syster Charite is very necessary for without it no man can please GOD he loueth not GOD that hateth his peple nor he loueth not god that dispeseth his cōmaundementes charite is the very rote of all vertue without charite what soeuer we do it helpeth not al our diligēce is vaine without charite where that charite is not there raygneth flesly cupidite and lust and therfore a man is called perfyte when he is ful of charite for without charite notwithstandynge a man byleue neuer so well he shal neuer come to eternall beatitude the vertue of charite is so excellent and so noble that without it all other vertues auayle not but yf charite be in man as it ought to be he hath all thynge he that loueth not GOd loueth not hym selfe Therfore nowe at this tyme I monyshe you that by perfite loue ye annexe ioine your self to your īuiseble spouse chryst Iesu and that be no meanes ye couet not these worldly thynges And haste you also be affection to be out of this dale of wretchednes thynk it a payne to be long here nor take no pleasure therī but w t al your myght and desyre be as faruent as ye may to departe vnto god youre louer that for the loue of him ye esteme and repute youre proper helthe as nothynge And loke y t ye be euermore throw pearsed with the woundes of his excellent loue and so that ye maye say these wordes I am wounded with charite My welbeloued lyster in chryst Iesu harken vnto goddes wordes Whosoeuer sethe that he loued me shal be beloued of my father I wyl loue hym and manyfestly vysclose my selfe vnto hym Therfore good sister loue him in this transitory worlde that he maye loue you with his father in perpetuall beatitude Amen ¶ Of the cōtempt of the worlde viij cha MY Welbeloued syster harken vnto Chryst Iesu the whiche sayth Whosoeuer wyl forsake and seue his house his father and mother his brethren and systers or his childrē his feldes or his heritage for y e loue of me and my name he shal receyue a hunderth tymes asmoch and therwith eternal and euerlastynge lyfe Wherfore good syster it is for oure greate luker profyte to leue al earthly thynges for Goddes sake to get eternall for whosoeuer be a frend and a fauerer of y ◠worlde he is goddes enemie Wherfore let vs not loue the worlde least that God shall hate vs. He shall easely despyse all thynge that rememberth euermore that he shal dye Yf we dayly call oure death to memory we shall wyllyngly despyse all earthly thynges yf we thynke dayly vpon the daye of oure death we shall efthsones forget and despyse all worldly pleasures The sisters demaunde O My good brother I wold be wel content for y e name the loue of god to leue all y e is in the world yf I had any thing but forasmoche as I haue neyther golde syluer nor yet no other ryches of this worlde I cā not tell what I shulde leue for goddes sake The brothers answere O Chrystes spouse ye leue many thynges when ye leue youre wyl to haue ye leue many thynges whē ye put backe youre desyre of bauynge ye leue moche when ye leue all carnall and flesly desyre ye leue moch when that for the name of god ye leue all delectations and plesures of this worlde ye leue moch whē ye renoūce these worldly couetus desyres GOd loueth more the soule of man thē he doth worldly ryches The lorde loueth moche more the hooly pure mynd of man then any worldly substāce good syster the kyngdome of heuen is worthe all that euer ye haue god axeth no more then he hath gyuen you Therfore rēder vp vnto hym that he hathe gyuē you y e is a holy a deuoute a chast a pure a religious a fere full mynde and a well manerred Then good syster the kyngdome of heuen is asmoch worth as ye are able to gyue or make gyue and offer vp your selfe vn to god ye shall soone optayne the kyngdome of heuen Let not the price therof trouble you trouble not your selfe for the pryce nor thynk it not moch for chryst Iesus to delyuer you from the handes of the deuyll to wyn to brynge you to god delyuered him self vp Therfore giue your selfe wyllyngly and hooly vnto hym that hath bought delyuered you from the hādes of your enemye for why to saue you he dyd hooly deliuer him self good syster set not by y e mucke of this worlde that ye may optayne the ryches of heuen ryches dothe bryng and leade man to the daūger bothe of body and soule Ryches bring a mā to his death Many a man hath bene destroyed by ryches by ryches many a man hath ben in extreme daunger Many a one hathe ben banyshed and outlawed for ryches Ryches hath bene the death of many a man Who so troubleth hym selfe with these earthly and worldly busynesses shall neuer be at rest nor yet inquiet The care of worldly substaūce dothe trouble a mans mynde maruelously and man gyuen and occupyde aboute suche vyle and earthly matters is in continual vexation and trouble Wherfore yf ye wyll be at rest and in tranquilyte desyre noone of these worldly thynges Ye shall be euermore in quietnesse of mynd yf ye leaue these worldly cures ye shall be at reste yf ye auoyde and leaue al worldly actions and busynesses for ryches are neuer gotten without the great daunger of synne No man melleth with worldly matters w tout parel of syn it is a very rare a seldome sene thing that they come to eternall rest that meldle with the worlde He that in wrappeth hym selfe in worldly matters gothe from the loue of god He that is fixed in the loue of these earthly thynges taketh litle or no pleasure in god these temporall cares and matters elienate a mans mynde frō god there is no mā that at once can bothe loue the glorye of heuen and of the worlde No man can loue god and the worlde togyther it is a very harde thyng to applye celestiall and worldly thynges togyther Yt is a hard point to loue god and the world togyther no man can perfetly loue god and the worlde noman can egally loue them bothe at once O honest virgyn I praye you to harken vnto me for not withstandynge a man do florysh in the glorye of this worlde not withstanding he be clothed with purpure and golde notwithstandynge he semeth to be excellently well arrayed floryshynge in golde and precious stone not w e dyng he hath his garde of goodly men aboute hym and his armed watche men and inuironed with innumerable cōpany of seruantes Yet he is euermore in payne in anguish and heuines in parell and daunger And not withstandyng he be among his goodly tapettes and rych hangynges yet vexed moch troubeled he lyeth in his beddes of golde and syluer and beyng full
