / makes hym to stonde in all maner of euyll ¶ In this lyfe thou makes hyÌ bere the ernest of endelesse turmeÌt / yf he ameÌde hyÌ not or thaÌ he passe out of this worlde / thou ledes that same inobedyent soule to endelesse daÌpnacyoÌ / euer to be turmented with the fendes yeâll out of heuen for âââyr inobedyeÌce / by the whiche they were rebell to me / now be in the armes of hell / ryght so thou inobedyence by cause thou was rebell to obedyence / dyd throwe a waye fro the this keye of obedyeÌce with whiche thou sholde haue opened the wyket in the gate of heueÌ / thou dyd take iÌ thy hoÌde thou keye of inobedyeÌce / wherwith thou hase opened the gate of heueÌ Â¶ Of the imparfeccyoÌ of theÌ whiche be slowe vnlusty iÌ relygyoÌ / all be it that they kepe them fro deedly synnes / of the remedy how that they may come out of that vnlustynes O Dere doughter howe many be there nowe of the wretched inobedyen cers / whiche in these dayes be fedde noryshed in the shyp of relygyon / ryght fewe there be that be very obedyencers neuertheles sothe it is that bytwene these êfyte obedyencers these wretched obedyencers be many / whiche lyue comunely in the order / for nother they be êfyte as they shold be / nor they be moche wycked / bycause they kepe clene theyr coÌscyeÌce fro deedly synÌe / but yet they stoÌde in dulnesse neclygeÌce of herte / yf suche excercysed not theyr lyuynge in kepynge somwhat of theyr obseruauÌces of the order / they sholde fall to greate perell / therfore they haue nede to be ryght besy and slepe not iÌ derkenesse / but that they aryse fro dulnesse slothe / for yf they abyâe loÌge therin / they be able for to fall ryght lore / yet though they fall not / they sholde slode vnder maÌnes praysyÌge a plesauÌce / colored with the colour of relygyoÌ / besyeÌge theÌ rather in kepyÌge of some outwarde cerymonyes in the syght of maÌ / thaÌ for to kepe properly the pure religyoÌ / oftetymes suche with lytellyghte that they haue be able to fal to domes demynges of them that kepe the order more straytely thaÌ they in lesse êfeccyon of ceremonyes / of whom they make theÌselfe specyal kekers ¶ To all suche it semeth to theÌ ryght noyus for to dwell in comune obedyeÌce / in asmoche as they neclygently ouerpasse trewe obedyeÌce / with moche peyne labour with a colde herte they bere that obseruauÌces of the order ¶ Thus they offende êfeccyon / by the whiche they entred / and thoughe they do lytell harme as I haue sayd to other yet neuertheles they do full euyll / the is bycause they come not clereli out of the world / wher they shold haue lyued kepte the keye of generall obedyeÌce / and than for to come to
the eye of intelleccyon with the lyghte of feythe knewe my sothefastnesse and the excellence of obedyence / and whan it had so herde with ghostly herynge and tastynge by affeccyon all these thynges with loue longyÌge desyre / she lyfte herselfe aboue herselfe and behelde in the dyuyne maieste and sayde thus ¶ Thankynge be to the endelesse fader / that hase no abhomy nacyon of me thy creature / nor hase not turned thy face fro me / nor thou hase not dyspysed my desyres / thou endelesse lyghte consyders no thyÌge my derkenesse / thou lyfe wolde not consyder that I am dethe / nor thou leche wolde not forsake me for my greuous abhomynable ghostly sekenesse of synne / thou endelesse purete dyspyses me not that am ful of fylthe of moche wretchednesse / thou that arte infynyte hates me not that am fynyte able to haue ende / thou wysdome lettes not to speke ââ me that am a foole / for all these / and many other infynyte euyls and defautes that be iÌ me / thy wysdome / thy goodnesse / and thy myldenesse / haue not dyspleased me / but iÌ thy lyght thou hase gyuen me lyghte / in thy wysdome thou hase gyueÌ me trewe knowlege / and in thy myldenesse I haue founde loue of the and of my neyghboure ¶ Who constrayned the ther to ¶ Certayne not my vertues / but onely thy charyte / that same loue hathe constrayned the to yllumyne the eye of my intelleccyoÌ in the lyght of holy feythe / that I myght vnder stonde knowe thy sothefast truthe shewed to me ¶ GrauÌte to me therfore blessed endelesse fader / that my mynde maye be able for to kepe thy benefytes retentyfely / and that my wyll maye brenne ferueÌtly in the fyre of thy charyte / that I may bathe soule body buriowne iÌ thy sones bloode / and that with the same bloode and the keye of obedyence / I maye open the gate of heuen / this same I praye the hertely for euery reasonable creature / bothe in generall and in specyall / and for the mysteryall body of holy chyrche ¶ I knowlege well denye not that thou loued me me or that I loued the. ¶ O endelesse trynyte / o very godheed / thy dyuyne nature hathe made the pryce of thy sones bloode of so greate valu / thou endelesse trynyte arte a depe see / in the whiche that moore I enter / the more I fynda / thou arte vnsacyable / for a soule that fulfylleth hym in thy depenesse / is not so fulfylled / but euer it is made hongry in the / it thrysteth in the endelesse trynyte / desyrynge with lyghte to se the in endeles lyghte / for as an harte