¶ A compeÌ„dius a moche fruytefull treatyse of well liuynge coÌ„taynyng the hole suÌ„me and effect of al vertue Wrytten by S. Bernard translated by Thomas Paynell Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ¶ To the high and excellent Lady mary deare doughter to our moost pusaunte soueraygne lorde the kyng T. Paynel sendeth gretyng AFter I had gathered and translated certayne chaptters of this fruytful and vertuous boke Lady moost excellent I with my selfe imagynyng and reuoluyng to whose tuition defense I shuld gyue or coÌ„mit the same youre excellence apeared to my mynde most metest and among all other the moost apteste and for this thinge moost coÌ„uenient For who can denye but y â— youre grace thus well lerned as in dede ye are thus inclyned to the obseruacioÌ„ of Chrystes lawes is a ryght good bulwarke a sure defence agaynst the gnawers of other mens labours this proper boke replenished w t all godly and spiritual lerning I dare bebolde to say that your grace ponderyng the sayenges intent therof neuer red thyng in englishe that aluerde or styrd you more to deuocioÌ„ to the loue of god and your neyghbour to fulfyl his swete easy coÌ„mauÌ„dementes to exchue and vtterly auoyde all wantonnesse all ydelnesse all vanite al trifelyng dalyance all worldly pastyme and pleasure then dothe this boke the whiche S Bernarde at his systers request coÌ„piled made exhortynge her and all other to goddes seruice to his feare and loue to the complement of his moost swetest preceptes commaundementes Consyderynge then the vtilite the deuoute pretence and swete argument of this treatyse remeÌ„bring also the integrite of hym that made it agayne the deuoute purpose of her it was made for poÌ„derynge also your graces moost curius and exquisite insuynge of theyr vertues and heuenly liuynge coulde I haue dedicate this my simple rude translacioÌ„ rude it is and not eloqueÌ„tly paynted bicause I wolde be playne to any other then to youre excellence a very mirour glasse of all goodnesse of all vertue of all deuocion and perfet fayth Meruell it is to heare how men ertoll your pure and vertuous liuyng and there with your constancy in all goodnesse your bouÌ„tifulnesse opende hande to the poore verteous mooste coÌ„mendable the trewe pathway to conducte and brynge al suche as truely customably vse theÌ„ to eternal beatitude I wyll not at this tyme expresse youre many folde other vertues and gyftes of nature nor speake of youre diuine and humayne knowledge of youre pacience and lowly behauoure nor of your humilite chastite thynges consideryng your gracys estate and age to be wunderde at But by this your clene liuynge and longe contynuance therof men maye nowe se perceyue and fele the effecte of godly and vertuous educacion the very rote and spryng of all godly operacyon of all vertue and clene lyfe What nedeth me I say to speake of your beutyfulnesse of your most amiable and lowly couÌ„tinance of youre wyse and chaste coÌ„muninacyon or of your well proportioned body in euery behalfe The which gyftê of nature to many other are as iÌ„ticementes and occasioÌ„s of euyl disposicion But to your grace they are as I coniecture vertuous prouocations the fresh remembraunce of the hygh and marueylons workê of almightye God whome I hartely beseche and pray to continue your grace this newe yeare euer in vertue and to sende you longe lyfe to his pleasure ¶ Here beginneth the table of this presente boke The prologue OF fayth Folio .iii. Of esperauÌ„ce and hope fol. v Of grace Fo. vi Of feare Fol. xi Of charyte Fol. xviii Of the conteÌ„pt of the worlde fo xxiii Of coÌ„uenyent garmeÌ„tes Fo. xxviii Of compunctyon Fol. xxxii Of heuynesse Fo. xxxix Of the loue of God Fo. xlv Of y â— loue of thy neighbour Fo. xlvii Of compassyon Fol. lii Of mercy Fol. liiii Of examples of sayntes Fol. lv Of contentyon and stryfe Fo. lx Of dyscyplyne correctyoÌ„ Fo. lxii Of obedyence Fo. lxviii Of perseueraunce Fo. lxxiiii Of vyrgynyte Fo. lxxx Of contynence Fo. lxxxiii Of fornycatyon Fol. lxxxvii Of abstynence Fo. lxxxxiii Of dronkennesse Fo. lxxxxvii Of synne Fol. ci Of coÌ„fessyoÌ„ of syns penauÌ„ce fo ciiii Of communyon Fo. cxiii Of thought Fol. cxviii Of scylence Fo. cxx Of lyenge Fo. cxxii Of periury Fol. cxxiii Of detractyon Fol. cxxiiii Of enuy Fol. cxxv Of anger Fol. cxxvi Of hatred Fo. cxxviii Of pride Fo. cxxix Of vayue glory Fo. cxxx Of humilyte Fol. cxxxiii Of paryence Fo. cxxxv Of concorde Fo. cxxxvi Of sufferaunce Fo. cxxxix Of syckenes Fol. cxlii Of couytousnes Fol. cxlvi Of cupydyte Fol. cxlviii Of pouertye Fol. cxlix Of murmuracyon Fo. cliii Of prayer Fo. civ Of holy lessons Fol. clvii Of workes Fo. clix Of lyfe artyue coÌ„teÌ„platyue fo clxi Of curyosyte Fol. clxix Of watche Fol. clxxi Of wysdome Fol. clxxvi Of temptacyon Fol. clxxx Of dreames Fol. clxxxiiii Of shortnes of lyfe Fo. clxxxvii Of death Fol. clxxxxi Of Iudgement Fol. clxxxxiii The brothers exhortacioÌ„ â—o c. xcvii Finis Tabula ¶ A very conuenient forme and maner of liuyng for euery man oâ— woman that is mynded to lyue in Chrystes lawes The prologue MY ryght webeloued sister in God it is longe sence that ye very effecteously desyred me to wryte you a fewe of good and holy admonitions But it is as men do say a point of pryde for a man to go aboute to teach his betters and therfore esteming my selfe vnworthy to take this thyng vpoÌ„ me I haue differde and prolonged to accoÌ„plyshe youre desyre but for asmoche as ye haue renued youre peticyon and instanstly desyred me to the same I remembrynge also the wordes of Chrystes sayenge whosoeuer shall constrayne the to brynge hym a myle of his way go with him two miles And agayne gyue to those that shall requyre of the such thyngê as shalbe for there profyte that requyreth them his ease that shall gyue them I founde that I was constrayned by charyte led there vnto through youre holy oracioÌ„s and prayers Therfore I haue gathered vnder the table of good holy fathers a few cruÌ„mes of breade yf I haue not gethered them as I ought to do yet I haue done the best I could the whiche cruÌ„mes I sende vnto you coÌ„prised in this boke for your instruction Therfore my welbeloued sister take this boke and set it as a glas before youre eyes and beholde it well contynually for the coÌ„maundementes of God be as it were glasses in the which mans soule shulde euermore be lokynge For by them men shal know the fylthynes of syn for there is no man clene froÌ„ syn and ameÌ„d there euyl thoughtes whesshiÌ„g there faces clene froÌ„ all lubricite and ordure of synfulnesse yf men set al there mynde vpoÌ„ goddes coÌ„maundementes behold well these glasses there is no doute but they shall se knowe all that shalbe bothe pleasant displeasant
GOd this feare is also caulde chyldly feare for it feareth not god as a seruaÌ„t fereth his cruel maister but as a child feareth his swete father But what meneth Dauid be this sayenge y t feare of god remayneth for euermore When saynt Iohn layeth that perfet charite dothe repell and chace feare awaye This is that we tolde you before that he hathe chast feare in hym that fereth not GOD bycause of the paynes of hell nor for the tormeÌ„tes of the fyer but for the reuerence loue he hath vnto GOd and this reuerent louynge feare to God shall endure for euermore He that feareth god for the paynes of hell hath not this chast fere but the feare called seruyle nor he hath no perfyte charite for yf he loued god perfetly he wolde haue ê‘fyte iustice in him selfe shuld not feare god for feare of the paâ—es of hell but onely for reuerence and good loue therfore the fere of payne is not in charite for perfyte Charite putteth all feare awaye A seruaunt feareth his maister after another sorte then the chyld the father The seruant feareth his mayster with dispeare and hatred the childe fereth his father with all loue and reuerence Therfore I aduyse you to feare god with all loue and reuerence I wyl not ye shuld be euermore vnder the yoke of feare but that ye shulde lyfte vp your selfe vnto god the father that made and created you as his owne doughter Also I exhorte you to loue god chastely and that ye prefar nothynge aboue his loue but y â— for his sake loue ye esteme lytle all worldly thynges Ferthermore honest virgyn I desyre you to amende your liuyng as moche as ye maye possible in such maner that your wordes and coÌ„municacioÌ„ may be pudyke chast youre pase all honest your couÌ„tenauÌ„ce huÌ„ble meke your tongue affable your soule replenished w t the loue of God your handes ful of good workê the lorde helpyng you without whose ayde it is impossible to do well My deare syster in chryst yfye feare GOd withall youre harte ye shall haue great abouÌ„daunce of ryches not onely in this preseÌ„t lyfe but also in tyme to come Of charite v. cha THe king hath brought me into his wyne celler hath ordayned charite in me This wine celler is y â— church in the whiche is the wyne of prechyng of y â— gospel Into this celler is brought y e louer of y e spouse y â— is y â— deuoute soule of maÌ„ wheriÌ„ charite is ordained set for eueri thynge ought not to be equally belouyd but in diuers maners we shulde not loue all thynges alyke and with one affectioÌ„ but one more and another lesse for why to know what we ought to do and not to knowe howe to order it is no perfite science for yf we loue not such thynges as we shulde loue or yf we loue suche thynges as we shulde not loue our charite is not well orderde or yf we loue any thynge more or lesse then we shulde do oure Charite is not well ordered for Charite well ordered wylleth y â— we feare god aboue all thyng we shulde loue god with al our harte that is with all our vnder standyng and w t all our mynd that is with all our wyll and with all our thought that is w t all our memory we shulde also eâ—alte and lyft vp vnto god all our vnderstandynge all oure thought all oure lyfe of whome we haue althynge And beware that there be no part of our lyfe in ydelnesse but what soeuer y â— coÌ„meth to our mynde redresse it vnto hym from whome finally all feruentnes of loue dothe descende and flowe Therfore my dere syster it is a ryght worthy thynge a very necessary that we loue God aboue all thynge for he is the soueraine goodnes then to loue the souerayne goodnesse is souerayne beatitude the more a man loueth god the more he is fortunate he that loueth god is reputed to be good and yf he be good it foloweth y â— he is fortunate Of the whiche thynge it is wryten in the canticles The loue of god is as stroÌ„ge as death that is well sayde for as death doth violently seperate the soule from the bodye so the loue of god dothe violently seperate man from all carnall and worldly loue and verely the loue of GOD is as stronge as death for wheÌ„ that through the loue of god we be mortified froÌ„ vice then what soeuer death dothe in mannes body the same dothe the delection of god in the cupidites and pleasures of this worlde God shulde be beloued for his owne sake for he is the souerayn goodnes of all goodnes and he that hathe created vs of nought Charite is the delectioÌ„ by the which the lorde is loued for his owne sake and a mans nyghbour forgoddê sake Aboue all thing fyrst god ought to be beloued as I haue shewed you that is before all other thynge and secoÌ„darely your neyghbour in god that is in all goodnesse Charite hath two coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes and preceptes The fyrst pertayneth to the dilection of god the whiche is y â— principall point of all The seconde pertayneth to the dilection of your neyghbour the which is lyke vnto the fyrst as it is wryteÌ„ Thou shalt loue thy lorde god thy neyghbour as thy selfe as thoughe he wold say y â— shuld loue thy neighbour for y e thiÌ„g to y â— ende y â— dost loue thy selfe y e iâ— y e he maye be good come the blysse of heuen And of this godly neighbourly dilection chryst in the Canticles sayeth vnto his spouse charite for if charite were in him god shuld be in hym for God is charite Also we shulde loue our neighbours kynsfolke yf they be good goddes seruaÌ„tes but yet we shuld rather loue a strauÌ„ger copelyd vnto vs by charite then our kynsfolke that neyther loue nor serue GOd Why so For the coÌ„iunction copulatioÌ„ of men by charite is of a more ê‘ fectioÌ„ holynesse then onely bodely coniunction We shulde loue all faythful people but for asmoch as we caÌ„not profyte theÌ„ all we ought principally to profyte theÌ„ the which by reasoÌ„ of in habitatioÌ„ tyme other oportunites are straytly ioyned vnto vs by charite but yet w t lyke loue we shuld desyre euery mans saluattoÌ„ loue al maner of people charitable that is we shulde loue them to thentent they may loue God and be saued yet we ought not to shewe the workes of mercy egally to euerye man but to some more to some lesse My welbeloued sister yf we kepe trewe and perfyte charite by GODdes helpe and grace we may come to saluation and for the loue of god we shulde loue our enemyes as it is wryten Loue your enemyes do good to those that hate you and pray for them that persecute you that euen so ye maye be the chyldren of GOD. Then good