desyreth to the well of rennynge water / so desyreth my soule to go out of the derke pryson of my body and se the in sothefastnesse as thou arte O how longe tyme shall thy face be hyd fro my eyes / o endelesse trynyte the depenesse of fyre charyte / vnlose and vnbynde fro the soule the cloude of my body / the knowlege that thou hase gyue me of the / causeth me in truthe to desyre for to ouer passe the burthon of my body / for I haue tasted and sene with the lyghte of intelleccyon with thy lyghte / the depenesse of thy endelesse trynyte / by the whiche syghte I sawe me in the / to be the ymage of the / hauyÌge mynde by the myght of the the endelesse fader and intelleccyon / by the wysdome of thy sone and of the holy ghost that cometh bothe fro the and fro thy sone wyll by the wiche wyll / I am able for to loue / thou endelesse tryny rearte my maker / I thy creature / I knowe well endelesse trynyte by the shedynge of the bloode of thy loue / that thou arte a Iolyous louer of the fayrenesse of thy creature / o endeles depenes / o endeles godheed / o depe see / what myghte thou gyue me more than thyselfe / thou wastes and consumes in the hete of the loue of the soule / thou arte the fyre / thou does awaye all coldenesse / thou arte that fyre that yllumyneth / and with thy lyghte thou hase made me to knowe thy truthe / thou arte that very lyghte aboue nature in so greate habundaunce parfeccyon that thou makes clere the lyghte of feythe / in the whiche feythe / I se that my soule hathe lyfe / and in that lyghte it receyueth the that arte very lyghte / in the lyghte of feythe it hathe wonne wysdome / that is the wysedome of thy onely sone / In lyghte of feythe I am stydfaste / stronge / and parseueraunte / in the lyghte of feythe I hope / whiche suffereth me not to defayle iÌ my iournaye / that lyghte techeth me the waye / without this lyghte I must nedes walke in derkenesse / and ther fore endelesse fader I praye the yllumyne me with the lyghte of holy feythe / for that lyght is a see whiche norysheth the soule in the that arte the peaseable see endelesse trynyte ¶ The water of thy peaseable see is not troublous / therfore hym nedeth not to drede that is in that see / for he knoweth the truthe of thy onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / he is suche a myrrour that nedes I muste beholde / in / the whiche myrrour is represented to me that am thy ymage creature / the whiche myrrour also representeth to me the that arte moost souerayne / iÌfynyte / and meruaylous good / and suche good as is aboue al good / blessed good incomprehensyble good meruaylous good / fayrenesse aboue all feyrenesse / wysdome aboue all wysdome / thou arte the meet of angeles / and with the fyre of loue thou hase gyuen thyselfe to vs wretches / thou arte that vesture whiche couers all nakednesse / thou arte he that fedes all hongry in thy swetenesse / thou acte swete without ony bytternesse ¶ O endelesse trynyte / in thy lyghte whiche I haue receyued lyghte of holy feythe / I haue knowe by many meruaylous declaracyons of the waye of parfeccyon that with lyghte and not with derkenesse I maye nowe serue the / therfore I praye the endelesse trynyte that I maye be a myrrour of good and holy lyuynge / that I maye aryse gracyously fro the derkenesse of my wretched lyuynge / in the whiche derkenesse I haue alwaye hyderto be blyÌded / by the whiche knowlege of thy truthe as I sholde / therfore I myghte not well and parfytely loue it ¶ Why knewe I the not ¶ Certayne for I sawe the not with the gloryous lyghte of holy feythe / and also for the cloude of my owne proper loue had blynded the eye of my intelleccyon / and yet thou endelesse trynyte with thy lyghte hase dyssolued my derkenesse ¶ Who maye at tayne for to come to the heyghte and to yelde to the thaÌkynges for so grate a gyfte / and for the
of the loue / by the whiche they loue for her owne comforte ¶ And therfore I wyl that you knowe that my seruaunte whiche loueth me vnparfytely / rather he seketh after comforte / thaÌ he loueth me enterely onely for me and by that thou maye vnderstoÌde whan coÌforte fayleth ghostly or temporally / they be troubled in temporall comfortes / to the whiche worldely men the whiche lyuen with some maner outewarde dede of vertu / for to come to outewarde prosperyte / and whan trybulacyon cometh the whiche I gyue theym for the profyte of theyr soules / they be troubled in that lytle good the whiche they haue done / and yf ony man wolde aske them why they be so troubled / they wolde answere bycause they be so troubled in trybulacyons and an guysshes / and that lytle good whiche we haue done as vs semeth stoÌdeth to none auauntage / for vs semeth we hadde more reste of soule before with the good that we dyden than / than we haue nowe / suche be dysceyued in theyr owne delectacyon / and it is not sothe that trybulacyon is cause / for they sholde loue neuertheles / nor do the lesse of good workes ¶ For the good workes that they done in tyme of trybulacyon / it shall auayle them asmoche as they dyd defore in tyme of comforte / and yet it shal auayle theÌ more / yf they haue pasyeÌce / it fareth by suche as dothe by a maÌ that laboreth in his gardayne or in his orcharde the whiche hathe delyte is rested in soule with his la bour / bycause of his fayre orcharde or gardayne / and so it semeth that he hathe more delyte of his fayre gardayne or orcharde than of his labour / neuerthelesse yf the gardayne or the orcharde were take away fro hym / he sholde soone fele his delyte delectacyon withdrawe ¶ Why ¶ Truly for his pryncypall delyte was moche more set vpoÌ the orcharde than vpon his laboure ¶ But yf his pryncypall delyte were sette rather vpon his laboure thaÌ vpoÌ his gardayne / than sholde he not lose the loue that he had to his neyghbour ¶ In the same wyse a man that doeth good actuall dedes outewarde / he maye not lose the delyte of excersyce iÌ suche workynge but yf he wyl / thoughe the delyte of prosperyte be withdrawe / so that he set his pryncypall entent vpon the labour / and not vpon the prosperyte ¶ The cause why suche be dysceyued iÌ theyr owne workynge / is theyr owne passyon / for often tymes they breken out and thus they saye / I knowe ryght wel that I dyd better and hadde more delyte for to dwell more comforte than I haue nowe / bycause I am more troubled now thaÌ I was thaÌ / and now I haue no delyte nor plesure to do good dedes / theyr sayenge is false and not trewe / for yf the good in it selfe hadde delyted them onely for the vertu of that good / they sholde neuer haue loste it / nor it sholde neuet haue fayled in them / but moche rather encresed / but bycause the workynge of theyr good dedes / was set onely in her owne sentyble good / therfore it fayled / this is a dysceyte that comynly the people receyue / all suche be dysceyued by theyr owne synful delectacyon ¶ And nowe I shall shewe the here of the dysceyte that they haue whiche sette al theyr affeccyons in comfortes and ghostly vysyoÌs ANd somtyme of suche delectacyoÌ he receyueth very moche harme / for yf his affeccyon be sette in comfortes and ghosty vysyons / the whiche many tymes ofte I gyue to my seruauntes / whan they be wtdrawe fro hym / than he falleth in to heuynesse and greate bytternesse of soule / as ofte as I withdrawe my comfortes fro his soule / so ofte hym semeth that I haue forsake hym / and therfore hym semeth that he is in hell / wherfore he falleth in to bytternesse / and in to many temptacyons ¶ He sholde not do so / nor suffre hym so to be dysceyued / of his owne spyrytuall delectacyoÌ / but he sholde lyfte vp his eye to me / and knowe me for very souerayne good / the whiche receyue and kepe for hym / good ãâã me of dyseases ¶ He sholde ãâã âââmselfe / and holde hymâââââ vnworthy for to haue pease ãâã of soule / and that is the ãâã propre cause why I wtdrawe âââârome hym / that he sholde loue ââm and meke hyÌ / and knowe that my very charyte and goodnesse the whiche sholde be in hym for to be founde with good and parfyte wyll and neuer elles / the whiche I conserue and kepe in his tyme of trybulacyoÌ Â¶ And also I withdrawe me for this cause / that he shold not onely receyue of me the mylke of my swetenesse / but also that he sholde apply hym with all his myghte for to cleue to the breste of my sothefast sone Ihesu cryste / where he shall bothe seke and fynde mylke flesshe togyder / that is drawynge to hym the mylke of my very charyte / by meane or medyacyon of the blessyd body of my dere sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed ¶ To them therfore that gone so and seke my mylke of swetenesse / with prudence and not with ygnoraunce of my sones bytter passyon / to suche I tourne with a greter delyte / with ghostly strengthe and also with lyghte and brennyÌge fyre of charyte And yf it so be that they take suche withdrawynge of ghostly swetenesse dyscomfortably with heuynesse and confusyon of soule / they do not wynne no comforte therby / but moche rather they sholde abyde in theyr owne dulnes ¶ How all they that delyte them in suche coÌ fortes and vysyons maye be dyscryued / how that they maye receyue a wycked spyryte vnder the forme / or colour of a good spyryte / and also of tokens how it maye be knowen whan it cometh of god / and whan that it cometh of oure enemy the deuyll After this ofte tymes of the fende they receyue an other dysceyte that is whan he transformeth hym selfe in to the lykenesse of lyghte / for the fende there he fyndeth a maÌ dysposed for to receyue ghostly comfortes / and therto setteth all his desyre on suche comfortes and ghostly vysyons / wheron he sholde not set his desyre nor truste / but onely on very mekenesse / thynke that he is vnworthy for to receyue suche ghostly comfortes / to suche the fende transfygureth hymselfe / iÌ to lyght by many maner wyses / other whyle to the lykenesse of an angell / other whyle in to the fourme of my sone crucyfyed / and other whyle in to lykenes of some of my seyntes / this he dothe bycause he wolde catche hym with the hoke of his owne ghostly spyrytuall delectacyon / the whiche hathe set all his affeccyoÌ desyre vpon ghostly vysyons ¶ Yf a soule ryse not vp anone with very mekenesse / castynge