feble and frayle he resteth in his beddes of downe all mortall Good syster in chryst I do shew you these thynges to thentent ye may knowe how vayne these worldly thinges be The felicite of this worlde is very short the glorye of this worlde is small this temporal powre is exceding frayle and bryttell Wherfore loke ye despyse all worldly abouÌ„ daunce and that wyllyngly ye forsake these earthly thinges to come to eternall Refuse that is traÌ„sitory to come to euerlastyng Gyue away these tryflynge and worldly thynges that god maye gyue you eternall exchew and flye the worlde and the coÌ„pany of man y â— ye maye come to that goodly and celestiall company of angelles to the whiche company I desyre he wyll brynge you that bought you w t his precious bloode Amen Of the haâ—yte coÌ„uenieÌ„t garmentes cap. ix THe lorde sayeth They that are delicately and softly besene are in greate mens houses A mans garment is called softe delicate bycause it mollefyeth corrupte the mynde great mens houses delyte in such wanton delicate vesture but the churche of god deliteth taketh pleasure in humble and sharp arraye In the vesture of chryst seruantes of his hand maydeÌ„s shuld not be nor yet a peare newfangelnesse no vanite no superfluite nor no sygne of pryde or of vayne glorye Wherupon S. Hierome sayeth that the tender and softe vesture doth not ornate nor set forth goddes seruaÌ„tes but the clerenesse of thought Therfore my welbeloued syster let vs decke vs with spirituall ornamentes that is with charite humilite gentylnes obedience and pacieÌ„ce these be the very ornamentes with the whiche we may please oure celestial spouse chryst Iesus for oure inuisible spouse requireth no erteryoure beutie but the interior inward beutie as Dauid the Prophet sayeth All the glorye of the kinges doughter that is of god is inwardly and all such glorye is in a good in a humble and in a pure conscyeÌ„ce and in such thynges they that be good do onely glorye but these idiotes do euer more glorye iÌ„ these exterior thinges Therfore let good maners be your ryches let good liuyng be your beutye for I wolde my good syster that that thynge myght be sayde by you that is red in the canticles My swete harte ye are all goodly nor there is not a spot in you And againe it is wryten come from the mouÌ„tayne of Libano for ye shall be crowned Truly that soule may well be called fortunate that seruyth god vndefyledly ye shalbe very fortunate yf ye maye serue god youre spouse without any spot of syn in deuer not youre self to plese god with your fayre face but with your harte youre vesture shal neyther be to precyous nor yet to vyle but moderate and coÌ„petent And so sayeth saynt Austen of hym selfe I confesse sayeth he that I am a shamed of my goodly araye And agayne he sayeth that such goodly araye besemeth not his profession it pertayneth not to these membres it besemeth not these graye eares Be therfore good virgyn well and honestly besene not to apeare to be bewtifull but only for bodely health least that when ye are trymblye besene ye fall to synne for the more that the body is wantonly set forth invayneglorye so moch the more the soule is inwardly bespotted and defyled Therfore good syster shewe your professioÌ„ to your pace and in your habyte that in youre pace be simplicite and honeste in youre mouynge purenesse in your gesture grauite and in youre maner of goynge honeste and that therein appeare no dishoneste no waÌ„tonnesse no pryde no sluggesneshe nor no lyghtnesse for why the wyll and mynde of a man dothe appeare and is knowen by the gesture of the bodye the gesture of the body is the declaration of the mynde by a mans gesture his corage is soone perceiued Therfore good syster let your maner of goyng and pace haue no symilitude of lyghtnes in it Let not your pace ofteÌ„de mans syght Let it not cause men to gase apon you or be any occasyon why men shuld slauÌ„der and speake euyll by you Good syster clense youre conscience so from all malyce and iniquite that chryst Iesus your spouse may say thus vnto you O ye are fayre ye are fayre your eyes are as goodly as the doues ye are fayre by perfectioÌ„ of harte cleÌ„lynesse of mind ye are fayre for your intencyon is good and full of all simplicite for all that ye haue done ye haue not done it all to please man withall but onely for the pleasure of god Loke your eyes be lyke vnto the doues eyes for so shall ye kepe them vndefiled from al malyce suâ—lacion and fiction I wryte vnto you these thinges good syster because ye shulde rather reioyce inwardly of your excellent good vertues then outwardly of your freshe and gay clothyng Wherupon saynt Gregory sayeth that nomaÌ„ desyreth ryche goodly apparell but onely for vayne glorye that is bycause that meÌ„ shulde extoll and laude hym and thynke theÌ„ more honorable then all other There is no man that desyreth to be wel decked but there onely where he may be sene and so it is manifest that he desyreth it only forvaine glorie O good virgyn by the desyre of such ryche and worldly apparel men knowe we do loue this worlde for he y e loueth not the world careth litle or nothiÌ„g for suche vanites When man reioyseth in such goodly ryche habyte then his harte is far froÌ„ the loue of god his maker how moche the more we delyte in the fashonyng and trymmynge of our bodyes so moche the more farther of be we from the loue of god How moch y â— more we take our pleasure in these earthly transitory thinges so moche the lesse we desyre celestial and heueÌ„ly thinges Truely that woman that delyteth and loueth precyous aray can not be but defyled with syn the spouse of chryst louynge suche clenly and goodly apparell can not be without syn The handmayde of GOd that hath earnestly lefte the worlde desyreth no such apparel huÌ„ble and symple vesture is a token of the contempte of the worlde Therfore good syster I praye you that good maners maye be your habyte and be no nother inwardes then ye be outwardê Loke ye be in very dede the selfe ye wold be estemed and reputed to be And as ye be to maÌ„s sight so be in al your operatioÌ„s workê as ye are in countenaunce so loke ye be in very dede Of coÌ„punction the x. cha THe coÌ„puÌ„ction of the harte is y e humiâ—ite of the mynd the whiche procedeth of the remembrauÌ„ce of syn and of the feare of Goddes iudgement this coÌ„punction is a perfyte thyn g by the whiche all carnall delectacyon is auoyded and the mynde intention study of man fixed in the meditacyon and contemplacyon of god We rede of two maner of coÌ„puÌ„ctioÌ„s the tone is wheÌ„ the soule of goddes seruant is moued and therwith reduceth
for who so euer he be that appereth heuy to the holy gooste his prayer is not acceptable but feble and not hable to asceÌ„de vnto god wherfore leaue all heuynesse leaue of to be heuy set all heuynesse apart gyue not youreself to heuynes coÌ„tinue not in heuynesse set not your hart mind apon heuynes heuynesse is one of the seuen princypall vices therfore goddes seruaÌ„tes shuld clerely and vtterly auoyde and flye it Wherupon the holy S Isedore sayeth yf ye haue loued well and mercyfully ye shall neuer be heuy for a good lyfe is alwayes in ioye and gladnesse Therfore honest virgyn auoyd all heuinesse for as the mothe coÌ„sumeth the gowne and as the worme gnaweth asuÌ„dre and consumeth the woode so dothe heuinesse noye hurt mannes harte Therfore pourge youre mynde from al worldly mournefulnes and so shall your oration prayer be acceptable vnto God wepe for youre synnes and reioyce in the loue of god bewayle your mysfautes when ye remembre them and reioyce in the hope of the celestyal and eternal reward be sory for youre synnes and neglygences and mery that GOd hathe promysed you to come to heuen be heuy for suche thynges as ye haue mysdone and glad of the eternall rewarde to the which I desyre and pray god to gyde and to brynge you Of the loue of god the xij Chap. THe lorde sayeth he that loueth me wyll kepe my commaundemeÌ„tes and my father shal loue him and we wyl come vnto him and dwell with hym And saynt Iohan sayeth We loue god for he hath fyrst loued vs he y e loueth god shall pray for the forgyuenesse of his synnes and take hede he fal no more My wel beloued syster loue almyghtye god and call vnto hym for help for the loue of God is the very lyfe and his hatred very death God wyll not be beloued onely with worde but with harte and good workes he loueth not god that dispyseth his commaundementes the mynde of hym that loueth God is not in earth but in heueÌ„ and euermore desyryng of celestyal and heuenly thyngê Good syster I exhorte you to loue God aboue all thynge We shulde rather loue GOD then our freÌ„des why so For he hath created and made bothe vs and them with his owne haÌ„des that is through his owne propre vertue and power as it is wryten He hath made vs and not we haue made oure selfe Also he hath gyuen vs greater gyftes then eyther father or mother dyd and therfore we ought to loue hym aboue them Yt is a greate fooly to loue any thynge more then GOD yea he synneth greatly that loueth anye creature more then GOD he is in greate arrour that preferth the loue of any creature aboue the loue of GOd and therfore God must be beloued aboue al thing O honest virgyn I pray you to say thus by chryst Iesus w t loue and dilection My welbeloued god of whome I am greatly beloued the which pastorth amoÌ„g the liles vntyl it be day that is aslonge as it is daye and tyl the cloudes go downewardes that is vntyl the cloude of this present lyfe swage and auoide and that the day appeare that is vntyl the clerenesse of the spiritual beatitude blysse doth appeare It is a poynt of Iustice to loue god with al your harte and wyllyngly to cleue vnto hym And to loue the soueraygne goodnes is soueraigne beatitude he that loueth god is good Yf he be good he must nedes be blessed how moch more a man loueth god so moch the more he is blessed Dilectation and loue is the proper vertue of saiÌ„tes I haue sayd these thynges vnto you to thenteÌ„t that the loue of this traÌ„sytory worlde shulde not seperate you from god And hearewith I pray you to tell and to declare vnto vs somwhat of the loue of your spouse Chryst Iesu My louer is vnto me as a handfull or a shefe of myrre he restyth apoÌ„ my pappê Declare this thing a litle more playnly to vs that we may the better vnderstande it My louer I saye is vnto me as a litle shefe of myrre he shall rest betwexte my pappes the place of a mans hart is betwext the pappê that is to say the memory y e dilectioÌ„ the loue of christ Iesu shalbe euermore in my hart And whether it be in prosperite or in aduersyte I wyl euermore cal and reduce to my memory al the godnesse that he shewed me for he hath loued me and suffered his death for me and is asceÌ„ dyd to heuen to theÌ„tent I shuld come vnto hym He dothe dayly call me sayng Leaue the world my spouse come vnto me and ye shalbe crowned The lefte hand of my louer and spouse is vnder my head y t is to saye the gyfte of the holy goost resteth in me in this present lyfe and I wolde the vnderstandynge of holy scrypture were in my mind that I myght loue hym know hym perfytly His ryght hande shal in brayce me that is he shal conuey and brynge me to eternall lyfe blysse O good syster saye thus vnto the handemaydes of GOD vnderset me with floures vnderbolster me with appelles for why I consume away in the loue of my spouse Chryst Iesu O my holy systers y â— loue God aboue all thynge and prefer no worldly thinge aboue his moste swetest loue vpholde me by your good examples shew me howe I maye fynde my louer Chryst Iesus for I am sycke for the loue of my spouse This loue is swete this sycknesse is verye hooly this dilectyon is chaste this coniunction is intemerate this copulacyon is inuiolate this imbrasynge is with out any spot of synne O my holy systers sustayne me with the floures of your good examples of your hooly coÌ„uerfation for I am sycke for the loue of my spouse Uerely ye kepe your bed of contemplacyon for his sake yf ye loue hym aboue all thynges verely ye are sycke for goddê sake yf ye esteme that is celestiall aboue that is earthly verely ye consume and waste awaye in the dilection and loue of chryst and in youre bed of inwarde dilection and swetnesse yf ye be stronge in holy operations and workê feble in worldly worke and operatyon Good syster yf ye loue Chryst with all your harte nor prefer nothynge aboue his loue ye shall be with hym in great ioye in the kyngdome of heuen yf ye folow God with all youre mynde and loue hym with all youre harte without any doute ye shall be with hym in heuen and folowe hym with other hooly virgyns whether soeuer he go Yf ye cleue vnto god with all deuotion and with great desyre do sythe in this present worlde to come vnto hym without doute ye shall be with hym in greate ioye and pleasure in the hyghe palece of heuen and with other holy vyrgyns ye shall synge to his laude and prayse holy songes and deuoute hymnes as it is wrytten in
and aboundaunce in syckenes and helth in youth and in age we shulde seke hym and axe for hym with all oure mynde and all oure intentyon to be confyrmed in all deuouce and holye conuersacion and yf we couet to se hym in the kyngdome of heuen we muste clense oure selfe frome all fylthynesse for why at the daye of the generall resurrectyon there shall no man come to eternall blysse nor se the glorye of his deuyne maiestye but they onelye that are clene and pure bothe of mynde and hart The kingdome of heuen shall not be gyuen to ydle personnes nor yet to no vagabouÌ„des but to those onely that seke and demaunde it and that enforce theym selfe to gette it for the Lorde sayth Axe and ye shall haue seke ye shal fynde knocke and the dore shall be opened vnto you Therfore we must go to the gates of heueÌ„ be good prayer and seke theÌ„ by good lyfe knocke at the gate by perseueraunce the contynuall seruyce of God Nor it is not suffycyente to begynne well but we muste study to beginne wel and enforce our selfe so to coÌ„tynew al the dayes of oure lyfe For it were moche better not to knowe iustice then after a man knowethe it not to folowe it And hereof sayeth the Lorde Suche as put to and prepayre theyr handes to do wel and after they haue begun loke backewardes ar not mete for the kiÌ„gdome of heuen Therfore good sister it is greatly necessary that we with great desyre and affectyon do knocke contynually at goddes eares and that we neuer leaue of to do well vntyll heuen gates be opened vnto vs me thynkethe that to contynewe styll in goddes seruyce is an excellent vertue For they y â— leaue his seruyce to be worldly are made moch blacker then coles why so For throughe a certayne feblenesse and vnlustynes of mynde they are dede and cleane withoute the heate and fyre of charyte And of suche sayeth saynt Isodore They that returne from a good lyfe to an euyl ar through â—upedytye be smuttered with the blackenes of vyce and synÌ„e and are remoued farre from the lyghte of charite They that go froÌ„ goddes seruice to the world are seperated from the coÌ„panye of aungelles and assocyated to wycked deuilles They that leaue the holy congregacion to come to a worldly lyfe are put oute of goddes companye and do submytte them selues to the deuylles good grace Good syster take good heed what ye haue done euer more remembre from whence ye came whether ye be come and wherfore ye haue lefte and dyspysed for goddes sake all worldly thiges for his loue ye haue chosen to contynewe dwel in holy coÌ„gregatyoÌ„ ye haue bought heueÌ„ paid your owne body for it laboure therfore with all dilygence that ye lese not this goodly kyngdom the which ye haue thus conquered and gotten Loke ye lese not this kingdome y â— which ye haue bough w t your owne body harkeÌ„ what s paule sayeth There shall no man be crowned but they y t fyght lawfully he fighteth laboreth lawfully that coÌ„tinueth all his lyfe iÌ„ good workê he fighteth lawfully that without fraude or anye dissymulacyoÌ„ coÌ„tynueth in goddes seruyce he serueth god worthely y â— foloweth his good workes begun He laboureth wel in good workes y t finyshethe that he began well And the churche of his membres contynuyng in goodnesse sayeth The beames and the tymber of oure houses are of Cedern the coueryngeÌ„ of Cypers that is to saye the howses of the church are the holye congregacyon of faythfull people and goddes seruauntes that contynewe in suche thiÌ„ges as shall please hym for Ceder and cypers be suche trees as neuer putryfye they syngnyfye the blessed saintes of god the whiche with a marueylous and a contynuall affectyon do desyre hym coÌ„tynuyng in good operacyon and workes as loÌ„ge as they lyue Therfore good syster loke ye be y â— cyper tre in goddes house by the contynuaunce of a good and a deuoute lyfe And also that ye be the Ceder tree in the house of god the whiche thyng ye maye be yf ye wyl gyue y â— example of good lyfe the swete fragraunte sauers of good conuersacyon thus I do wryte because ye shulde with al youre harte and mynde dyspyse the worlde and contynewe in vertue For ye shulde not wyll to leaue vertue to requyre this worldly lyfe Also and agayne I counsayle you to tary styll in goddes seruyce and neuer to retourne to the world agayn why so For in that is lyfe coÌ„templatyfe and in the worlde nothyng but labour iÌ„ that is a holy lyfe in the worlde a synfull lyfe in that a spirituall and a gostlye lyfe in the worlde a carnal and a flesshly lyfe in that a heuenly lyfe in the world a earthly lyfe in y â— is a peaseble lyfe iÌ„ y e world a troubelous lyfe in that is a a quyet lyfe in the world a maÌ„nes lyfe is full of contentyon stryfe in that is traÌ„quylyte and reste in the worlde a lytygeus and a contentyous lyfe full of all reproche in that is a chaste and a perfyte lyfe in the world a luxurious and a vycyus lyfe in that is a life ful of al vertue in the worlde ful of all vyce and vnthriftynesse in that is a very deuoute and a holye lyfe in the worlde a lyfe ful of al iniquyte Nowe good syster ye haue hard both of life deth now ye haue set before you both good euyl ye se both ê‘dycyoÌ„ soule helth ye se bothe lyfe and deathe fyre water put forth your haÌ„des take what ye thynke best most necessary ye se before you y â— way to heuen and hell the tone leadeth a man to lyfe eternall the tother to perpetual death Therfore take whiche wayes ye wyll I desyre you onely to take the best ¶ The sisters demaunde WElbeloued brother I wyl accept and receyue youre counsell and chose the best way Also it is moche for my profyte to folowe counsell and to walk in that waye that maye brynge me to eternall ioye and blysse ¶ The brother HOnest vyrgyn I am right glad and thanke god that ye wyll take and folow the best way Therfore loke ye leue not the waye ye haue begon all redy but that ye kepe your purpose of good lyfe as longe as ye shall lyue for then shall youre workes be perfyte yf they coÌ„tynewe God doth promys heuen to those that continew in goodnesse Rewarde is gyueÌ„ to those that contynewe he is not good that dothe good onely but that contynually doth good Therfore yf ye contynewe in fayth good workes ye shal be saued Of virginite the xxi chapi THe prudent and wyse virgyns toke and put oyle in ther lampes Harken vnto my wordes they 〈…〉 are cleane virgyns both of body and mynde are no fooles but very wyse and maye go to mete theyr spouse for they haue
suffre payne and tormente O good Christes spouse ye are iustly punished ye are iustly scourged and iustly condeÌ„pned the payne and tormeÌ„tes ye are in do iustly chasten you Of couitousnes xliiii cha THe Lorde saythe in his gospell flye froÌ„ all couytousnes for the life of maÌ„ is not in the abundaunce of those thynges that he possesseth vpoÌ„ earth And saynt Paule sayth Let no fornycacyon no immundycyte nor yet no couytousnes be spoken of amonge you And agayne he sayth such as are fornycators vnclenly of lyfe or couytous shall not be parte takers of the kyngdome of heuen of this thynge sayth Salomon He that foloweth couitousnes doth trouble his house the couytous shall neuer be satisfyed with money he that louethe ryches shall neuer haue ê“fite be theÌ„ there is nothiÌ„g worse theÌ„ to loue money for his soule y â— loueth money is euermore redy to be solde as couytousnes doth droweÌ„ a man in hell so doth almous dede done w t lyberalyte eleuateth briÌ„gth maÌ„ to heuen The couytous man is lykened to hel for as hell is neuer satysfyed no more is the auarycyous maÌ„ and the more that he that hath the dropsy doth driÌ„ke the more he may so y â— more that the couytous man gettethe the more he desyrethe Auarycyousnes couytousnes are systers and pryde is theyre mother for pryde was neuer without auarycyousnes nor auaryce w toute couytousnes Good syster lette not yourhandes be redy to take and receyue but rather redye to gyue I wolde ye shulde delyte more in gyuyng theÌ„ in takyng it is a greater vertue and moch better to gyue theÌ„ to take Good syster take heed that auaryce fasten not her rootes in you loke there be no spot or smacke of couytousnes in you yf for Christe sake ye vtterly dyspyse al worldly thynges ye shal reioyce eternally with hym in heuen Of cupidyte the .xiv. cha CUpidyte is the roote of all myschefe no man can perfytely take vpoÌ„ hym to make spirytuall warre withoute he tame and refrayne al bodyly pleasure the soule of man can not be sette nor geuen to conteÌ„p lacyon yf it be intangled withe cupidyte and the desyre of transytory and worldly thynges the eye of the soule can not beholde celesty all thynges yf the dust of earthlye cupidyte do blynde it cupidyte is a greuous synne the matter and very occasion of all other crimes Wherfore it is no meruayle yf they be tormented w t the fyre of hell that iÌ„ this worlde wolde not quenche the flayme of theyr cupydyte Good syster not w t staÌ„dyng ye haue no money yet that shal nothiÌ„g preuaile you yf ye be desirous therof It pÌ„uayleth not to be bare yf a man be desyrous of goodly aray Iudas through cupydyte solde Chryst we came bare in to the worlde shall departe from hence bare why shuld we theÌ„ couet or desyre these worldlye and traÌ„sytorye thynges And yf we know y t the goodes of the world shall perisshe come to noughtes why do we loue theÌ„ so effectuouslye If we loue these transytory thynges more then reasoÌ„ requyreth we offende greatlye Therfore good syster consyder the course and breuenes of your tyme and ye shall manyfestlye knowe and perceyue that a verye lytle thynge wyll serue you If cupydyte as I haue sayd before be the rote of all other myschefe it is necessary ye expell it leste it be the occasyon of other lette there be no euyl nor no peruerse cupydytye iÌ„ you the good lorde gyue you of his grace to dyspyse for his loue onelye the prosperyte of the world and not to feare the aduersytes therof Of pouertie the .xlvi. Chapi BLessed be they that are poore in spirite for the kyngdome of heuen is theyrs There are many power meÌ„ whose pouertie maketh theÌ„ rather wretched theÌ„ blessed because they suffre nor take not theyr pouertie pacyeÌ„tly for goddes sake but full sore agaynste theyr wyll other there be that pacyeÌ„tly do suffre theyr pouerte for goddê sake through theyr meke sufferauÌ„ce are blessed of y â— which it is wryteÌ„ blessed at they y â— ar pore in spirite Ye haue harde good syster of y â— tribulacyoÌ„ pacyence of Iob. Wherfore I exhort you to take heed that nother worldly trybulacyon do oppresse you nor prosperyte exalte you ye rede that y â— patryarches were very ryche of substaunce and meruaylous huÌ„ble meke of stomacke suche a one was Abraham that sayd I wyl speke to my lord god which I am but earth and ashes So my good syster yf in your welth woo ye gyue thankes vnto almyghtye god ye shall beleue well perceyue that the felycyte of this teÌ„porall lyfe vanysheth awaye as smoke coÌ„meth to nothyng for saynte Paule sayth If we trust onely vpon goodes rewarde in this world we are the most wretched of all other the which take y â— fruycyoÌ„ of theyr goodes here we great payn tormeÌ„t Christe Iesus promysyng vs perpetuall lyfe taught vs to dyspyse gold al other giftes because we shuld not fere huÌ„ger he fasted forty dayes because we shulde not feare to be bare he commauÌ„ded his discyples they shulde haue but one cote because we shulde not feare trybulacion he suffred great trybulacyon And bycause we shuld not fere deth he suffred deth for vs. All these worldly thinges are but fleshly coÌ„cuptscence the coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce of the eyes and wordly ambition the worlde shall perysshe with al his coÌ„cupiscence Therfore good sister let vs not loue these wordly thynges lost we peryshe with theÌ„ Kynge Dauyd was a myghty prynce and notwithstaÌ„dyng he had great treasoure ruled his people with stronge haÌ„d yet he knowledge shewed hym selfe to be full of humilite saynge I am but poore and iÌ„ coÌ„mmual laboure And agayne he sayth I am poore iÌ„ greate necessite And againe I am but as a poore laborynge man in this worlde and a pylgryme as my fore fathers haue bene before me Good syster let not the flattery of this transytory worlde delyte and please you take no pleasure in this worldely coÌ„modite nor reioyce not iÌ„ worldly lucre nor be not moued with earthly losses For it is wrytten If ryches come plentifully and abundantly vnto you sette not your harte nor your minde vpoÌ„ them for yf man be in amours and loue with them he shall lese them with great paine sorow O Chrystes spouse lysten vnto me he whome heuen and earth doth serue made hym selfe pore for oure sakes Why so that by his pouertye he myght inryche vs. Therfore good vyrgyn folow y â— way of Christ Iesus leaue not of to folow his fote steppê for without doute yf ye folowe hym ye shal come to the euerlastynge kyngdome of heuen Beholde good syster the virginite pouerte of our blessyd lady the which was so in goddes fauour that she by hiÌ„ deseruyd to be
deuoute soule giueÌ„ all to coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ sayth thus Ryse vp hast you my welbeloued fayre louer cuÌ„ vnto me as though he wolde say more plaiÌ„ly Ryse vp hast you my louer by delectioÌ„ faith my doue by innoceÌ„ce siÌ„plycyte my fayre syster by y e vertue of chastite Rise vp froÌ„ your swete estate y â— is froÌ„ your rest of coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ iÌ„ the which ye desyre to coÌ„teÌ„t to please me iÌ„ salmode hipnes prayer such other spiritual soÌ„ges melody hast you therfore cuÌ„ hyther y â— is come out to ê“fyte your neighboures cause theÌ„ by pÌ„dycacyoÌ„ good exaÌ„ple to folow you The vysyoÌ„ of y â— bestes in Ezechyel y â— which weÌ„t retorned not agayn do ê‘taiÌ„e to y â— coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce of y â— actiue life y â— bestê y â— weÌ„t retorned agaiÌ„e pertayne to life coÌ„teÌ„platyue for wheÌ„ maÌ„ boweth his miÌ„de therto by by through his infyrmyte he is deiected cleane tourned but after he remeÌ„breth him selfe agayne he retourneth froÌ„ that he came fro the which thyng caÌ„not be done in actyue lyfe For yf a maÌ„ fall froÌ„ it neuer so lytle by and by he is inwrapte intaÌ„gled w t vyce Often tymes the soule of maÌ„ is exalted frome the earth to heuen and ouercomed w t carnall infyrmytye it descendeth agayn from heueÌ„ to earth Also god doth vysyte manye seculer men through his greate grace doth lifte theÌ„ vp in to coÌ„templacyoÌ„ Also by his secrete vnknoweÌ„ iudgemeÌ„t he suffreth many a conteÌ„platyue maÌ„ to fall to these earthly matters so leueth them And as he y â— is deed buryed doth cease froÌ„ al worldly busynes so doth the coÌ„teÌ„platyue maÌ„ cease frome all worldly workes and as they that come froÌ„ the actyue lyfe be buryed in the quyetnes rest of conteÌ„placyoÌ„ so y â— conteÌ„platyue lyfe doth receyue theÌ„ as buryed in it that depart come froÌ„ the worldlye lyfe and as the actyue lyfe is y â— graue of the seculer and worldly lyfe so is y â— conteÌ„platyue the monumeÌ„t graue of the actyue lyfe And as good holy men at sometymes come froÌ„ the secretnes of conteÌ„platyoÌ„ to the actiue lyfe so they retourne agayne to the secretenes of lyfe contemplatyue and theyr in warde contemplatioÌ„ there to laude god where they lernde how to do good workes abrode to the laude praise of almyghtye god and as it is goddes wyl that man gyuen to coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ at some tymes shuld leaue it come abrode for other meÌ„nes profyte so at some tymes his mynde is that no maÌ„ shulde dysturbe or vnquyet theim but that they shulde rest in theyr secrete swete conteÌ„placyon the whiche thyng god doth declare for byddyng the maydeÌ„s of HierusaleÌ„ that they awake not his spouse layng O ye madens of hierusaleÌ„ I adiure you by the wylde gottes hartes of the feldes that ye awake not my louer vntyll she haue lust to ryse that is to say that ye call not vp nor awake not the deuour soule gyueÌ„ to coÌ„teÌ„platyon ocupyed in prayer dyuyne lectures nor prouoke her not to any vtward operacyon vntyll that she wyll her selfe that is awake her not vntyl y â— tyme of her coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ be exspyred vntyll she wyll be awaked froÌ„ her interyor reste swete quietnes yet iÌ„ this mortal lyfe there is no man that can ê‘fytely conteÌ„plate god as saythe saynt IohnÌ„ in his apocalypsys There was scylence in heuen aboute halfe an hoüre heuen is taken for the soule of euery iust maÌ„ as god sayth by the prophet Esay Heuen is my seate so that when quyetnes of lyfe contemplatyue is in the mynde then there is scyleÌ„ce iÌ„ heueÌ„ y â— is in the soule for the trybulacyon of all earthly thiÌ„ges are theÌ„ in quyet far froÌ„ maÌ„s cogitacioÌ„ thought But for asmoch as coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ caÌ„not be ê‘fyte iÌ„ this worlde we sayde not that there was scyleÌ„ce in heuen a hole houre but halfe an houre but he that wyl lyue ê‘fytely in coÌ„teÌ„placyoÌ„ must leue all worldlye matters of this speaketh God in y â— Cantycles I slepe but my harte is a wake as though he wolde saye more playnly WheÌ„ I slepe and kepe me froÌ„ worldly troubles inwardly in my mynde I reuolue thiÌ„ke vpon celestyall spirituall thyngê Also y â— arche of Noe the which was double chaÌ„berd sygnyfyeth the lyfe actyue coÌ„teÌ„platiue of y â— which two the actyue is lowest the coÌ„teÌ„platyue hyghest And it hadde as some say thre chaÌ„bers y â— which do sygnifye thre orders of meÌ„ that are coÌ„prysed in the church that is those y â— ar maried those that are contynent and those that lyue chast as virgyns of this contemplacioÌ„ like god saieth in his gospell Yf ye wyll be perfyte sel al y â— ye haue giue all to the poore and ye shall haue a treasoure in heuen come folow me And agayne he sayeth Mary hathe chosen the best parte the whiche shall not be taken from her For the lyfe contemplatyue shal neyther be taken awaye in this lyfe nor in no nother but the actyue life taketh his end in this world So doth not the lyfe contemplatyue for it continueth for euermore The lyfe actyue doth end in this world the coÌ„templatyue begynneth heare is made perfyte in heuen Good syster I exhorte you for the loue of god to despyse this present worlde and for his loue to leue of all worldly cares thoughtes Gyue all your mynde study to god Let no worldly care w tdraw you froÌ„ goddes seruyce Auoyde caste froÌ„ you al such thynges as may let youre good purpose And I wolde couÌ„sell you to hate w tall your harte mynde all that the worlde doth loue Be deade in this world and with draw your selfe as a deade persone froÌ„ this present lyfe and as a dead ê‘son desyre not y â—glorye of this world Good syster haue no mynde vpoÌ„ the worlde but euen as thought ye were beryed withdrawe your selfe from all worldly businesses for yf ye so do ye shal optayne y â— eternall and euerlastyng blysse ¶ Of curiosite che lij cha MY welbeloued Syâ—er I exhorte you to study coÌ„tinually to profyte in good workes and y â— ye desyre not the vanites whiche other do desyre But I exhorte you to coÌ„syder the goodnes ye shulde do for a certayne wyse man sayeth In vaniteâ— and vayne thinges be not curiouse nor it is not for your profyte nor yet nedefull to know that passeth mans wyt to know And reasoÌ„ wold y â— heshuld leue of to iuge other mens mindes that can not perfetely know what men thinke Why so For we iudg that y â— is vncertaine vntyl y â— lord come y â— which shal giue clere knowledge of al such thiÌ„gê which aâ— secret far froÌ„ maÌ„s knowledg shal manifestly opeÌ„ the secret counsell of